The present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing artificial marble, which includes a granite soil storage unit configured to supply a granite soil by storing, drying, and heating it, a granite soil heating unit configured to heat the granite soil supplied from the granite soil storage unit, a resin storage unit configured to store a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) resin maintained in a solid phase at room temperature, a mixing-transporting unit configured to accommodate the TPU resin and the heated granite soil therein and then melting and mixing them to produce and simultaneously transport an artificial marble slurry, a material guide unit configured to guide the granite soil and the TPU resin into the mixing-transporting unit, a discharge unit configured to discharge the artificial marble slurry mixed in the mixing-transporting unit by a certain amount, a mold supply unit configured to continuously supply a mold for accommodating and molding the artificial marble slurry therein, a mold guide unit configured to guide the mold supplied from the mold supply unit downward of the discharge unit to accommodate the artificial marble slurry in the mold, a forming unit configured to form an artificial marble by applying vibration and pressure to the artificial marble slurry accommodated in the mold, an extraction unit configured to extract the mold accommodating the artificial marble, and a lamination unit configured to laminate and store the mold extracted by the extraction unit.

The present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing artificial marble, which includes a granite soil storage unit configured to supply a granite soil by storing, drying, and heating it, a granite soil heating unit configured to heat the granite soil supplied from the granite soil storage unit, a resin storage unit configured to store a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) resin maintained in a solid phase at room temperature, a mixing-transporting unit configured to accommodate the TPU resin and the heated granite soil therein and then melting and mixing them to produce and simultaneously transport an artificial marble slurry, a material guide unit configured to guide the granite soil and the TPU resin into the mixing-transporting unit, a discharge unit configured to discharge the artificial marble slurry mixed in the mixing-transporting unit by a certain amount, a mold supply unit configured to continuously supply a mold for accommodating and molding the artificial marble slurry therein, a mold guide unit configured to guide the mold supplied from the mold supply unit downward of the discharge unit to accommodate the artificial marble slurry in the mold, a forming unit configured to form an artificial marble by applying vibration and pressure to the artificial marble slurry accommodated in the mold, an extraction unit configured to extract the mold accommodating the artificial marble, and a lamination unit configured to laminate and store the mold extracted by the extraction unit.

Method for the production of granular materials designed to be used as aggregates and fillers in a mix containing a binder for the manufacture of articles in slab or block form. The method comprises a step of melting a mixture of selected minerals having a specific chemical composition, a step of casting the molten material, a step of cooling the cast material until a predetermined temperature is reached and a step of crushing and/or grinding the cooled material to obtain granular materials having a selected particle size and suitable for use as aggregates or fillers in the mix for the manufacture of articles in slab or block form. Moreover, the method comprises, upstream of the melting step, a step for recovery and collection of the manufacturing waste of other previously manufactured articles. The manufacturing waste is designed to compose at least partially the mixture of selected minerals. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing articles in slab or block form from a mix containing the aggregates and the fillers and a binder.

A method for making a carbonated precast concrete product, includes: obtaining a mixture including at least one binder material, an aggregate, and water; molding the mixture into a molded intermediate; demolding the molded intermediate to obtain a demolded intermediate, the demolded intermediate having a first water-to-binder ratio; conditioning the demolded intermediate to provide a conditioned article having a second water-to-binder ratio less than the first water-to-binder ratio of the demolded intermediate; and curing the conditioned article using carbon dioxide at a pressure ranging from an atmospheric pressure to a pressure greater than the atmospheric pressure by at most 10% of the atmospheric pressure. Curing the conditioned article may be done within an expandable enclosure.

A method for making a carbonated precast concrete product, includes: obtaining a mixture including at least one binder material, an aggregate, and water; molding the mixture into a molded intermediate; demolding the molded intermediate to obtain a demolded intermediate, the demolded intermediate having a first water-to-binder ratio; conditioning the demolded intermediate to provide a conditioned article having a second water-to-binder ratio less than the first water-to-binder ratio of the demolded intermediate; and curing the conditioned article using carbon dioxide at a pressure ranging from an atmospheric pressure to a pressure greater than the atmospheric pressure by at most 10% of the atmospheric pressure. Curing the conditioned article may be done within an expandable enclosure.

Provided is a novel cured article that enables to expand the use of debris and the like as well as the use of plant biomass. The cured article contains an inorganic material and at least one selected from lignin and cellulose.

Provided is a novel cured article that enables to expand the use of debris and the like as well as the use of plant biomass. The cured article contains an inorganic material and at least one selected from lignin and cellulose.

A method of manufacturing ceramic composite material comprises forming a combination of flowable metal oxide precursor (102), which is water-insoluble, and electroceramic powder (104) for covering surfaces of the electroceramic particles (500) with the metal oxide precursor (102), the electroceramic powder (104). A major fraction of the particles (500) has particle diameters within a range 50 μm to 200 μm, and a minor fraction of the particles has diameters smaller than the lower limit of said range, the major fraction having a variety of particle diameters. Then pressure 100 MPa to 500 MPa is applied to said combination, and said combination is exposed, under the pressure, to a heat treatment, which has a maximum temperature within 100° C. to 500° C. for a predefined period for forming the ceramic composite material.

A composite member includes an inorganic matrix part made from an inorganic substance and a dispersed component present in a dispersed state within the inorganic matrix part and having elasticity, wherein a material making up the dispersed component has a modulus of elasticity in tension of 100 Pa or more and 3.5 GPa or less. The composite member has a porosity of 20% or less in a section of the inorganic matrix part.

A composite member includes an inorganic matrix part made from an inorganic substance and a dispersed component present in a dispersed state within the inorganic matrix part and having elasticity, wherein a material making up the dispersed component has a modulus of elasticity in tension of 100 Pa or more and 3.5 GPa or less. The composite member has a porosity of 20% or less in a section of the inorganic matrix part.