This document describes systems and processes for forming stone slabs, which may be suitable for use in living or working spaces (e.g., along a countertop, table, floor, shower surrounds, tiles, or the like). In some embodiments, the stone slabs may be processed by partially filling a mold with a particulate mineral mix, and preparing a top surface of the particulate mineral mix to received one or more additional materials.

An approach to seeker windows for aircraft comprises a window layer comprising an IR transparent material, the window layer comprising a first side and a second side substantially opposite the first side; and a heating layer on the first side or the second side of the window layer, the heating layer configured to apply a heating profile to the window layer to reduce thermal shock imparted to the window layer when the seeker window is exposed to hypersonic flight conditions.

A coating of structures or elements or parts made of plastic material obtained by molding includes a finish layer; a reinforcement layer coupled to the finish layer, from the opposite side to the exposed face, to form a sandwich; and a heat-sealable film coupled in its solid form to the reinforcing layer, wherein this sandwich is suited to be coupled to a support part in a plastic material obtained by molding, and wherein this coupling occurs during the molding of the support part by way of the heat-sealable film suited to be activated at the molding temperature.

An aqueous binder for mineral fibers, in particular glass fibers, includes at least one ammonium lignosulfonate or one alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of lignosulfonic acid, and at least one carbonyl compound of formula: R—[C(O)R.sub.1].sub.x (I) in which: R represents a saturated or unsaturated and linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon radical, a radical including one or more aromatic nuclei which consist of 5 or 6 carbon atoms, a radical including one or more aromatic heterocycles containing 4 or 5 carbon atoms and an oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur atom, it being possible for the R radical to contain other functional groups, in particular hydroxyl or alkoxy groups, especially methoxy groups, R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl radical, and x varies 1 to 10, the binder being devoid of hydrogenated sugar and of melamine.

A process for applying an anti-fragmentation system to manufactured articles made of natural stone or ceramic, and a respective manufactured article equipped with such an anti-fragmentation system, which is provided with at least one retaining member having an adhesive surface, and a manufactured article in the form of a slab and having a first, visible surface with a respective ornamental appearance, and a second, non-visible surface opposite to said first surface; the retaining member is associated with the manufactured article by joining the adhesive surface to said second surface.

Ceramic and stone tiles are shown, which are provided with a locking system including a separate strip part connected to vertical and horizontal grooves formed in the tile edge. A set of ceramic or stone tiles including a first tile provided with a first edge and a second tile provided with a second edge wherein the tiles are provided with a locking system for locking the first edge to the second edge in a horizontal direction parallel with a tile surface and in a vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction, said locking system includes a first and a second tongue and a strip part provided with a first and a second locking element.

A floor element for forming a floor covering, the floor element comprising a decorative layer comprising a ceramic material, an intermediate layer comprising a resin material, and a support layer arranged below the decorative layer, wherein the support layer comprises edges provided with coupling elements configured to realize a mechanical coupling with coupling elements of an adjacent floor element and wherein the resin material comprises a modulus of elasticity greater than 0.1 GPa, preferably greater than 0.5 GPa, even more preferably greater than 1 GPa.

The present invention provides a system, method, and apparatus for producing a dimensionally stable extruded board product for use in surface coverings. The board product may be a basalt casting powder-based product for use as a substrate for wall or other surface coverings or may be used as a core layer in a modular floor covering unit. The modular floor covering unit comprises multiple layers. The layers are a thin cut stone veneer layer, a core layer with a density similar to that of the thin cut stone veneer layer, and an optional magnetically receptive underlayment layer. Other layers or combinations of layers may also be used.

A floor, wall or ceiling panel comprises a core and a decorative top layer provided on the core. The core comprises a magnesium oxide-based board material, and wherein the aforementioned panel, on at least two opposite edges, is provided with coupling means allowing that two of such panels can be interlocked at the respective edges.

A method for making a layered structure without any defects, including a first support layer, a second support layer, and an adhesive intermediate layer interposed between the first layer and the second layer which is adapted to fix the layers on each other. The intermediate layer embeds operatively at least a three-dimensional macroscopic element being made of crystal glass or precious stones, and the intermediate layer is made of a thermoplastic resin having a melting temperature.