Bentonite-based grout fluids and methods of using the grout fluids are provided. A method of using a grout fluid includes placing a geothermal conduit in at least one hole in the earth, providing a grout fluid including a bentonite-based grout at a concentration of about 15 pounds to about 25 pounds of bentonite-based grout per about 11.5 gallons (e.g., 12 gallons) to about 27 gallons of water, and introducing the grout fluid into the at least one hole adjacent to the geothermal conduit.

A system and method for producing an aerogel composite material includes a reaction vessel having a movable carrier basket for receiving a plurality of fiber mats, and a plurality of plates to space the fiber mats apart from one another. Once the plates have been removed, there are gaps between the aerogel insulating boards, through which hot drying air can be blown during a drying process. The method has the advantage that the quantities of solvents and reagents to be disposed of are minimal, and in addition thereto, no complex work-up processes are necessary.

Lightweight molding produced from a dry mixture including graphite particles and a binder for setting of the dry mixture by water, alkali and/or aqueous salt solution, where the proportion by mass of the graphite particles in the dry mixture is more than 0.05, the binder includes magnesia binder, cement, caustic calcined magnesite, lime and/or clay powder, the density of the lightweight molding is in the range from 0.1 g/cm.sup.3 to 3.5 g/cm.sup.3 and the lightweight molding has a thermal conductivity of at least 0.5 W/mK.

A method of making a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete is described. The concrete has a coarse aggregate partly replaced by recycled plastic pieces. This enables the concrete to maintain a high compressive strength, low thermal conductivity, and low weight, while providing a use for waste plastic. The waste plastic pieces may comprise polyethylene in the form of flakes, fibers, or granules. Due to its low unit weight, adequate compressive strength and high thermal resistance the developed concrete can be used as a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete. The use of this concrete leads to economic and environmental benefits.

A method of making a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete is described. The concrete has a coarse aggregate partly replaced by recycled plastic pieces. This enables the concrete to maintain a high compressive strength, low thermal conductivity, and low weight, while providing a use for waste plastic. The waste plastic pieces may comprise polyethylene in the form of flakes, fibers, or granules. Due to its low unit weight, adequate compressive strength and high thermal resistance the developed concrete can be used as a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete. The use of this concrete leads to economic and environmental benefits.

A process for manufacturing an inorganic foam includes (i) separately preparing an aqueous foam and a cement slurry, the cement slurry including water W, a cement C, a water-reducing agent, a water-soluble calcium salt, a water-soluble silicate salt, the calcium/silicon molar ratio being 0.7 to 1.7 and the W/C weight ratio being 0.25 to 0.40, and given that the calcium ion concentration is 0.03 to 0.97%, expressed as weight percent relative to the weight of the cement, and that the silicate ion concentration is 0.04 to 1.67%, expressed as weight percent relative to the weight of the cement; (ii) contacting the cement slurry obtained with the aqueous foam to obtain a foamed cement slurry; and (iii) shaping the foamed cement slurry obtained in step (ii) and allowing setting to occur.

A method of making a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete is described. The concrete has a coarse aggregate partly replaced by recycled plastic pieces. This enables the concrete to maintain a high compressive strength, low thermal conductivity, and low weight, while providing a use for waste plastic. The waste plastic pieces may comprise polyethylene in the form of flakes, fibers, or granules. Due to its low unit weight, adequate compressive strength and high thermal resistance the developed concrete can be used as a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete. The use of this concrete leads to economic and environmental benefits.

A concrete composition for use in construction that is free of cement includes calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CSH), polypropylene (PP) fiber, sand, retarders, and superplasticizers. The retarders include poly condensed amino acid and calcium (Ca) salt. The superplasticizers include specially formulated polycarboxylate powder. Further, a method of using the concrete composition in one or more construction related activities (e.g., architectural applications) includes adding the concrete composition to water in a mixer, the concrete composition including CSH, PP fiber, sand, a retarder, and a superplasticizer; and blending the concrete composition with water in the mixer for a first predetermined amount of time. The method further includes mixing the concrete composition with water at a predetermined sheer in the mixer for a second predetermined amount of time. The method excludes the steps of steam curing, accelerated curing, and water curing that are used in conventional solutions.

A refractory article includes a body having a first portion defining at least a portion of a first exterior surface of the body, the first portion including a carbide, and further including a second portion defining at least a portion of a second exterior surface of the body opposite the first exterior surface, the second portion including an oxide, and a thermal conductivity difference (TC) of at least 10 W/mK between the first exterior surface and the second exterior surface, and an average Shell Temperature of not greater than 400 C.

A method for producing a thermally insulating mortar includes introducing water, cement and a liquid surfactant containing a foam concentrate that forms a foam in a predetermined mixing ratio into a mixing device provided with a mixing impeller, and rotating the mixing impeller at a very high speed, wherein a homogeneous mixing between the water, the cement and the formed foam occurs.