Hydrophobic shaped silica bodies having low density and low thermal conductivity are produced by forming a dispersion of silica in a solution of binder and organic solvent, and removing the solvent and shaping to form a shaped body. The shaped bodies retain their hydrophobicity, are stable with regards to shape, and are useful in acoustic and thermal insulation.

Hydrophobic shaped silica bodies having low density and low thermal conductivity are produced by forming a dispersion of silica in a solution of binder and organic solvent, and removing the solvent and shaping to form a shaped body. The shaped bodies retain their hydrophobicity, are stable with regards to shape, and are useful in acoustic and thermal insulation.

Hydrophobic shaped silica bodies having low density and low thermal conductivity are produced by forming a dispersion of silica in a solution of binder and organic solvent, and removing the solvent and shaping to form a shaped body. The shaped bodies retain their hydrophobicity, are stable with regards to shape, and are useful in acoustic and thermal insulation.

This document describes systems and processes for forming synthetic molded slabs, which may be suitable for use in living or working spaces (e.g., along a countertop, table, floor, or the like).

This document describes systems and processes for forming synthetic molded slabs, which may be suitable for use in living or working spaces (e.g., along a countertop, table, floor, or the like).

A composition of matter has cement particles and resin structures having: a first functional group bonded directly to a surface of each cement particle; and a second functional group that bonds to calcium silicate hydrate upon hydration, wherein the second functional group is bondable with second functional groups of others of the cement particles to form a polymer network; and a backbone that connects the first functional group with the second functional group. A method of forming cement particles includes mixing cement particles with reactive molecules, the reactive molecules having a first functional group bonded directly to a surface of each cement particle, a second functional group that is bondable to calcium silicate hydrate upon hydration, wherein the second functional group is bondable with second function groups of others of the cement particles to form a polymer network, and a backbone that connects the first functional group with the second functional group. A composition of matter has cement particles, and a cured resin structure resulting from a reaction between two or more reactive molecules having functional groups that react with each other onto the surfaces of the cement particle, wherein one of the reactive molecules is used in less than a stoichiometric amount, leaving unreacted functional groups, and wherein the unreacted functional groups are bondable to calcium silicate hydrate upon hydration.

A composition of matter has cement particles and resin structures having: a first functional group bonded directly to a surface of each cement particle; and a second functional group that bonds to calcium silicate hydrate upon hydration, wherein the second functional group is bondable with second functional groups of others of the cement particles to form a polymer network; and a backbone that connects the first functional group with the second functional group. A method of forming cement particles includes mixing cement particles with reactive molecules, the reactive molecules having a first functional group bonded directly to a surface of each cement particle, a second functional group that is bondable to calcium silicate hydrate upon hydration, wherein the second functional group is bondable with second function groups of others of the cement particles to form a polymer network, and a backbone that connects the first functional group with the second functional group. A composition of matter has cement particles, and a cured resin structure resulting from a reaction between two or more reactive molecules having functional groups that react with each other onto the surfaces of the cement particle, wherein one of the reactive molecules is used in less than a stoichiometric amount, leaving unreacted functional groups, and wherein the unreacted functional groups are bondable to calcium silicate hydrate upon hydration.

A composition including a binder and a variable thermal conductivity material satisfying a conditional expression 1, wherein a content of the variable thermal conductivity material is from 300 parts by weight to 10,000 parts by weight with respect to a content of 100 parts by weight of the binder:

.sub.max/.sub.251.2[conditional expression 1] (wherein, .sub.25 represents a thermal conductivity at 25 C., and .sub.max represents the maximum value of a thermal conductivity at 200 C. or 500 C.)

A composition including a binder and a variable thermal conductivity material satisfying a conditional expression 1, wherein a content of the variable thermal conductivity material is from 300 parts by weight to 10,000 parts by weight with respect to a content of 100 parts by weight of the binder:

.sub.max/.sub.251.2[conditional expression 1] (wherein, .sub.25 represents a thermal conductivity at 25 C., and .sub.max represents the maximum value of a thermal conductivity at 200 C. or 500 C.)

Waste flax straw from the harvesting of flaxseeds from flax plants is processed to produce a flax straw substrate. The flax straw substrate includes a mixture of flax fibers and flax shives. A binding agent is mixed with the flax straw substrate to produce a wet flax straw substrate mixture. The wet flax straw substrate mixture is deposited into a form. Heat and pressure are applied to the form to cure the binding agent, creating a flax straw based building material.