An article includes a body having a first phase comprising alpha silicon carbide and pores contained in the body; the pores having a mean spacing distance of at least 205 microns and not greater than 300. The body can have a ballistic.

A composite member includes an inorganic matrix part made from an inorganic substance and a dispersed component present in a dispersed state within the inorganic matrix part and having elasticity, wherein a material making up the dispersed component has a modulus of elasticity in tension of 100 Pa or more and 3.5 GPa or less. The composite member has a porosity of 20% or less in a section of the inorganic matrix part.

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 process of fabricating a static structure including an interior volume that includes the steps of mixing coal combustible residual (CCR) with structural reinforcing materials to form a construction material and utilizing the construction material to fabricate exterior enclosure-forming components of the static structure. The enclosure-forming components are sufficiently reinforced, enhanced and/or thick to provide protection against exterior forces directed against the structure.

This disclosure is directed to an improved ballistic concrete barrier for stopping projectiles with a kinetic energy of between about 1.0 kJ (750 foot-pounds) and 20.3 kJ (15,000 foot-pounds) in between about 3 inches and 10 inches.

The invention relates to processes for making improved ultra-high performance concrete with plasma-treated inclusions and articles made from the same. The invention includes a process for producing silicon carbide and multiwalled carbon nanotubes by heating agricultural waste husks in an inert atmosphere to a temperature higher than 1300 degrees C. to obtain a mixture containing silicon carbide and MWCNTs, and treating the mixture to extract the silicon carbide and MWCNTs for use as microinclusions in ultra high performance concrete.

An object of the present invention is to obtain a cement-based calcined board-shaped construction material having improved impact resistance.

The cement-based calcined board-shaped construction material of the present invention is characterized by being produced by adding 0.5 to 5 wt % of a ceramic inorganic fiber and/or a mineral inorganic fiber to 100 wt % of a compound comprising 5 to 40 wt % of Portland cement, 5 to 30 wt % of a glass powder, and a remainder occupied by a refractory aggregate mainly composed of a silica-alumina refractory raw material, kneading the resulting material, then shaping the kneaded material into an elongated board shape by extrusion, and subsequently calcining the shaped material.

Also, it is the cement-based calcined board-shaped construction material which is produced by sticking a glass fiber sheet to the rear side of the cement-based calcined board-shaped construction material.

The present invention provides fiber cement articles, such as roof tiles having improved impact and hail resistance and methods for making them. The fiber cement articles comprise cement, an optional filler, reinforcing fibers, such as poly(vinyl alcohol) fibers or a mixture of cellulosic and synthetic fibers, one or more core-shell aqueous emulsion polymers having a crosslinked rubbery core with a calculated glass transition temperature (calculated Tg) of from −20 to −140° C., and an at least partially grafted acrylic or vinyl shell polymer having a calculated Tg of from 20 to 170° C., and having a Z-average primary particle size of from 55 to 800 nm, or, preferably, from 140 to 650 nm. The solids weight ratio of the crosslinked rubbery core to the shell of the core-shell aqueous emulsion polymer may range from 85:20 to 97:3.

This disclosure is directed to an improved ballistic concrete barrier for stopping projectiles with a kinetic energy of between about 1.0 kJ (750 foot-pounds) and 20.3 kJ (15,000 foot-pounds) in between about 3 inches and 10 inches. In one embodiment, the ballistic concrete barrier comprises (a) about 1 part by mass Portland cement; (b) about 0.5 to 1.5 part by mass fine aggregate; (c) about 0.005 to 0.15 part by mass fiber; (d) about 0.005 to 0.05 part by mass calcium phosphate; (e) about 0.005 to 0.05 part by mass aluminum hydroxide; and (f) about 0.0005 to 0.05 part by mass air entrainment additive, such that the ballistic concrete barrier is capable of stopping a fifty caliber bullet in less than 10 inches from a point of entry into the barrier.

This disclosure is directed to an improved ballistic concrete barrier for stopping projectiles with a kinetic energy of between about 1.0 kJ (750 foot-pounds) and 20.3 kJ (15,000 foot-pounds) in between about 3 inches and 10 inches. In one embodiment, the ballistic concrete barrier comprises (a) about 1 part by mass Portland cement; (b) about 0.5 to 1.5 part by mass fine aggregate; (c) about 0.005 to 0.15 part by mass fiber; (d) about 0.005 to 0.05 part by mass calcium phosphate; (e) about 0.005 to 0.05 part by mass aluminum hydroxide; and (f) about 0.0005 to 0.05 part by mass air entrainment additive, such that the ballistic concrete barrier is capable of stopping a fifty caliber bullet in less than 10 inches from a point of entry into the barrier.