A process is provided for producing a biomass-derived rheology modifier, comprising: providing a pretreated feedstock comprising cellulose-rich solids; refining the cellulose-rich solids in a first high-intensity refining unit, generating refined cellulose solids; gelling the refined cellulose solids in a second high-intensity refining unit, thereby generating gelled cellulose solids; and homogenizing the gelled cellulose solids in a high-shear homogenizer, thereby generating a biomass-derived rheology modifier. The pretreated feedstock may include kraft pulp, sulfite pulp, AVAP® pulp, soda pulp, mechanical pulp, thermomechanical pulp, and/or chemimechanical pulp, derived from wood or lignocellulosic biomass. The pretreated feedstock may be GP3+® pulp, obtained from steam or hot-water extraction of lignocellulosic biomass. These rheology modifiers may be utilized in a wide variety of applications, including water-based or oil-based hydraulic fracturing fluid formulations, as gelling agents. These rheology modifiers are biodegradable, and their production does not directly involve chemicals other than biomass and water.

A process is provided for producing a biomass-derived rheology modifier, comprising: providing a pretreated feedstock comprising cellulose-rich solids; refining the cellulose-rich solids in a first high-intensity refining unit, generating refined cellulose solids; gelling the refined cellulose solids in a second high-intensity refining unit, thereby generating gelled cellulose solids; and homogenizing the gelled cellulose solids in a high-shear homogenizer, thereby generating a biomass-derived rheology modifier. The pretreated feedstock may include kraft pulp, sulfite pulp, AVAP® pulp, soda pulp, mechanical pulp, thermomechanical pulp, and/or chemimechanical pulp, derived from wood or lignocellulosic biomass. The pretreated feedstock may be GP3+® pulp, obtained from steam or hot-water extraction of lignocellulosic biomass. These rheology modifiers may be utilized in a wide variety of applications, including water-based or oil-based hydraulic fracturing fluid formulations, as gelling agents. These rheology modifiers are biodegradable, and their production does not directly involve chemicals other than biomass and water.

The present invention relates to methods for the production of fresh cured fiber cement products. More particularly, the present invention provides methods for the production of fresh fiber cement products comprising cured fiber cement waste material, at least comprising the steps of: (a) Providing a cured fiber cement waste powder by comminuting cured fiber cement waste material; (b) Providing an aqueous fiber cement slurry comprising water, cementitious binder, natural or synthetic fibers and said cured fiber cement waste powder; (c) Forming a green fiber cement sheet from said aqueous fiber cement slurry; and (d) Autoclave-curing said green fiber cement sheet thereby providing a fresh fiber cement product.

The present invention relates to methods for the production of fresh cured fiber cement products. More particularly, the present invention provides methods for the production of fresh fiber cement products comprising cured fiber cement waste material, at least comprising the steps of: (a) Providing a cured fiber cement waste powder by comminuting cured fiber cement waste material; (b) Providing an aqueous fiber cement slurry comprising water, cementitious binder, natural or synthetic fibers and said cured fiber cement waste powder; (c) Forming a green fiber cement sheet from said aqueous fiber cement slurry; and (d) Autoclave-curing said green fiber cement sheet thereby providing a fresh fiber cement product.

The present invention relates to fiber cement products comprising a first layer, which first layer is covered by at least one second layer, characterized in that said first layer is the top layer and the first layer material has a density of between about 0.4 and about 0.9 g/cm.sup.3 inclusive, and at least comprises cement and between 1 wt % and 70 wt % (relative to the total dry weight of said first layer material) of a lightweight filler, and said at least one second layer is the bottom layer and covers only one of the main surfaces of the first layer, thereby forming a bi-layered fiber cement product, wherein the second layer material has a density of between about 0.9 and about 1.4 g/cm.sup.3 inclusive, and at least comprises fibers and cement.

A process for providing a fiber cement product is provided the process comprising the steps of: —providing an uncured fiber cement product; —curing said uncured fiber cement product; —drying said cured fiber cement product to obtain a humidity of said cured fiber cement product being less than or equal to about 8% w; —abrasive blasting at least part of the surface of said dried fiber cement product.

A process for providing a fiber cement product is provided the process comprising the steps of: —providing an uncured fiber cement product; —curing said uncured fiber cement product; —drying said cured fiber cement product to obtain a humidity of said cured fiber cement product being less than or equal to about 8% w; —abrasive blasting at least part of the surface of said dried fiber cement product.

The present invention relates to pale-colored fiber cement products at least comprising white cement and synthetic fibers, wherein the synthetic fibers are pigmented with at least one dark pigment chosen from the group consisting of a black pigment, a brown pigment, a blue pigment, a red pigment, a green pigment and a gray pigment. The present invention further relates to methods for the production of these pale-colored fiber cement products as well as to uses thereof in the building industry.

The present invention relates to pale-colored fiber cement products at least comprising white cement and synthetic fibers, wherein the synthetic fibers are pigmented with at least one dark pigment chosen from the group consisting of a black pigment, a brown pigment, a blue pigment, a red pigment, a green pigment and a gray pigment. The present invention further relates to methods for the production of these pale-colored fiber cement products as well as to uses thereof in the building industry.

The present invention relates to fiber cement products comprising an inner core material, which inner core material is covered by at least one outer surface layer, characterized in that: —said inner core material has a density of between about 0.4 and about 0.9 g/cm.sup.3 inclusive, and at least comprises cement and between 1 wt % and 70 wt % (with respect to the total dry weight of said inner core material) of a lightweight filler, and—said at least one outer surface layer has a density of between about 0.9 and about 1.4 g/cm.sup.3 inclusive, and at least comprises fibers and cement.