Provided is a ceiling tile coated on at least one surface with an acoustically transparent coating which creates pores at the tile surface and comprises a high Tg polymeric binder, titanium dioxide, and particles selected from the group consisting of void latex particles, hollow glass beads, calcium carbonate, calcium magnesium carbonate, calcined clay and any combination thereof. Compositions for acoustically transparent coatings and methods for making a substrate surface acoustically transparent are provided as well.

A method for the construction of a data center, includes (a) providing a fresh concrete composition including a paste that includes a hydraulic binder, a mineral addition and water, the paste being present in a mixture with sand and aggregates, whereby the paste is present in the concrete composition in a volume of <320 L/m.sup.3 and/or the solid volume fraction of said paste is >50 vol.-% and (b) placing the fresh concrete composition so as to build walls, a floor and/or a ceiling of the data center, which are intended to surround the individual components of computer systems, which are housed in the data center.

A polymer-modified cementitious composition comprising a specific aqueous polymer dispersion and a cementitious material, and such polymer-modified cementitious composition having low ammonia release and providing coating membranes made therefrom with balanced tensile strength and elongation at break.

The present invention relates to a composition for manufacturing methylene malonate cementitious hybrid systems. Particularly, the invention relates to a composition comprising at least one methylene malonate monomer (A), at least one methylene malonate polymer (B), at least one acidic stabilizer (C), and cement (D), to the preparation thereof, and to the use of the composition in construction, particularly as a surface protection material, a structural consolidation material or as a material used in underground constructions.

An acoustical geopolymer panel element includes a layer including a fibre component and a geopolymer binder made from a mixture including ground mineral wool, and an additional layer including mineral wool. The layer including a fibre component and a geopolymer binder has a density in the range of 20-400 kg/m.sup.3, a porosity in the range of 0.75-0.99 and a thickness in the range of 5-75 mm. The ground mineral wool may be ground glass or stone wool and the fibre component may be a wood fibre component, a polymer fibre component and/or a mineral wool component. Further, a geopolymer mixture is provided upon recycling mineral wool which is ground to powder and mixed with an alkali activator component. Additionally, a method for producing acoustical geopolymer panel elements includes grinding elements including mineral wool for provision of a powder component.

A method for the construction of a data center, includes (a) providing a fresh concrete composition including a paste that includes a hydraulic binder, a mineral addition and water, the paste being present in a mixture with sand and aggregates, whereby the paste is present in the concrete composition in a volume of <320 L/m.sup.3 and/or the solid volume fraction of said paste is >50 vol.-% and (b) placing the fresh concrete composition so as to build walls, a floor and/or a ceiling of the data center, which are intended to surround the individual components of computer systems, which are housed in the data center.

A process for producing foamed concrete includes introducing air pores into aqueous concrete compositions by one or more air pore formers and/or by introducing air. The aqueous concrete compositions are based on one or more foam stabilizers, one or more protective colloid-stabilized polymers of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the form of aqueous dispersions or water-redispersible powders, 30% to 95% by weight of cement, based on the dry weight of the components for production of the concrete compositions, optionally one or more fillers, and optionally one or more additives.

The present invention provides a bidirectional energy-transfer system comprising: a thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete, disposed in a structural object; a location of energy supply or demand that is physically isolated from, but in thermodynamic and/or electromagnetic communication with, the thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete; and a means of transferring energy between the structural object and the location of energy supply or demand. The system can be a single node in a neural network. The thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete includes a conductive, shock-absorbing material, such as graphite. Preferred compositions are disclosed for the thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete. The bidirectional energy-transfer system may be present in a solar-energy collection system, a grade beam, an indoor radiant flooring system, a structural wall or ceiling, a bridge, a roadway, a driveway, a parking lot, a commercial aviation runway, a military runway, a grain silo, or pavers, for example.

A fibrous material is treated with a binder solution and then heated. The binder comprises a polyester and a biopolymer, such as starch, where the polyester is a product of reaction of a polyol with an anhydride. A method for manufacturing the treated fibrous material comprises treating it with the binder solution and then heating. A cross-linking agent may be added.

A plaster composition includes a joint compound/drywall mud and from about 0.5 wt % to about 10 wt % silica (e.g., amorphous silica, hydrophilic fumed silica, and/or hydrophobic fumed silica). The plaster composition may be a repair composition. The repair composition may be dispensed as an aerosol using a propellant. The repair composition may be useful for repairing “popcorn” textured ceilings.