This disclosure relates to an inorganic-organic metal phosphate ceramic coating from the reaction of an inorganic phosphate of the formulas (i) A.sub.m(H.sub.2PO.sub.4).sub.m.nH.sub.2O or (ii) AH.sub.3(PO.sub.4).sub.2.nH.sub.2O; where A is ammonium or an m-valent metal element; m=1, 2, or 3; and n is 0 to 25; and at least one metal oxide or hydroxide represented by the formula B.sub.2mO.sub.m or B(OH).sub.2m, where B is a 2m-valent metal; and m=1 or 1.5; thereof; and at least one polymer capable of reacting with at least the one metal oxide or hydroxide; or a first organic precursor combined with the inorganic phosphate and a second organic precursor combined with the at least one metal oxide or hydroxide, the second organic precursor configured to chemically react with the one or more first organic precursor.

This disclosure relates to an inorganic-organic metal phosphate ceramic coating from the reaction of an inorganic phosphate of the formulas (i) A.sub.m(H.sub.2PO.sub.4).sub.m.nH.sub.2O or (ii) AH.sub.3(PO.sub.4).sub.2.nH.sub.2O; where A is ammonium or an m-valent metal element; m=1, 2, or 3; and n is 0 to 25; and at least one metal oxide or hydroxide represented by the formula B.sub.2mO.sub.m or B(OH).sub.2m, where B is a 2m-valent metal; and m=1 or 1.5; thereof; and at least one polymer capable of reacting with at least the one metal oxide or hydroxide; or a first organic precursor combined with the inorganic phosphate and a second organic precursor combined with the at least one metal oxide or hydroxide, the second organic precursor configured to chemically react with the one or more first organic precursor.

A cement-based tile formed from a mixture comprising: a cement in the range of about 0.1 to 88% by wet weight percent; a secondary material in the range of about 0.1 to 50% by wet weight percent, the secondary material comprising limestone, sand, silica sand, gypsum, silica fume, fumed silica, Plaster of Paris, calcium carbonate, fly ash, slag, rock, or a combination thereof; a reinforcement fiber in the range of about 0.5 to 20% by wet weight percent, the reinforcement fiber comprising cellulose fiber, glass fiber, plastic fiber, polypropylene fiber, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber, homopolymer acrylic fiber, alkali-resistant fiber, or a combination thereof; a rheology modifying agent in the range of about 0.5 to 10% by wet weight percent; a water in the range of 10 to 60% of a total wet material weight; and wherein the mixture is extruded or molded to form the cement-based tile.

A cement-based tile formed from a mixture comprising: a cement in the range of about 0.1 to 88% by wet weight percent; a secondary material in the range of about 0.1 to 50% by wet weight percent, the secondary material comprising limestone, sand, silica sand, gypsum, silica fume, fumed silica, Plaster of Paris, calcium carbonate, fly ash, slag, rock, or a combination thereof; a reinforcement fiber in the range of about 0.5 to 20% by wet weight percent, the reinforcement fiber comprising cellulose fiber, glass fiber, plastic fiber, polypropylene fiber, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber, homopolymer acrylic fiber, alkali-resistant fiber, or a combination thereof; a rheology modifying agent in the range of about 0.5 to 10% by wet weight percent; a water in the range of 10 to 60% of a total wet material weight; and wherein the mixture is extruded or molded to form the cement-based tile.

A process for treating a substrate made of stone material, preferably in the form of slabs, is provided which process improves the mechanical, thermal and catalytic properties of the substrate. The process includes applying a protective coating to the outer surface of the substrate made of stone material and, to improve adhesion of the protective coating to the outer surface of the substrate, preliminarily subjecting the substrate to one or more pre-treatment steps that eliminate or reduce the presence of pollutants and porosity on the surface of the substrate. The pre-treatment of the substrate made of stone material comprises at least one step of treatment under vacuum conditions inside an autoclave, preferably under pressure conditions lower than 10.sup.2 mbar. Then, after having brought the substrate back to ambient pressure, it is possible to apply and effectively adhere the protective coating to the surface of the stone material.

A process for treating a substrate made of stone material, preferably in the form of slabs, is provided which process improves the mechanical, thermal and catalytic properties of the substrate. The process includes applying a protective coating to the outer surface of the substrate made of stone material and, to improve adhesion of the protective coating to the outer surface of the substrate, preliminarily subjecting the substrate to one or more pre-treatment steps that eliminate or reduce the presence of pollutants and porosity on the surface of the substrate. The pre-treatment of the substrate made of stone material comprises at least one step of treatment under vacuum conditions inside an autoclave, preferably under pressure conditions lower than 10.sup.2 mbar. Then, after having brought the substrate back to ambient pressure, it is possible to apply and effectively adhere the protective coating to the surface of the stone material.

Various embodiments for a median barrier finishing machine are described. A median barrier finishing machine may include a housing configured to encapsulate at least a portion of a median barrier, where the housing comprises a first vertical wall, a second vertical wall, and a horizontal wall. The median barrier finishing machine may include at least one adjustable member configured to couple the housing to the vehicle and retain the housing a predetermined distance relative to the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion. Further, the median barrier finishing machine may include at least one finishing device disposed within the housing, where the at least one finishing device is configured to contact a surface of a median barrier at least partially positioned within the housing and treat the surface as the vehicle moves the housing along a length of the median barrier.

Various embodiments for a median barrier finishing machine are described. A median barrier finishing machine may include a housing configured to encapsulate at least a portion of a median barrier, where the housing comprises a first vertical wall, a second vertical wall, and a horizontal wall. The median barrier finishing machine may include at least one adjustable member configured to couple the housing to the vehicle and retain the housing a predetermined distance relative to the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion. Further, the median barrier finishing machine may include at least one finishing device disposed within the housing, where the at least one finishing device is configured to contact a surface of a median barrier at least partially positioned within the housing and treat the surface as the vehicle moves the housing along a length of the median barrier.

An artificial textured stone slab and methods for manufacturing thereof, the method comprising the following steps: Step S01: using a printer to print an image in accordance with the size of an artificial stone slab to arrive at a print of the image; Step S02: placing the front face of the print onto a side of the artificial stone slab and smoothing out the print on the artificial stone slab; Step S03: feeding the artificial stone attached to the print into a heat and ink transferring machine and using the upper and lower clamp plates of the heat and ink transferring machine to tightly clamp the print to the artificial stone slab; Step S04: heating the artificial stone slab to 120 C. to 185 C. and maintaining for the temperature constant for 5-15 minutes, wherein the ink on the print is transferred onto the surface of the artificial stone slab; and Step S05: feeding the artificial stone slab, heated in accordance with the above step, out of the heat and ink transferring machine, removing the print, and cooling the artificial stone slab to room temperature.

A method for improving the hydrophobic properties of a fiber cement product, said method comprising the steps of: providing a fiber cement product comprising at least one profiled surface; applying a hydrophobation agent to the at least one profiled surface; wherein the obtained fiber cement product has a water take up of less than 1.5 mL after 48 hours as measured by the RILEM Test No 11.4 in horizontal application.