An apparatus for forming compacted powder products. The apparatus includes a powder supply system and a compacting station. An emitter emits an input X-ray beam having a predetermined emission intensity. An output detector detects an output parameter representing an output intensity of the X-ray beam which passes through the powders. A reference detector detects a reference parameter representing the effective intensity of the X-ray beam generated. A control unit is programmed to compensate the output parameter by means of the reference parameter and to generate a control signal representing the density detected and to control the powder supply system by means of the control signal.

Laminate components and methods for forming the same are provided. In one exemplary aspect, one or more features are laser cut into or along a laminate component or laminate sections thereof. The features are laser cut into or along the laminate component in an atmosphere. In this manner, and oxide layer is formed on the laser cut surfaces of the future. The features are laser cut into or along the laminate component or laminate sections thereof prior to an infiltration process, such as melt infiltration or chemical vapor infiltration. Accordingly, when the laminate component is infiltrated with an infiltration material, the infiltration material is prevented from infiltrating therethrough.

The present invention relates to an artificial marble and a manufacturing method of an artificial marble. In addition, the present invention relates to a screening mask and a pattern mold for manufacturing the artificial marble.

The present invention provides a composition, a gypsum board and their preparation method and the use of ascorbic acid as an anti-sagging additive in a gypsum board. Said gypsum board comprises set gypsum prepared from the composition; while said composition comprises hemi-hydrate gypsum, water and a compound comprising ##STR00001##
group and no carboxylate groups. The set gypsum prepared from the said composition shows better anti-sagging or deformation resisting property. The gypsum board of the present invention is hardly distorted and has stronger stability even in the condition of high humidity, thus improve the quality of the gypsum board to meet the demands of the customer.

Disclosed is a foam modifier, e.g., useful for gypsum or cement slurries. The foam modifier comprises a fatty alcohol that is added to a gypsum or cement slurry that includes foaming agent, such as an alkyl sulfate surfactant. The fatty alcohol can be a C.sub.6-C.sub.16 fatty alcohol in some embodiments. The use of such a foam modifier can be used, for example, to stabilize the foam, reduce waste of foaming agent, improve void size control in the final product, and improve the gypsum board manufacturing process.

An apparatus for forming compacted powder products. The apparatus includes a powder supply system and a compacting station. An emitter emits an input X-ray beam having a predetermined emission intensity. An output detector detects an output parameter representing an output intensity of the X-ray beam which passes through the powders. A reference detector detects a reference parameter representing the effective intensity of the X-ray beam generated. A control unit is programmed to compensate the output parameter by means of the reference parameter and to generate a control signal representing the density detected and to control the powder supply system by means of the control signal.

A method of forming a flexible carbon composite self-lubricating seal includes compressing a carbon composite mixture into a mold forming a flexible carbon composite self-lubricating annular seal.

Provided is a method for producing stone inlay tesserae for forming a mosaic pattern surface, the method comprises the steps of: providing at least one core made from a natural stone material; providing a mold having an internal surface that defines an internal cavity for accommodating the at least one core, the internal cavity has a volume larger than that of the at least one core, such that an internal space is formed between the internal surface of the mold and the at least one core when the at least one core is placed within the mold; adding a molding composite into the mold to fill the internal space; solidifying the molding composite, thereby forming a hybrid tessera column comprising a stone inlay and an external layer seamlessly around the at least one core; demolding the hybrid tessera column from the mold; and cutting the hybrid tessera column into a plurality of stone inlay tesserae.

An apparatus for removing the plastic mold around cured concrete in a plastic test specimen includes a baseplate with upstanding framework that supports two spaced vertical rods to which a cross-member is slidably mounted to move up and down the rods. At least one blade member is carried by the cross-member such that upon descent it may cut away the plastic of the mold so the cured concrete test cylinder may be removed. The cross-member is driven up and down by a lever arm pivotally mounted to the framework and includes a linkage between the lever arm and cross-member to transfer energy downward from the lever arm to cut and strip away the plastic mold from the concrete.

Method and facility or apparatus for cutting a slipform cast hollow-core concrete product with water jet cutting, wherein in the outer surface of the fresh cast hollow-core concrete product is formed depressions or grooves in the areas to be cut with water jet cutting before curing of the hollow-core concrete product, which depressions or grooves extend in the area of the hollow-cores of the concrete product.