The present invention relates to the field of foam formation and stabilization, particularly foamed construction materials, such as cement. Disclosed are additives suitable to obtain mineral foams when added to the corresponding starting materials. The invention provides a ready-to-use product in the form of a solid particulate composition comprising hydrophobized particles (1) and catalytically active particles (2) as defined in claim 1. The invention further provides for manufacturing methods of such ready-to-use product.

The present invention relates to the field of foam formation and stabilization, particularly foamed construction materials, such as cement. Disclosed are additives suitable to obtain mineral foams when added to the corresponding starting materials. The invention provides a ready-to-use product in the form of a solid particulate composition comprising hydrophobized particles (1) and catalytically active particles (2) as defined in claim 1. The invention further provides for manufacturing methods of such ready-to-use product.

The present invention relates to coloured fiber cement products as well as to methods for manufacturing such products. In particular, the present invention provides coloured fiber cement products, which fiber cement products are coloured in the mass, and at least comprise on at least part of their outer surface one or more cured layers of a coating composition, which composition at least comprises a binder and a pigment and/or a filler and is characterized by a pigment volume concentration (PVC) of between about 1% and about 20%. The present invention further provides processes for producing these coloured fiber cement products. Finally, the present invention provides uses of the coloured fiber cement products as building materials. In particular embodiments, the fiber cement products produced by the processes of the present invention can be used to provide an outer surface to walls, both internal as well as external, a building or construction, e.g. as fagade plate, siding, etc.

The present invention relates generally to silicate-based coatings and to methods to make and apply same. In one embodiment, the silicate-coatings of the present invention are formed from a two part mixture of phosphate-based component and a glass-based component. In another embodiment, the silicate-based coatings of the present invention are free from any organic materials.

The present invention relates generally to silicate-based coatings and to methods to make and apply same. In one embodiment, the silicate-coatings of the present invention are formed from a two part mixture of phosphate-based component and a glass-based component. In another embodiment, the silicate-based coatings of the present invention are free from any organic materials.

It is provided a method of cementing comprising a) providing a cement slurry by mixing: i) a cement composition comprising an cement and an amount of magnetic nanoparticles from 0.01 wt. % to 10 wt. % relative to the amount of cement (0.01% to 10% BWOC), wherein the magnetic nanoparticles have a mean particle size determined by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) from 10 nm to 50 nm and a crystallite size determined by the Scherrer equation which is at least an 80% the mean particle size; and ii) water; and b) applying to the cement slurry an alternating magnetic field of from 25 mT to 60 mT at a frequency from 50 kHz to 200 kHz) in order to set the cement slurry. It is also provided the mentioned cementing composition and an article of manufacture obtainable by the method of cementing.

Reactivity mapping methods are provided. A method may include: analyzing each of a group of inorganic particles to generate data about physical and/or chemical properties of the inorganic particles; and generating correlations between the properties of inorganic particles based on the data.

Reactivity mapping methods are provided. A method may include: analyzing each of a group of inorganic particles to generate data about physical and/or chemical properties of the inorganic particles; and generating correlations between the properties of inorganic particles based on the data.

The present invention discloses an artificial stone slab, wherein the raw materials are mixed, pressed, and solidified, and the raw material comprises a main material and an auxiliary material. The main material, according to the total weight ratio of raw materials, comprises from about 20% to about 85% of particles containing hydroxide or metal oxide, from about 0% to about 50% of natural quartz, and from about 5% to about 25% of resin. The auxiliary material comprises a coupling agent and a curing agent, wherein the weight ratio of the coupling agent to the resin is from about 0.6:100 to about 2:100, and the weight ratio of the curing agent to the resin is from about 0.8:100 to about 1.2:100. The present invention also provides methods for manufacturing the aforesaid artificial stone slab. The present invention replaces natural quartz particles with particles containing hydroxide or metal oxide and ensures that the performance of the slab is up to standard, that the quality is more stable and easier to control, the decorative results are better, and finally, the mining of natural quartz is reduced by 10 times, achieving the objectives of greater environmental protection and lower costs. The resulting slab provides stable performance with good decorative results and thus saves resources and is conducive to environmental protection.

The present invention discloses an artificial stone slab, wherein the raw materials are mixed, pressed, and solidified, and the raw material comprises a main material and an auxiliary material. The main material, according to the total weight ratio of raw materials, comprises from about 20% to about 85% of particles containing hydroxide or metal oxide, from about 0% to about 50% of natural quartz, and from about 5% to about 25% of resin. The auxiliary material comprises a coupling agent and a curing agent, wherein the weight ratio of the coupling agent to the resin is from about 0.6:100 to about 2:100, and the weight ratio of the curing agent to the resin is from about 0.8:100 to about 1.2:100. The present invention also provides methods for manufacturing the aforesaid artificial stone slab. The present invention replaces natural quartz particles with particles containing hydroxide or metal oxide and ensures that the performance of the slab is up to standard, that the quality is more stable and easier to control, the decorative results are better, and finally, the mining of natural quartz is reduced by 10 times, achieving the objectives of greater environmental protection and lower costs. The resulting slab provides stable performance with good decorative results and thus saves resources and is conducive to environmental protection.