A lightweight insulative and fire-retardant building material and component and manufacturing process are disclosed. The building material is based on cellulose impregnated with clay and can be formed in the form of posts, columns, bricks, blocks, and panels.

A cement board includes a lightweight core between a first covering layer and a second covering layer, wherein the lightweight core results from the curing of an aqueous cementitious composition including, based on the total dry matter, 20 to 90 wt % of a reactive binder mixture and 10 to 80 wt % of fillers, wherein the reactive binder mixture includes, based on the total dry matter of the reactive binder mixture: 15 to 25 wt % hydraulic cement, 50 to 65 wt % calcium sulphate hemihydrate, and 10 to 35 wt % pozzolanic material; and at least one of the first and second covering layers includes a glass fibre-based sheeting, the sheeting being fully or partially embedded in a cementitious matrix.

A composite pavement structure comprises a wearing course layer and a base course layer disposed below the wearing course layer. The wearing course layer comprises aggregate, e.g. glass and rock, and an elastomeric composition. The elastomeric composition comprises the reaction product of an isocyanate component and an isocyanate-reactive component. The isocyanate component comprises a polymeric isocyanate, and optionally, an isocyanate-prepolymer. The isocyanate-reactive component comprises a hydrophobic polyol and a chain extender having at least two hydroxyl groups and a molecular weight of from about 62 to about 220. The chain extender is present in the isocyanate-reactive component in an amount of from about 1 to about 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the isocyanate-reactive component. The base course layer comprises aggregate which is the same or different than the aggregate of the wearing course layer. Methods of forming the composite pavement structure are also disclosed.

A concrete slab system includes a bed of a first concrete having a top surface and edge surfaces. The bed's top surface has shrinkage cracks and induced cracks. The widths of the induced cracks are greater than widths of the shrinkage cracks. Non-concrete material is disposed on the bed's top surface and on each of the bed's edge surfaces. A second concrete covers the non-concrete material and the bed. The second concrete has stretchable fibers mixed therein.

Gypsum panels, sheathing systems, and methods of making and using the same are provided. A gypsum panel includes a gypsum core associated with a first fiberglass mat having a continuous barrier coating, the coating penetrating a portion of the first fiberglass mat opposite the gypsum core, wherein gypsum penetrates a remaining fibrous portion of the first fiberglass mat such that voids in the first fiberglass mat are substantially eliminated. A building sheathing system includes at least two gypsum panels and a seaming component to provide a seam at an interface between the gypsum panels.

In the field of decorative floor coverings, decorative panels are known having a MDF (Medium Density Board) or HDF (High Density Board) based core layer on top of which a decorative substrate is attached to provide the panels a desired appearance. The invention relates to a panel, in particular a decorative panel, a floor panel, a ceiling panel or a wall panel. The invention also relates to a floor covering consisting of a plurality of mutually coupled panels.

A method of fabricating a concrete slab system places bed of a first concrete on a base. The bed has a top surface, a bottom surface, and edge surfaces. The bed is exposed to a drying environment such that the top surface develops shrinkage cracks and portions of the bed separate from the base. A force applied to the top surface induces non-shrinkage cracks in the bed that extend to the bed's bottom surface. Non-concrete material is placed on the bed's top surface and on each of its edge surfaces. The non-concrete material and bed are covered with a second concrete having stretchable fibers mixed therein.

A composite pavement structure comprises a wearing course layer and a base course layer disposed below the wearing course layer. The wearing course layer comprises aggregate, e.g. glass and rock, and an elastomeric composition. The elastomeric composition comprises the reaction product of an isocyanate component and an isocyanate-reactive component. The isocyanate component comprises a polymeric isocyanate, and optionally, an isocyanate-prepolymer. The isocyanate-reactive component comprises a hydrophobic polyol and a chain extender having at least two hydroxyl groups and a molecular weight of from about 62 to about 220. The chain extender is present in the isocyanate-reactive component in an amount of from about 1 to about 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the isocyanate-reactive component. The base course layer comprises aggregate which is the same or different than the aggregate of the wearing course layer. Methods of forming the composite pavement structure are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a dark, flat element, preferably a plastic, lacquer coating or fiber material, having reduced density, low heat conductivity and low solar absorption. The flat element has a relatively high reflection infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum reduce heating by sunlight in the near infrared dark tinting in the visible range. Low density conductivity are obtained inter alia by inserting in the near in order to area despite and low heat light filling materials into the flat element. Said flat element can be used in places where surfaces are dark tinted for aesthetic or technical reasons but should not heat up in sunlight and should give off little heat when touched by hand or by other parts of the body. Other areas of application include surfaces which should have a heat insulating effect in addition to the above-mentioned characteristics.

The present invention relates to a flexible composite organic aerogel (1) comprising: a textile reinforcement (5), an organic aerogel (3) placed within said textile reinforcement (3),
said organic aerogel (3) being based on a resin resulting at least in part from polyhydroxybenzene(s) R and formaldehyde(s) F,
said organic aerogel (3) being a polymeric organic gel comprising at least one water-soluble cationic polyelectrolyte,
or said organic aerogel (3) being a pyrolysate of said gel in the form of a porous carbon monolith comprising the product of the pyrolysis of said at least one water-soluble cationic polyelectrolyte P,
said organic aerogel (3) exhibiting a specific thermal conductivity of between 10 and 40 mW.Math.m.sup.1.Math.K.sup.1 at atmospheric pressure.