A ceramic article in the form of a sanitary, culinary or laboratory article, comprising a ceramic base body and also a fired glaze applied on said base body, the fired glaze comprising SiO2 at 45-55 mass %, Al2O3 at 6-12 mass %, ZnO at 15-35 mass %, and additionally PbO at 0.1-15 mass % and/or CuO at 0.025-2 mass % and/or Bi2O3 at 0.25-7 mass %.

A shear panel building material that includes a first facing membrane, a core matrix disposed on a face of the first facing membrane, and a semi-rigid or rigid material attached to the core matrix. The core matrix can include microspheres having a size of about 200 microns to about 800 microns, sodium silicate, and ethylene vinyl acetate. In one aspect, the shear panel is substantially free from glue and cement.

A method of making a ceramic glaze formulation having an antimicrobial property for use with a ceramic article. The method comprises fritting an antimicrobial formulation in a flux frit, providing least one unfritted antimicrobial component, providing a silver carrier in a glass matrix, and combining the flux frit, the at least one unfritted component, and the silver carrier in the glass matrix to form the ceramic glaze formulation. The silver carrier is combined at an addition rate based on a dry weight basis of the ceramic glaze formulation. A ceramic glaze additive formulation and ceramic glazed article are also provided.

A method to make an ultra-stable structural laminate of a cementitious material with a nano-molecular veneer and a foam component catalytically reacted into an expanded closed cell foam having a thickness from .sup.th inch to 8 inches, a density from 1.5 pounds/cubic foot to 3 pounds/cubic foot that inter-engages the cementitious material forming a matrix creating the ultra-stable structural laminate with fire resistance; a lateral nail pull strength from 44 pounds to 300 pounds of force; an insulation R value from 1 to 40; a resistance to seismic impact for earthquakes over 3.1 on the Richter Scale; a break point from 7 lbs/inch to 100 lbs/inch; and a resistance to wind shear equivalent to a 15 mph downburst.

An ultrastable cementitious material with nano-molecular veneer makes a cementitious material by blending 29 wt % to 40 wt % of a magnesium oxide dry powder containing 80 wt % to 98 wt % of magnesium oxide based on a final total weight of the cementitious material, with 14 wt % to 18 wt % of a magnesium chloride dissolved in water and reacting to form a liquid suspension, mixing from 2 to 10 minutes, adding a phosphorus-containing material, and allowing the liquid suspension to react into an amorphous phase cementitious material, wherein a portion of the amorphous phase cementitious material grows a plurality of crystals. The plurality of crystals are encapsulated by the amorphous phase cementitious material forming a nano-molecular veneer. A process to make the ultrastable cementitious material. A tile backer board incorporating the ultrastable cementitious material and a process for making the tile backer board.

A biocidal additive package comprises at least one metal or metal containing compound selected from the group consisting of Cu.sub.2O, Cu(OH).sub.2, Cu, CuO.sub.3, Cu.sub.2O.sub.3, and a combination thereof, and at least one non-copper metal or non-copper containing metal compound. Non-limiting examples of non-copper metal and non-copper containing metal compounds are Ag, Ag.sub.2O, Bi, Bi.sub.2O.sub.3, Zn, ZnO, or a combination thereof. A biocidal ceramic glaze layer and an article comprising a biocidal ceramic glaze layer are provided. Also provided is a method of affixing a biocidal ceramic glaze to a substrate.

A ultrastable cementitious material with nano-molecular veneer makes a cementitious material by blending 29 wt % to 40 wt % of a magnesium oxide dry powder containing 80 wt % to 98 wt % of magnesium oxide based on a final total weight of the cementitious material, with 14 wt % to 18 wt % of a magnesium chloride dissolved in water and reacting to form a liquid suspension, mixing from 2 to 10 minutes, adding a phosphorus-containing material, and allowing the liquid suspension to react into an amorphous phase cementitious material, wherein a portion of the amorphous phase cementitious material grows a plurality of crystals. The plurality of crystals are encapsulated by the amorphous phase cementitious material forming a nano-molecular veneer.

A cementitious inorganic material having improved durability and strength is provided. The cementitious inorganic material includes an inorganic cured matrix, a plurality of cellulosic nanofibers embedded in the inorganic cured matrix, an agent for dispersing the cellulosic nanofibers in the inorganic cured matrix, and an aggregate dispersed throughout the inorganic cured matrix. The inventive cementitious inorganic material provides improved resistance to sulphate attack, chloride attack, vegetation growth, and consequent damage such as expansive cracking, thereby enhancing the durability of cement. A process of making the cementitious inorganic material includes blending the cellulosic nanofibers with water until a homogenous solution is achieved, mixing the dispersing agent with the homogenous mixture, mixing the inorganic matrix material with the homogenous solution, mixing in the aggregate, and allowing the mixture to cure.

This invention relates to polymeric compositions for application onto natural stone in order to provide for long-term chemical, stain, and water resistance, along with antimicrobial properties. Many natural, unsealed stones do not have stain, etch, or water resistance. The described compositions were developed using a technology of chemical grafting that involves the use of prepolymers, monomers, catalysts, graft initiators, wetting agents, antimicrobial agents, and other ingredients. The composition, when thus applied to the stone surface allows it to obtain a graft polymerization, thereby forming a polymer film that is chemically attached to the natural stone, rather than typical physical bonding of other sealer compositions. The natural stones react with a graft initiator in the composition, which creates the reaction sites on the natural stone surface via free radical mechanisms. This in turn renders the natural stone to be receptive to attachment of monomers/prepolymers forming a polymeric film chemically bonded to the natural stone which then has the desired properties in terms of resistance to staining, etching, water penetration, etc., used in homes and light commercial applications, as well as for exterior use on building facades, monuments and the like.

Disclosed are a micrometer/nanometer silver-loaded barium titanate foam ceramic and a preparation method therefor. An organic additive is used as an auxiliary; deionized water is used as a solvent; nanometer barium titanate is used as a ceramic raw material; and same are mixed and ground so as to form a slurry. A pre-treated polymer sponge is impregnated in the slurry for slurry coating treatment and a barium titanate foam ceramic blank is obtained after drying; and then a barium titanate foam ceramic is obtained through sintering. Through dopamine modification, micrometer/nanometer silver is in-situ deposited on a skeleton surface so as to obtain a modified micrometer/nanometer silver-loaded barium titanate foam ceramic. The modified micrometer/nanometer silver-loaded barium titanate foam ceramic is then put into a newly prepared Tollens' reagent for further reduction so as to obtain a micrometer/nanometer silver-loaded barium titanate foam ceramic with a three-dimensional network skeleton structure.