A self-supporting inorganic and radiation-hard neutron shielding panel for use in absorbing thermal neutrons. The panel is constructed substantially of concrete and includes a high level of boron by weight to enhance the absorption of thermal neutrons. A layer of radiation-resistant fiber reinforcement within the panel enables production of a thin, strong panel that is self-supporting and easily transportable. Mounting means are included on the panel to facilitate easy mounting on a wall or similar surface. The panels are constructed entirely of inorganic materials and include at least 58% boron by weight to maximize their effectiveness in shielding against thermal neutrons. Further disclosed are methods for forming the neutron-shielding panels.

The use of bacteria-based binders to bind and strengthen 3D printed compositions; bio-plastic 3D printing materials comprised of combinations of particles of organic substrates such as coffee, pistachio shells and coconut shells, as well as sand (and combinations of one or more of the foregoing); processes for creating scent-free bio-plastic 3D printing material and products from such particles; the application of a copper finish, chrome finish and powder finish to bio-plastics made from such particles; and products and fixtures, such as sinks, toilets, faucets, coffee mug molds, lighting fixtures, and coffee cups, comprising non-flammable bio-plastic created by a process of 3D printing from such particles. Processes for imparting color or structure or surface texture to these and binding and strengthening them using enzyme-secreting bacteria.

The present invention is directed to processes for making cementitious construction material, in particular magnesium oxychloride (MOC) cementitious construction material (e.g., MOC boards). The processes relate to one or more operations of the overall material production process, including material storage and handling, mixing of materials, curing to form magnesium oxychloride cement, board handling, and/or packaging. Various processes of the present invention involve process control strategies and/or algorithms to provide improved processes for producing construction material. In particular, the processes of the present invention provide improvements in board properties as detailed below (e.g., racking strength), speed of board production, economics of board production, reduction in complexity of manufacture, improvements in consistency of board manufacture, and improvements in quality control.

What is shown and described is a concrete element including a core concrete layer and a face concrete layer, the face concrete layer being obtained by compacting and hardening a mixture containing a latent hydraulic binder and/or a pozzolanic binder, water, a granular material and an alkaline hardener, with the granular material having, at a screen hole width of 2 mm, a through fraction from 35.5 wt. % to 99.5 wt. % and, at a screen hole width of 0.25 mm, a through fraction from 2.5 wt. % to 33.5 wt. %, each based on the total weight of the granular material.

In the field of decorative floor coverings, decorative panels are known having a MDF (Medium Density Board) or HDF (High Density Board) based core layer on top of which a decorative substrate is attached to provide the panels a desired appearance. The invention relates to a panel, in particular a decorative panel, a floor panel, a ceiling panel or a wall panel. The invention also relates to a floor covering consisting of a plurality of mutually coupled panels.

A building panel structure is disclosed, in which building panels are used to form a structure. Roof panels and roof panel tiles are disclosed, which can be used to form the roof of the structure. The roof panels and the building panels include a core and a coating covering a portion of the core. In some embodiments the core consists of a frame and at least one insulating structural block. The insulating structural blocks can be encapsulated polystyrene (EPS) foam blocks. In some embodiments the coating includes ceramic material. In some embodiments the coating includes a first layer and a second layer. In some embodiments the coating is used to retrofit existing wall structures. The roof panel and the roof tile can be shaped, formed, and colored to look like traditional roof tiles such as shake roof tiles or Spanish roof tiles.

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of solid waste recycling and fabricated buildings, and provides a solid waste large-mixing-amount concrete prefabricated laminated slab and a preparation method thereof. The solid waste large-mixing-amount concrete prefabricated laminated slab provided by the present disclosure comprises a prefabricated layer and a laminated layer. Transverse grooves and longitudinal grooves are formed in the surface of the prefabricated layer. During application, the grooves can be used for erecting pipelines, the contact area of the prefabricated layer and the laminated layer can also be increased, the combined effect of new concrete and old concrete is improved, the integrity of a floor slab is enhanced, and the effect of improving the overall stress capacity of the floor slab is achieved.

Embodiments may include a coated granule for roofing systems. The coated granule may include an aluminum silicate granule and a coating disposed on the aluminum silicate granule. The coating may include a copolymer and a siloxane-based or a silane-based compound. The copolymer may be a cationic fluorinated (meth)acrylic copolymer. The aluminum silicate granule may have a particle size in a range from 0.2 mm to 2.4 mm. The aluminum silicate granule may have a 65% or greater reflectivity. The coated granule may repel oil and maintain its reflectivity better than with other techniques.

A fire insulation precursor material formed of cement, in an amount of between 10-30% w/w; and an aluminium or magnesium hydroxide, huntite or hydromagnesite in an amount of between 60-90% w/w/. A fire insulation material is provided including the previously mentioned precursor material. Further described are methods of forming a fire insulation material and applications for such material in sheaths, duct coatings, cable trays and other elongate components.

The present invention relates to fiber cement flooring products. In particular, the present invention provides fiber cement flooring products, at least comprising cement and fibers, characterized in that these fiber cement flooring products comprise amorphous silica in an amount of between about 2 weight % and about 15 weight % compared to the total dry weight of the fiber cement composition of said fiber cement flooring product. The present invention further relates to methods for the production of such fiber cement flooring products as well as uses of such fiber cement flooring products in the building industry. The present invention further relates to fiber cement formulations and fiber cement materials, which are suitable for the production of fiber cement products for flooring applications.