Hydrophobic shaped silica bodies having low density and low thermal conductivity are produced by forming a dispersion of silica in a solution of binder and organic solvent, and removing the solvent and shaping to form a shaped body. The shaped bodies retain their hydrophobicity, are stable with regards to shape, and are useful in acoustic and thermal insulation.

The present application relates to the field of building insulation materials, and specifically discloses a coating fluid, a non-combustible insulation board and a preparation method therefor. The coating fluid comprises 30-60 parts of flame retardant, 20-40 parts of styrene-acrylic emulsion, 10-25 parts of arabic gum, 12-18 parts of titanium dioxide and 150-200 parts of water. The non-combustible insulation board is prepared from EPS particles, a grouting material and the coating fluid of the present application, the weight ratio of the coating fluid to the EPS particles to the grouting material is 0.6:(0.8-1.5):(12-20), and the non-combustible insulation board has the heat conductivity coefficient of below 0.045 w/m.Math.k, the combustion grade of above A2 and the compressive strength of 0.12-0.18 MPa. The preparation method for a non-combustible insulation board is simple in operation, easy in control and suitable for mass production.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to calcium-free aluminum-based cement formulations designed for applications under supercritical conditions and in corrosive environments. In an aspect, alkali activation of aluminum hydroxide at high temperatures leads to the formation of mineral phases stable under supercritical and superhot conditions. In another aspect, these include, but are not limited to, crystalline phases of boehmite and paragonite and, optionally, a minor vlasovite phase. In yet another aspect, the compositions and articles made therefrom, such as geothermal well sheaths, are stable under the extreme conditions, and water-fillable porosity and mechanical properties of these cement formulations persist through super-critical exposure.

The invention provides an aerogel-concrete mixture, a high-performance aerogel concrete obtained therefrom, and a method for production thereof. The problem addressed by the present application is that of providing pressure-resistant but not very thermally conductive concretes, precast concrete components, screeds, screeds for precast components, (glassfibre-) reinforced concrete, fire protection panels, construction elements for thermal partition and blocks. The aerogel-concrete mixture contains: 10% to 85% by volume/m.sup.3 of aerogel pellets having a grain size in the range from 0.01 to 4 mm, 100 to 900 kg/m.sup.3 of inorganic hydraulic binder, 10% to 40% by weight based on the binder content of at least one silica gel suspension, 1% to 5% by weight based on the binder content of at least one plasticizer, 0.2% to 1% by weight based on the binder content of at least one stabilizer and 0% to 60% by volume/m.sup.3 of at least one lightweight aggregate.

The present invention relates to a thermal emissivity coating composition comprising: a) an emissivity agent in an amount from 30 to 65% by weight with respect to the total weight of the thermal emissivity coating composition; b) a filler selected from the group consisting of oxides of aluminum, silicon, magnesium, calcium, boron and mixtures of two or more thereof, in an amount from 10 to 35 wt % with respect to the total weight of the thermal emissivity coating composition; and c) a binder in an amount from 12 to 52 wt % with respect to the total weight of the thermal emissivity coating composition; wherein the emissivity agent comprises cobalt oxide in an amount from 10 to 25 wt %, preferably 12 to 25 wt % with respect to the total weight of the thermal emissivity coating composition and further comprises chromium oxide and titanium oxide.

Provided is a production process for a nitrogen foamed concrete self-insulating block, comprising the following steps: pre-preparing a foaming liquid filled with nitrogen, pre-preparing a concrete slurry, preparing a foamed concrete slurry, casting moulding, carrying out thermal insulating and demoulding. At the same time, further provided is a foaming device used for the production process for a nitrogen foamed concrete self-insulating block, comprising a foaming agent storage tank, a vacuum foaming tank, a compressed nitrogen pipe, a first transfer pump and a second transfer pump. The block has the advantages of a low heat conductivity coefficient and durability.

In order to produce a high performance thermally insulating rendering, a dry blend is provided that consists essentially of: 60 to 90 Vol.-% of a hydrophobized granular silica aerogel; 0.5 to 30 Vol.-% of a purely mineral binder; 0.2 to 20 Vol.-% of an open-porous water-insoluble or slowly water soluble additive having an accessible pore volume from 10 to 90 Vol.-%; up to 5 Vol.-% reinforcing fibers; andup to 5 Vol.-% of processing additives. After mixing the dry blend with water, the slurry thus formed can be applied to a surface or shaped to a self-supporting body using an overpressure without adversely affecting the thermal insulation properties.

A method of manufacturing a composite granular grouting material according to the present invention comprises: mixing bentonite and auxiliary component; forming spherical composite granules by agritating the mixture of bentonite and auxiliary component; drying the formed composite granules; and forming bentonite layer having lower density for forming slurry outside the composite granules by mixing bentonite with the spherical composite granules and agritating the same. The grouting material according to the present invention has excellent thermal conductivity and water blocking capability.

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.

The present invention relates to lightweight fine ceramic particulates, directly obtained from fly ash, their use in different technical fields and building material compositions comprising the same.

Lightweight fine ceramic particulates, especially sintered synthetic sand, as disclosed herein are characterized in that the grading of the particulates is as follows:

TABLE-US-00001 Sieve size (mm) 2 1 0.5 0.25 Passing (mass-%) >98 55 to 80 30 to 45 2 to 4

Disclosed is further the use of lightweight fine ceramic particulates according to the invention as aggregate for construction purposes, especially in combination with fly ash.

Lightweight fine ceramic particulates according to the invention are further used as additive in paint or coating formulations, as foundry sand, additive for waste water treatment, substrate for horticultural purposes, for hydroponic gardening, for green roofing purposes or for applications in geotechnics.

Disclosed are also building material compositions in form of mortar or concrete, comprising the lightweight fine ceramic particulates according to the invention.

The lightweight fine ceramic particulates according to the invention, and especially the building material compositions derived from them, are advantageous in respect to superior quality and workability, sound insulation and sustainability from internal curing.