Conductive concrete mixtures for shotcrete applications are described that are configured to provide varied EM shielding and reflect and/or absorb, for instance, EM waves propagating through the conductive concrete mixture, while providing flowability (e.g., fluidity) for shotcrete applications. The conductive concrete mixtures include cement, aggregate, water, metallic conductive material, and conductive carbon particles and magnetic material. The metallic conductive material may include steel fibers and/or shavings having sizes suitable for application through shotcrete nozzles/applicators, and the magnetic material may include a taconite aggregate, such as taconite sand.

Provided are a composite ceramic member and a method for preparation thereof, a vaporization assembly, and an electronic cigarette. The composite ceramic member comprises a first ceramic layer, a second ceramic layer, and a third ceramic layer stacked in sequence; in the first ceramic layer, the second ceramic layer, and the third ceramic layer, the first ceramic layer has the smallest pore size and the highest thermal conductivity, the second ceramic layer has the largest porosity, and the third ceramic layer has the highest compressive strength.

Provided is a panel, in particular a floor panel, suitable for forming a floor covering. The panel has a substantially planar top side, a substantially planar bottom side, at least four substantially linear side edges each including at least one pair of opposite side edges, preferably provided with locking means.

The use of bacteria-based binders to bind and strengthen 3D printed compositions; bio-plastic 3D printing materials comprised of combinations of particles of organic substrates such as coffee, pistachio shells and coconut shells, as well as sand (and combinations of one or more of the foregoing); processes for creating scent-free bio-plastic 3D printing material and products from such particles; the application of a copper finish, chrome finish and powder finish to bio-plastics made from such particles; and products and fixtures, such as sinks, toilets, faucets, coffee mug molds, lighting fixtures, and coffee cups, comprising non-flammable bio-plastic created by a process of 3D printing from such particles. Processes for imparting color or structure or surface texture to these and binding and strengthening them using enzyme-secreting bacteria.

An acoustical ceiling panel including a first layer having a first major surface opposite a second major surface and a side surface extending therebetween, a second layer having a first major surface opposite a second major surface and a side surface extending therebetween, and a sealing layer having a first major surface opposite a second major surface and a side surface extending therebetween. The sealing layer may be positioned between the first major surface of the first layer and the second major surface of the second layer. The side surface of the sealing layer may extend beyond the side surface of the first layer and the side surface of the second layer.

Method of forming a concrete slab to reduce or eliminate control joints includes preparing a substantially flat base, overlaying one or more barriers on top of the base, placing a concrete mixture on top of the barrier(s) and base to form a concrete slab, and allowing the concrete to cure without forming control joints. The base is prepared with a flatness of about inch over 10 feet. A side edge is prepared along a periphery of the concrete slab by extending a vapor barrier from a bottom surface of the slab up the side edge toward a top surface of the slab and covering the side edge. A plurality of post-tensioning cables are positioned to extend through the slab and configured to compress and assist in controlling accelerated displacement of the concrete slab during curing and shrinkage. The concrete slab is formed of an evenly gradated and low slump concrete having high fiber content, minimized cement content, and maximized size of large aggregate.

The invention comprises methods and apparatuses for the electrorefining of Mg from Al or Mg alloy scrap. The invention utilizes the density and charge features of Mg present in a melted alloy to continuously extract Mg and Mg alloys from a melted Al alloy feed.

Disclosed are composite building boards and associated manufacturing methods. The composite boards may include, for example, one or more slurry layers with embedded fibrous mats. An exterior plastic coating is mechanically adhered to the underlying slurry layer. The plastic layer chemically bonds and cross-links with polymer additives within the slurry layer. The result is an integrated polymer matrix with greatly improved durability and surface strength.

A door for attenuating sound includes at least one core disposed between a front surface and a back surface. The at least one core includes a composition comprising vermiculite, for example, expanded vermiculite, and an inorganic bonding agent. Such a composition for the core has a density of at least 600 Kg/m.sup.3. The door has at least a sound transmission class (STC) rating or an outdoors/indoors transmission coefficient (OITC) being higher than 30.

Disclosed are a ceramic membrane for water treatment using oxidation-treated SiC and a method for manufacturing the same. An object of the present invention is to manufacture a ceramic membrane for water treatment, which can be sintered at a low temperature of 1,050? C. or less, in which a SiO.sub.2 oxide layer formed during an oxidation process induces volume expansion so as to prevent defects due to the contraction of a coating layer during general sintering. The ceramic membrane for water treatment using the oxidation treated SiC includes a porous ceramic support layer; and a SiC layer formed on the porous ceramic support layer and including SiC particles on which a SiO.sub.2 oxide layer formed on a surface thereof.