The present invention provides a bidirectional energy-transfer system comprising: a thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete, disposed in a structural object; a location of energy supply or demand that is physically isolated from, but in thermodynamic and/or electromagnetic communication with, the thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete; and a means of transferring energy between the structural object and the location of energy supply or demand. The system can be a single node in a neural network. The thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete includes a conductive, shock-absorbing material, such as graphite. Preferred compositions are disclosed for the thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete. The bidirectional energy-transfer system may be present in a solar-energy collection system, a grade beam, an indoor radiant flooring system, a structural wall or ceiling, a bridge, a roadway, a driveway, a parking lot, a commercial aviation runway, a military runway, a grain silo, or pavers, for example.

Processes of forming or repairing a structure for use in high temperature applications may include intermixing a sodium nitrite (NaNO.sub.2) additive with a refractory material; and applying the refractory material to a structure surface.

A first circumferential wall disposed in a circumference of partition walls has no interface with the outermost circumference partition wall in a circumferential portion constituted by the partition walls whose wall thickness is larger than that of a central portion constituted by the partition walls in a central region. A maximum thickness of a total of the first circumferential wall and a second circumferential wall disposed to surround an outer side of the first circumferential wall is 1.2-3.0 mm, a difference between the maximum thickness and a minimum thickness of the total is 0.2-1.5 mm, and there is satisfied a relation, 0.5(TBTA)SB/SA100(%)9.0 in which TB and TA indicate average thicknesses (m) of the partition walls in the circumferential and central portion respectively, and SB and SA indicate areas (cm.sup.2) of the circumferential portion and the honeycomb structure in the cross section respectively.

An asphalt composition includes asphalt, a non-epoxidized oil chosen from flux oils, bio oils, recycled motor oils, liquid plasticizers, and combinations thereof, and a polyolefin. The polyolefin has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of from about 1,000 to about 20,000 g/mol, an optional acid number of from about 10 to about 50 mg KOH/g, an optional saponification number of from about 10 to about 100 mg KOH/g, and a density of from about 0.92 to about 1 g/cm.sup.3. The asphalt composition has a performance grade of PG (52 to 88) and (22 to 40), wherein (52 to 88) is an average seven day maximum pavement design temperature in degrees Celsius and represents deformation resistance and (22 to 40) is an average one day minimum pavement design temperature in degrees Celsius and represents thermal cracking resistance, each as determined using AASHTO M320.

A well cement composite and a method for making a well cement composite includes a mixture of calcium aluminate cement (CAC) and fly ash cenospheres (CS) in a weight ratio of from 30:70 to 80:20 CAC to CS; sodium metasilicate (SMS) in an amount of from 1 to 10% of the total weight of the mixture of CAC and CS; polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) in an amount of from 0.5 to 6.0% of the total weight of the mixture of CAC and CS; and water in a weight ratio of from 0.5:1.0 to 1.2:1.0 of water to CAC and CS.

Processes of forming or repairing a structure for use in high temperature applications may include intermixing a sodium nitrite (NaNO.sub.2) additive with a refractory material; and applying the refractory material to a structure surface.

A porous material includes aggregate particles and a binding material. In the aggregate particles, oxide films containing cristobalite are provided on surfaces of particle bodies that are silicon carbide particles or silicon nitride particles. The binding material contains cordierite and binds the aggregate particles together in a state where pores are provided therein. The mass ratio of the cordierite to the whole of the porous material is in the range of 10 to 40 mass %. The oxide films that exist between the particle bodies and the binding material have a thickness less than or equal to 0.90 m.

A ceramic foam filter and a manufacturing method thereof. The ceramic foam filter comprises the following materials provided in respective weight percentages: 20-50% of a silicon carbide, 20-55% of a zirconium oxide, and 10-36% of a silicon oxide, wherein all figures are based on the total weight of the ceramic foam filter. The method for manufacturing the ceramic foam filter comprises the following steps: (a) providing a slurry comprising a silicon carbide, a zirconium oxide or zirconium oxide precursor, a silicon oxide or silicon oxide precursor, a binder, an optional additive, and a fluid carrier medium; (b) applying the slurry to perform surface ornamentation of a perforated organic foam; (c) drying the perforated organic foam surface ornamented with the slurry to obtain a green body; and (d) sintering the green body in oxygen-containing air to obtain the ceramic foam filter.

A honeycomb structure includes a pillar-shaped honeycomb structure body including porous partition walls defining and forming a plurality of cells which extend from an inflow end face to an outflow end face, and a porous outer wall surrounding the partition walls, a porous supporting bulge disposed to extend out from a circumference of the outer wall so that at least a part of the outer wall is exposed, and plugging portions arranged in open ends of the cells, and the supporting bulge has support portions and a side wall portion, and the partition walls and the outer wall of the honeycomb structure body and the support portions and the side wall portion of the supporting bulge are all formed monolithically by formation of a ceramic raw material.

The invention relates to a device, which operates at high temperature, in particular up to 550 C., and in particular between 50 and 350 C., such as an oven or a part of an oven, this device being equipped with at least one insulating product formed from at least one insulating material ,based>on aerogel(s), advantageously in the form of at least one layer, in particular of at least one fibrous layer. based on aerogel(s), said product comprising less than 0.55% by weight of hydrophobizing agent(s).

The invention also relates to the insulating product suitable for this device and to the use of this product for a high-temperature application.