The present invention relates to a granular thermal insulation material comprising hydrophobized silicon dioxide and at least one IR opacifier, having a tamped density of up to 250 g/l and a compressive strength according to DIN EN 826:2013 at 50% compression of 150 to 300 kPa or greater than 300 kPa, to processes for production thereof and to the use thereof for thermal insulation.

The present invention relates to a granular thermal insulation material comprising hydrophobized silicon dioxide and at least one IR opacifier, having a tamped density of up to 250 g/l and a compressive strength according to DIN EN 826:2013 at 50% compression of 150 to 300 kPa or greater than 300 kPa, to processes for production thereof and to the use thereof for thermal insulation.

The present disclosure concerns expandable silica particles having a coating comprising talc powder and kaolin powder provided on the outer surface of the expandable silica particle and expandable and expanded silica particles comprising silica fume and/or ultrafine quartz silica sand beneath the surface of the particles. Methods for producing expandable and expanded silica particles are disclosed, including a method using a vibration plate and a furnace having a vibration plate for carrying out that method. The expanded silica particles have high compressive strength, substantially uniform cell size and distribution, low water absorption, and low porosity on the outer surface. They are useful as a filler in matrix materials, like concrete or epoxy, as insulation material with various binder materials, and as water filtration medium.

The present disclosure concerns expandable silica particles having a coating comprising talc powder and kaolin powder provided on the outer surface of the expandable silica particle and expandable and expanded silica particles comprising silica fume and/or ultrafine quartz silica sand beneath the surface of the particles. Methods for producing expandable and expanded silica particles are disclosed, including a method using a vibration plate and a furnace having a vibration plate for carrying out that method. The expanded silica particles have high compressive strength, substantially uniform cell size and distribution, low water absorption, and low porosity on the outer surface. They are useful as a filler in matrix materials, like concrete or epoxy, as insulation material with various binder materials, and as water filtration medium.

A concrete composition that includes (i) a treated palm oil fuel ash, wherein the treated palm oil fuel ash is the only binder present, (ii) a fine aggregate, (iii) a coarse aggregate, and (iv) an alkali activator containing an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate. A cured concrete made from the concrete composition is also disclosed with advantageous compressive strength properties.

A concrete composition that includes (i) a treated palm oil fuel ash, wherein the treated palm oil fuel ash is the only binder present, (ii) a fine aggregate, (iii) a coarse aggregate, and (iv) an alkali activator containing an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate. A cured concrete made from the concrete composition is also disclosed with advantageous compressive strength properties.

A method is provided for producing a microfiber-reinforced high-strength concrete, comprising a cement matrix with a microfiber addition. The fiber elements have a shape-memory alloy. The method has at least the following steps: training a fiber shape of the fiber elements at a temperature above a transition temperature, wherein the fiber shape allows the fiber elements to latch; cooling the trained fiber elements; plastically deforming the fiber elements from the trained fiber shape into an intermediate form by means of which the fiber elements are prevented from latching; introducing the fiber elements into the cement matrix in order to form a fresh concrete; and casting the fresh concrete and heating the fresh concrete to the transition temperature such that the fiber elements reform into the fiber shape, thereby latching the fiber elements. The invention additionally relates to a microfiber-reinforced concrete which is produced using such a method.

A method is provided for producing a microfiber-reinforced high-strength concrete, comprising a cement matrix with a microfiber addition. The fiber elements have a shape-memory alloy. The method has at least the following steps: training a fiber shape of the fiber elements at a temperature above a transition temperature, wherein the fiber shape allows the fiber elements to latch; cooling the trained fiber elements; plastically deforming the fiber elements from the trained fiber shape into an intermediate form by means of which the fiber elements are prevented from latching; introducing the fiber elements into the cement matrix in order to form a fresh concrete; and casting the fresh concrete and heating the fresh concrete to the transition temperature such that the fiber elements reform into the fiber shape, thereby latching the fiber elements. The invention additionally relates to a microfiber-reinforced concrete which is produced using such a method.

Concrete may be melted to form a glass product. Methods and batch compositions including concrete may be used to produce amorphous silica materials including, but not limited to, glass, container glass, fiber glass, glass bead, glass spheres, sheet or plate glass, glass aggregate, glass sand, abrasives, proppants, foamed glass, and manufactured glass articles. The initial processing steps include preparing a melt batch comprising concrete and, optionally, other components, melting the melt batch, and cooling the melted melt batch. Further processing steps may be utilized to produce the glass article.

Concrete may be melted to form a glass product. Methods and batch compositions including concrete may be used to produce amorphous silica materials including, but not limited to, glass, container glass, fiber glass, glass bead, glass spheres, sheet or plate glass, glass aggregate, glass sand, abrasives, proppants, foamed glass, and manufactured glass articles. The initial processing steps include preparing a melt batch comprising concrete and, optionally, other components, melting the melt batch, and cooling the melted melt batch. Further processing steps may be utilized to produce the glass article.