Described herein are compositions and methods relating to functionalized sands or soils.

A photovoltaic power source includes a receptacle to receive a photofuel including a liquid, and one or more photovoltaic cells positioned within the receptacle to receive light emitted from the photofuel when the photofuel is in the receptacle. The photovoltaic power source also includes power circuitry coupled to the one or more photovoltaic cells to receive a photocurrent generated by the one or more photovoltaic cells when the one or more photovoltaic cells receive the light emitted from the photofuel. In response to the photocurrent, the power circuitry is coupled to output electricity.

Provided are highly water-resistant, flexible cementitious coating compositions comprising: an aqueous styrene-butadiene latex, one or more epoxy silane, cement, and one or more solid filler. The epoxy silane may comprise one or more epoxy functional groups and one or more hydrolysable functional groups selected from siloxy, silane, and, silanol or combinations thereof. Also provided are kits comprising the components of the cementitious coating compositions, methods for providing coatings, layers or membranes derived from such wet compositions, as well as the coatings, layers or membranes derived therefrom.

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 waterproofing system including a functional layer S1 including 10-80 wt.-% of at least one thermoplastic polymer P1 and 10-80 wt.-% of at least one solid particulate filler F, wherein the surface of the functional layer S1 has an Auto-correlation length of waviness W(Sal) of at least 50 m. Further, a method for producing a waterproofing system and to the use of a mechanical surface treatment step to increase the waviness factor, determined as the ratio of the Root mean square roughness of waviness W(Sq) to the square of the Auto-correlation length of waviness W(Sal), of a surface of a functional layer S1.

The object of the invention is a method for infiltrating a ceramic, artificial or natural stone surface, wherein a material forming a bond with valences on the surface is applied and mechanically rubbed onto the surface, whereby frictional heat is generated, wherein the material is used as a solution or suspension, and which comprises applying a hydrophobizing infiltration composition onto the surface to be coated, followed by rubbing it in until a homogeneous distribution and filling of the pores in the surface is achieved for improving the surface properties.

Asphalt, chemically reacted, comprising a bifunctional organosilane of the epoxy, amino and ureide type in a proportion of 0.4 to 2% by weight; at least one petrous aggregate; and a catalyst in a proportion of 10 to 20% by weight; wherein said bifunctional organosilane is selected from the groups consisting of 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)-ethyltrimetoxisilane, 2-3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)-ethyltrietoxisilane, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, 3-aminopropyl silanetriol, 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-aminopropylmethyldiethoxysilane, N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropylmethyldimetilsilane, 3-(2-aminoethylaminopropyl)-trimethoxysilane, N-(2-aminoethyl)-3 aminopropyl triethoxysilane, 3-(2-aminoethylamino)-propyl-dimethoxysilane, trimethoxysilane diethylenetriamine propyl-3, -piperazinyl butyl dimethyl propyl silane, 3-(N-phenylamine) propyltrimethoxysilane, 3-(N, N-dimethylaminopropyl) aminopropyl-methyldimethoxysilane, 3-ureidepropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-ureidepropyltrietoxisilano; and wherein said bifunctional organosilane increases the asphalt adhesion with the at least one petrous aggregate and the water resistance even in case of immersed into the same. Said asphalt is designed to be used in the production of hot and cold asphaltic mixtures as well as foamed asphalt, asphaltic emulsions and other applications related to the use thereof.

Concrete is formed by providing a wet layer of a first concrete 4, applying a second wet layer 6 of concrete on the first layer 4 of wet concrete and setting the layers 4 and 6 to provide a composite concrete structure, wherein at least one of the layers comprises, AACM (Alkali-Activated Cementitious Material). An ionic bond 2 is formed between the two layers. The AACM layer may comprise a reinforcement structure and cathodic protection.

The invention relates to a method for producing hydrophilic silicia moulded bodies, in which i) a mixture containing hydrophilic silicic acid is added at a maximum temperature of 55 C. to hydrophobic means and ii) the mixture obtained in step i) is compacted after a maximum storage time of 30 days to form moulded bodies, iii) during steps ii and iii and until the moulded bodies are used, the temperature is at a maximum of 55 C.

Embodiments may include a coated granule for roofing systems. The coated granule may include an aluminum silicate granule and a coating disposed on the aluminum silicate granule. The coating may include a copolymer and a siloxane-based or a silane-based compound. The copolymer may be a cationic fluorinated (meth)acrylic copolymer. The aluminum silicate granule may have a particle size in a range from 0.2 mm to 2.4 mm. The aluminum silicate granule may have a 65% or greater reflectivity. The coated granule may repel oil and maintain its reflectivity better than with other techniques.