Compositions, methods, and articles of manufacture relating to a transparent/translucent insulating material formed by a hybrid silica gel composition made of porous silica particles joined with each other by silane crosslinking through a three dimensional silica network. In one embodiment, the hybrid silica gel includes small porous silica particles, and is made by a process that avoids energy intensive techniques.

The present disclosure provides a method of biocementation comprising contacting a granular, cohesionless soil with a solution, wherein the solution comprises urea, urease, a source of calcium ions, and a source of non-urease proteins, wherein the urea, urease, source of calcium ions, and source of non-urease proteins are provided in effective amounts suitable to cause crystallization of calcium carbonate.

The present invention relates to a three component composition consisting of a polyol component (A) comprising at least two polyols, one with high and one with low molecular weight, and water, a polyisocyanate component (B) comprising a methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) product with an average NCO functionality of at least 2.5, or a methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) product with an average NCO functionality of at least 2 and at least one further polyol with an amount of between 1% and 30% based on the weight of said polyisocyanate component (B), wherein said MDI product and said polyol have reacted at least partially, and a powder component (C) comprising at least one hydraulic binder, preferably cement and/or calcined paper sludge, preferably a calcium compound selected from calcium hydroxide and/or calcium oxide, and optionally one or more aggregates. Polyurethane cementitious hybrid flooring or coating systems having glossy/semiglossy surfaces, good workability and outstanding mechanical properties can be achieved. Blister formation can be avoided.

A method for manufacturing a sintered body, the method including heating a mixture that contains a plurality of particles of a metal oxide having a spinel-type structure, and a metal acetylacetonate under pressure at a temperature of from a melting point or higher of the metal acetylacetonate to 600 C. or lower, to form a sintered body that contains the metal oxide having the spinel-type structure.

A method for manufacturing a sintered body, the method including heating a mixture that contains a plurality of particles of a metal oxide having a spinel-type structure, and a metal acetylacetonate under pressure at a temperature of from a melting point or higher of the metal acetylacetonate to 600 C. or lower, to form a sintered body that contains the metal oxide having the spinel-type structure.

A method for manufacturing a sintered body, the method including heating a mixture that contains a plurality of particles of a metal oxide having a spinel-type structure, and a metal acetylacetonate under pressure at a temperature of from a melting point or higher of the metal acetylacetonate to 600 C. or lower, to form a sintered body that contains the metal oxide having the spinel-type structure.

A method for manufacturing a sintered body, the method including heating a mixture that contains a plurality of particles of a metal oxide having a spinel-type structure, and a metal acetylacetonate under pressure at a temperature of from a melting point or higher of the metal acetylacetonate to 600 C. or lower, to form a sintered body that contains the metal oxide having the spinel-type structure.

A method for making geopolymer cementitious binder compositions for cementitious products such as concrete, precast construction elements and panels, mortar and repair materials, and the like is disclosed. The geopolymer cementitious compositions of some embodiments are made by mixing a synergistic mixture of thermally activated aluminosilicate mineral, calcium aluminate cement, a calcium sulfate and a chemical activator with water.

Disclosed herein are concrete and asphalt crack filler compounds and methods for utilizing them. According to some embodiments, a method of utilizing one of the compounds can include the steps of (1) obtaining a surface crack filler compound, (2) depositing the surface crack filler compound into a surface crack (e.g., concrete, asphalt, etc.), and (3) depositing water onto the surface crack filler compound to cause the surface crack filler compound to solidify and fill the surface crack. Additionally, and according to some embodiments, the method can further include, prior to depositing the surface crack filler compound into the surface crack: removing debris from the surface crack using at least one of a brush, pressurized air, or pressurized water.

The invention relates to a modified geopolymer and a modified geopolymer composite comprising additive. The additive is preferably an athermanous additive. The modification is with one or more water-soluble compounds, the water-soluble compound is preferably selected from phosphorus compounds, nitrogen compounds, copper compounds, silver compounds, zinc compounds, tin compounds and magnesium compounds. Also, it relates to compositions which contain the modified geopolymer or modified geopolymer composite. The compositions preferably comprise vinyl aromatic polymer and are in the form of a foam.