A cost-effective and practical antimicrobial glaze system and glazing process is disclosed herein. The antimicrobial glaze/enamel may comprise at least two layers: a base layer and a top layer. The base layer may contain a typical or normal glaze widely used in sanitary ware, having a low level of zinc oxide. The base layer glaze may be directly sprayed on the clay body surface. A thin top glaze layer is sprayed on top of the base glaze layer and the top layer may contain a high level of zinc oxide.

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 tile backer board has 29 wt % to 40 wt % of a magnesium oxide dry powder containing 80 wt % to 98 wt % of magnesium oxide, 14 wt % of 18 wt % of a magnesium chloride dissolved in water; 0.1 wt % to 10 wt % of a stabilizing material with a phosphorus-containing compound, reacting into an amorphous phase cementitious material. The phosphorus-containing compound is a phosphorous acid (A) or a phosphoric acid (B). 0.1 wt % to 30 wt % of an aggregate is added and then a reinforcing component is mixed in or the cement is poured onto the reinforcing component forming a tile backer board.

A process to make a tile backer board includes using a stabilizing material with a phosphorus-containing compound, reacting magnesium containing starting materials into an amorphous phase cementitious material, and adding 0.1 wt % to 30 wt % of an aggregate and a reinforcing component by mixing in or pouring over the reinforcing component and allowing the amorphous phase cementitious material to cure into a tile backer board.

A process to make a cementitious material includes 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. A portion of the amorphous phase cementitious material grows a plurality of crystals. The plurality of crystals is encapsulated by the amorphous phase cementitious material forming a nano-molecular veneer.

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 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.

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 a mineral outer surface having a surface porosity of no more than about 10%. The present disclosure also 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.

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 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.