The present invention relates to a photoluminescent cementitious composition suitable for use in safety signs in accordance with DIN 67510-1 standard, characterized by including a hydraulic binder, an aggregate and/or a filler and at least a photoluminescent pigment selected from strontium aluminates or silicates doped with rare earths selected from europium and dysprosium. The invention also relates to the use of a photoluminescent pigment in the manufacturing of concrete articles with aesthetic quality given by persistent photoluminescent properties.

Compositions comprising highly reflective microcrystalline/amorphous materials are provided. In some instances, the highly reflective materials are microcrystalline or amorphous carbonate materials, which may include calcium and/or magnesium carbonate. In some instances, the materials are CO.sub.2 sequestering materials. Also provided are methods of making and using the compositions, e.g., to increase the albedo of a surface, to mitigate urban heat island effects, etc.

The present specification discloses ceramic matrix compositions, methods of making such ceramic matrix compositions and methods and uses for such ceramic matrix compositions.

The present disclosure relates to roofing granule having a base granule with at least one layer on the base granule that includes hollow glass spheres embedded in a ceramic matrix and a roofing article having a substrate and a plurality of any embodiment of roofing granules described above. The disclosure additionally relates to a roofing granule precursor mixture containing base granules, an aluminum silicate, an alkali metal silicate, and hollow glass spheres. The disclosure also relates to a method of making roofing granules including providing base granules; applying a coating containing hollow glass spheres, an aluminum silicate, an alkali metal silicate to the base granules; and heating the coated granules to a temperature between about 550° F. and about 1000° F.

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a coating composition. The coating composition comprises photocatalytic particles and an alkali metal silicate binder comprising an alkoxysilane. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a coated article. The coated article has a photocatalytic coating with improved durability on its external surface that is formed from the aforesaid coating composition.

The present disclosure relates to roofing granules, such as solar-reflective roofing granules having one or more of low crystalline silica content, high stain resistance and algae resistance. The present disclosure provides a mineral roofing granule having at its mineral outer surface a first fired mixture comprising an aluminosilicate clay, the first fired material having no more than 2 wt % crystalline silica. The present disclosure also provides a mineral roofing granule having a mineral body and a mineral outer surface, the mineral roofing granule having at its mineral outer surface a first fired material, the first fired material being a first fired mixture comprising an aluminosilicate clay; one or more of a feldspar, a sodium silicate and a nepheline syenite; and, optionally, a zinc source.

The present invention relates to geopolymer compositions, sintered geopolymer articles from the geopolymer compositions and processes for manufacturing sintered geopolymer articles from the geopolymer compositions. The invention provides a process of producing a sintered geopolymer article containing a sintered geopolymer composition, wherein the sintered geopolymer composition comprises a sintered geopolymeric matrix, said process comprising the steps of: (1) forming a geopolymer composition comprising at least one aluminosilicate precursor, an alkali activating agent and water, wherein in the geopolymer article, the aluminosilicate precursor particles are at least partially coated by the alkali activating agent; and (2) firing the geopolymer article to sinter the geopolymer composition, wherein the alkali activating agent is capable of at least partially activating and dissolving the aluminosilicate precursor particles during at least a portion of the firing step, and wherein the firing of the geopolymer article includes a geopolymer composition sintering stage.

An anticorrosive composition and the use of the composition for imparting anticorrosive properties to a material such as a mineral wool product.

The present invention provides an aqueous polyurethane (PU)-polyacrylate hybrid dispersion obtainable by free radical polymerization of at least one acrylate polymer (A1) in the presence of at least one polyurethane (P1), a process for preparing these aqueous polyurethane-polyacrylate hybrid dispersions, wherein said process comprises a) preparing an aqueous polyurethane dispersion and b) using the polyurethane dispersion thus prepared as raw material for the further synthesis of a polyacrylate dispersion, and the use of the hybrid dispersion thus obtained as binder in filled coating materials, particularly as a binder for flexible roof coatings.

A method of making a plurality of composite granules can include: forming green body granules comprising an aluminosilicate; heating the green body granules to form sintered granules; cooling the sintered granules according to a cooling regime, wherein the cooling regime comprises a temperature hold between 700° C. and 900° C. for at least one hour. In a particular embodiment, the aluminosilicate for making the composite granules can have a particle size less than 150 μm. The composite granules are particularly suitable as roofing granules and can have a desired combination of high solar reflectance SR and low lightness L*, a low bulk density, good weather resistance and strength.