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 novel process enables designing of raw materials and processing parameters, enabling synergistic and simultaneous chemical reactions among the various reactants of the design mix of chemical precursor of brine sludge which includes barium sulphate, magnesium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, sodium chloride, silica, aluminum containing compounds necessary for developing highly efficient shielding phases leading to homogenous matrix of shielding materials.

The novel process enables designing of raw materials and processing parameters, enabling synergistic and simultaneous chemical reactions among the various reactants of the design mix of chemical precursor of brine sludge which includes barium sulphate, magnesium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, sodium chloride, silica, aluminum containing compounds necessary for developing highly efficient shielding phases leading to homogenous matrix of shielding materials.

The invention relates to a method for utilizing mineral materials for additive manufacturing that can be implemented more quickly, more economically and with greater technical simplicity, in comparison with common additive manufacturing, by virtue of controlled expansion in the sintering process by means of a laser source. The entire production process is free of organic materials and allows previously unfeasible end uses in the fields of acoustic insulation, thermal insulation, fire protection, filtration, design objects and lightweight components to be realized. In particular, the invention relates to a method for producing a product by means of 3-D printing or additive manufacturing, wherein an open-pore lightweight part is constructed layer-by-layer, without the use of organic binders or other organic auxiliary agents, from a pulverous mineral starting raw substance of natural origin, which raw substance is obtained without chemical alteration of the solid constituents of the natural material, and wherein, beginning with the second layer, the most recently applied layer is bonded to the surface of the existing body of the lightweight part by means of immediately subsequently performed direct selective laser sintering.

The invention relates to a method for utilizing mineral materials for additive manufacturing that can be implemented more quickly, more economically and with greater technical simplicity, in comparison with common additive manufacturing, by virtue of controlled expansion in the sintering process by means of a laser source. The entire production process is free of organic materials and allows previously unfeasible end uses in the fields of acoustic insulation, thermal insulation, fire protection, filtration, design objects and lightweight components to be realized. In particular, the invention relates to a method for producing a product by means of 3-D printing or additive manufacturing, wherein an open-pore lightweight part is constructed layer-by-layer, without the use of organic binders or other organic auxiliary agents, from a pulverous mineral starting raw substance of natural origin, which raw substance is obtained without chemical alteration of the solid constituents of the natural material, and wherein, beginning with the second layer, the most recently applied layer is bonded to the surface of the existing body of the lightweight part by means of immediately subsequently performed direct selective laser sintering.

What are described are a process for producing an insulating product for the construction materials industry or an insulating material as intermediate for production of such a product, and a corresponding insulating material/insulating product. Also described are the use of a matrix encapsulation method for production of composite particles in the production of an insulating product for the construction materials industry or of an insulating material as intermediate for production of such a product, and the corresponding use of the composite particles producible by means of a matrix encapsulation method.

What are described are a process for producing an insulating product for the construction materials industry or an insulating material as intermediate for production of such a product, and a corresponding insulating material/insulating product. Also described are the use of a matrix encapsulation method for production of composite particles in the production of an insulating product for the construction materials industry or of an insulating material as intermediate for production of such a product, and the corresponding use of the composite particles producible by means of a matrix encapsulation method.

Disclosed are composite materials comprising a porous, carbonated, calcium silicate ceramic having a microstructure comprising interconnected open pores; where the calcium silicate surface defining the pores is partially or completely coated with an amorphous silica layer, and the silica coating comprises an overlayer of calcium carbonate crystals; where the silica coating and calcium carbonate overlayer form a network that interconnects throughout the ceramic microstructure, but do not completely occlude the pores. Also disclosed are methods of forming such composite materials.

Disclosed are composite materials comprising a porous, carbonated, calcium silicate ceramic having a microstructure comprising interconnected open pores; where the calcium silicate surface defining the pores is partially or completely coated with an amorphous silica layer, and the silica coating comprises an overlayer of calcium carbonate crystals; where the silica coating and calcium carbonate overlayer form a network that interconnects throughout the ceramic microstructure, but do not completely occlude the pores. Also disclosed are methods of forming such composite materials.