This disclosure provides products useful as construction materials and containing set gypsum and ammonium-exchanged vermiculite, including a gypsum panel having a gypsum core comprising set gypsum and ammonium-exchanged vermiculite and characterized by decreased heat shrinkage and increased resistance to fire damage in comparison to the gypsum panel that comprises vermiculite that has not been ammonium-exchanged. The disclosure further relates to methods for producing the gypsum panel and constructing building assemblies with the gypsum panels, including walls and ceilings.

There is provided an apparatus (100) for manufacturing a cementitious slurry comprising foam, the apparatus (100) comprising: a mixing chamber (101) for mixing a cementitious material and water to form a cementitious slurry, a channel (103) fluidly connected to the mixing chamber (101) at a first end (111), the channel (103) for receiving the cementitious slurry from the mixing chamber (101), the channel (103) extending from the first end (111) and terminating at a second end (112); the channel (103) comprising a foam inlet (106) for introducing foam into the channel (103); wherein the channel (103) comprises a mixing cross section, the mixing cross section comprising a first dimension and a second dimension; the first dimension perpendicular to the second dimension; the first dimension being longer than the second dimension; wherein the foam inlet (106) is configured to introduce foam into the channel (103) in a direction generally parallel to the second dimension. A channel (103) for a cementitious slurry and a method are also provided.

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus (100) for manufacturing a cementitious slurry comprising foam, the apparatus comprising: a mixing chamber (101) for mixing a cementitious material and water to form a cementitious slurry, a channel (103) fluidly connected to the mixing chamber (101) at a first end (111), the channel (103) for receiving a cementitious slurry from the mixing chamber (101). In the apparatus (100), the channel (103) extends from the first end (111) and terminates at at least one second end (112). The channel (103) comprises a first foam inlet (106) for introducing foam into the channel (103). The channel (103) further comprises a second foam inlet for introducing foam into the channel (103). The first foam inlet (106) and the second foam inlet are offset along the length of the channel (103). A method using the apparatus (100) is also described.

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus (100) for manufacturing a cementitious slurry comprising foam, the apparatus comprising: a mixing chamber (101) for mixing a cementitious material and water to form a cementitious slurry, a channel (103) fluidly connected to the mixing chamber (101) at a first end (111), the channel (103) for receiving a cementitious slurry from the mixing chamber (101). In the apparatus (100), the channel (103) extends from the first end (111) and terminates at at least one second end (112). The channel (103) comprises a first foam inlet (106) for introducing foam into the channel (103). The channel (103) further comprises a second foam inlet for introducing foam into the channel (103). The first foam inlet (106) and the second foam inlet are offset along the length of the channel (103). A method using the apparatus (100) is also described.

There is provided an apparatus (100) for manufacturing a cementitious slurry comprising foam, the apparatus (100) comprising: a mixing chamber (101) for mixing a cementitious material and water to form a cementitious slurry, a channel (103) fluidly connected to the mixing chamber (101) at a first end, the channel (103) for receiving the cementitious slurry from the mixing chamber (101), the channel (103) extending from the first end and terminating a second end; the channel (103) comprising a foam inlet (106) for introducing foam into the channel (103); wherein the portion of the channel (103) between the foam inlet (106) and the second end has a length from 400 mm to 1200 mm inclusive, wherein said foam inlet (106) is positioned such that the distance between said first end of said channel (103) and said foam inlet (106) is less than 25% of the distance between said first end of said channel (103) and said second end of said channel (103). A cementitious slurry channel (103) and a method of manufacturing a cementitious slurry are also provided.

The invention relates to a solid object and a method for producing the same. The solid object is produced from a biomaterial-based starting material comprising vinasse and/or molasses. In the method, a mixture produced from the starting material or a foam produced therefrom is formed and heat treated in order to produce a solid object. The obtained solid object is suitable to be used for example as a filler, a filter or catalyst substrate.