The current disclosure provides reinforced aerogel compositions that are durable and easy to handle, have favorable performance in aqueous environments, have favorable insulation properties, and have favorable, reaction to fire, combustion and flame-resistance properties. Also provided are methods of preparing or manufacturing such reinforced aerogel compositions. In certain embodiments, the composition has a silica-based aerogel framework, reinforced with an open-cell macroporous framework, and includes one or more fire-class additives, where the silica-based aerogel framework comprises at least one hydrophobic-bound silicon and the composition or each of its components has desired properties.

The present invention relates to fiber cement products comprising an inner core material, which inner core material is covered by at least one outer surface layer, characterized in that: —said inner core material has a density of between about 0.4 and about 0.9 g/cm.sup.3 inclusive, and at least comprises cement and between 1 wt % and 70 wt % (with respect to the total dry weight of said inner core material) of a lightweight filler, and—said at least one outer surface layer has a density of between about 0.9 and about 1.4 g/cm.sup.3 inclusive, and at least comprises fibers and cement.

The present invention relates to fiber cement products comprising an inner core material, which inner core material is covered by at least one outer surface layer, characterized in that: —said inner core material has a density of between about 0.4 and about 0.9 g/cm.sup.3 inclusive, and at least comprises cement and between 1 wt % and 70 wt % (with respect to the total dry weight of said inner core material) of a lightweight filler, and—said at least one outer surface layer has a density of between about 0.9 and about 1.4 g/cm.sup.3 inclusive, and at least comprises fibers and cement.

The invention relates to an aerogel concrete mixture containing a photocatalyst, a photocatalytically active high-performance aerogel concrete obtainable therefrom and a method for producing same.

The invention relates to an aerogel concrete mixture containing a photocatalyst, a photocatalytically active high-performance aerogel concrete obtainable therefrom and a method for producing same.

The present invention relates to a process for producing silica-based thermal insulation moulded body comprising at least 50% by weight of synthetic amorphous silica and not more than 50% by weight of natural silica with a specified particle size, thermal insulation moulded body obtainable by this process and the use thereof for thermal and/or acoustic insulation.

The present invention relates to a process for producing silica-based thermal insulation moulded body comprising at least 50% by weight of synthetic amorphous silica and not more than 50% by weight of natural silica with a specified particle size, thermal insulation moulded body obtainable by this process and the use thereof for thermal and/or acoustic insulation.

What is shown and described is a concrete element including a core concrete layer and a face concrete layer, the face concrete layer being obtained by compacting and hardening a mixture containing a latent hydraulic binder and/or a pozzolanic binder, water, a granular material and an alkaline hardener, with the granular material having, at a screen hole width of 2 mm, a through fraction from 35.5 wt. % to 99.5 wt. % and, at a screen hole width of 0.25 mm, a through fraction from 2.5 wt. % to 33.5 wt. %, each based on the total weight of the granular material.

What is shown and described is a concrete element including a core concrete layer and a face concrete layer, the face concrete layer being obtained by compacting and hardening a mixture containing a latent hydraulic binder and/or a pozzolanic binder, water, a granular material and an alkaline hardener, with the granular material having, at a screen hole width of 2 mm, a through fraction from 35.5 wt. % to 99.5 wt. % and, at a screen hole width of 0.25 mm, a through fraction from 2.5 wt. % to 33.5 wt. %, each based on the total weight of the granular material.

Silica aerogels with improved properties are disclosed together with methods for synthesizing such aerogels. The improved properties include lower thermal conductivity (better insulating capacity), lower acoustic velocity, lower dielectric constant and improved ductility. Greater tunability of the refractive index can also be achieved. The silica aerogels are prepared by a sol-gel processing method that provides better control of the formation or aerogel structures. Generally speaking, the improvements arise from control of the synthesis to create a morphology of primary clusters and diverse-sized secondary clusters of dense silica aerogels separated by less densely packed regions. By providing a broader range of secondary clusters and/or pore sizes and loose connectivity between clusters, reductions can be achieved in thermal conductivity and flexural modulus.