Abstract: An exterior wallboard sheet includes a core having opposing first and second major surfaces. The core may include a monolithic body of aerated concrete. At least one water vapor-permeable, water-resistant face layer may be secured on at least one of the first and second major surfaces of the core. The water vapor-permeable, water-resistant face layer may include a microporous polymer layer. The microporous polymer layer may include a woven polypropylene fabric layer having a plurality of microperforations therein.

Abstract: A system for making wallboard or backerboard sheets may include a mixer for mixing materials for making aerated concrete, at least one face layer supply, and a former downstream from the mixer. The former is for forming core material having opposing first and second major surfaces and comprising aerated concrete, and for securing at least one face layer from the at least one face layer supply onto at least one of the first and second major surfaces of the core material. The system may also include a cutter downstream from the former for cutting the core material and at least one face layer secured thereto into a plurality of wallboard or backerboard sheets. The provision of aerated concrete for the core provides many key advantages over conventional gypsum wallboard sheets, and/or conventional backerboard sheets, such as gypsum greenboard or cementitious backerboard, for example.

Abstract: A backerboard sheet is for moist areas and includes a core having opposing first and second major surfaces, at least one moisture-resistant face layer on at least one of the first and second major surfaces of the core; and wherein the core includes aerated concrete. The provision of aerated concrete for the core provides many key advantages over conventional backerboard sheets, such as gypsum greenboard or cementitious backerboard, for example. The at least one moisture-resistant face layer may include fibers, such as arranged in a woven mesh. The fibers may include at least one of glass, plastic, and metal. In addition, the at least one moisture-resistant face layer may further include a moisture-resistant material incorporating the fibers, such as a suitable resin, for example.

Abstract: A method for making wallboard or backerboard sheets which are relatively lightweight, strong, and which have good fire resistance, thermal insulation, and sound absorbing properties includes forming core material having opposing first and second major surfaces and comprising aerated concrete, securing at least one face layer on at least one of the first and second major surfaces of the core material, and cutting the core material and at least one face layer secured thereto into a plurality of wallboard or backerboard sheets. The provision of aerated concrete for the core provides many key advantages over conventional gypsum wallboard sheets, and/or conventional backerboard sheets, such as gypsum greenboard or cementitious backerboard, for example. In one class of embodiments, the method may further include curing the core material prior to securing the at least one face layer thereto. In another class, the method may further include curing the core material after securing the at least one face layer thereto.

Abstract: A method for making wallboard or backerboard sheets which are relatively lightweight, strong, and which have good fire resistance, thermal insulation, and sound absorbing properties includes forming core material having opposing first and second major surfaces and comprising aerated concrete, securing at least one face layer on at least one of the first and second major surfaces of the core material, and cutting the core material and at least one face layer secured thereto into a plurality of wallboard or backerboard sheets. The provision of aerated concrete for the core provides many key advantages over conventional gypsum wallboard sheets, and/or conventional backerboard sheets, such as gypsum greenboard or cementitious backerboard, for example. In one class of embodiments, the method may further include curing the core material prior to securing the at least one face layer thereto. In another class, the method may further include curing the core material after securing the at least one face layer thereto.

Abstract: A system for making aerated concrete blocks produces such blocks having at least one passageway therein. The system may comprise a molding station for receiving materials for making aerated concrete and for allowing the materials to rise and stiffen into a body, a dividing station downstream from the molding station for dividing the body into an array of blocks, and a curing station downstream from the dividing station for curing the array of blocks. Moreover, the manufacturing system also preferably includes a drilling station downstream from the curing station to drill the at least one passageway extending through each of the blocks. The passageways provide easier grasping by the mason, reduce the weight without significantly compromising strength, and may be aligned in a wall during construction at a building site to facilitate the placement of vertical reinforcing members in the wall. The drilling station may drill a plurality of spaced apart passageways through each block.

Abstract: A method for making aerated concrete blocks includes dispensing materials for making aerated concrete into a mold and allowing the materials to rise and stiffen into a body. The body may be divided into an array of blocks which are then cured. At least one passageway may be formed in each block, such as by drilling. The drilling may include drilling a plurality of spaced apart passageways through each block, and each passageway may have a circular cylindrical shape. The passageways permit easier grasping by the mason, reduce the weight without significantly compromising strength, and facilitate positioning of blocks during construction of a wall to facilitate the placement of vertical reinforcing members in aligned passageways. The positioning of the passageways in each of the blocks may assist alignment of adjacent passageways, especially at wall corners.

Abstract: A method for making aerated concrete blocks includes dispensing materials for making aerated concrete into a mold and allowing the materials to rise and stiffen into a body. The body may be divided into an array of blocks which are then cured. At least one passageway may be formed in each block, such as by drilling. The drilling may include drilling a plurality of spaced apart passageways through each block, and each passageway may have a circular cylindrical shape. The passageways permit easier grasping by the mason, reduce the weight without significantly compromising strength, and facilitate positioning of blocks during construction of a wall to facilitate the placement of vertical reinforcing members in aligned passageways. The positioning of the passageways in each of the blocks may assist alignment of adjacent passageways, especially at wall corners.

Abstract: A system for making aerated concrete blocks produces such blocks having at least one passageway therein. The system may include a molding station for receiving materials for making aerated concrete and for allowing the materials to rise and stiffen into a body, a dividing station downstream from the molding station for dividing the body into an array of blocks, and a curing station downstream from the dividing station for curing the array of blocks. Moreover, the manufacturing system also preferably includes a drilling station downstream from the curing station to drill the at least one passageway extending through each of the blocks. The passageways provide easier grasping by the mason, reduce the weight without significantly compromising strength, and may be aligned in a wall during construction at a building site to facilitate the placement of vertical reinforcing members in the wall. The drilling station may drill a plurality of spaced apart passageways through each block.

Abstract: A method for making wallboard or backerboard sheets which are relatively lightweight, strong, and which have good fire resistance, thermal insulation, and sound absorbing properties includes forming core material having opposing first and second major surfaces and comprising aerated concrete, securing at least one face layer on at least one of the first and second major surfaces of the core material, and cutting the core material and at least one face layer secured thereto into a plurality of wallboard or backerboard sheets. The provision of aerated concrete for the core provides many key advantages over conventional gypsum wallboard sheets, and/or conventional backerboard sheets, such as gypsum greenboard or cementitious backerboard, for example. In one class of embodiments, the method may further include curing the core material prior to securing the at least one face layer thereto. In another class, the method may further include curing the core material after securing the at least one face layer thereto.

Abstract: A wallboard sheet includes a core having opposing first and second major surfaces, at least one face layer on at least one of the first and second major surfaces of the core, and wherein the core includes aerated concrete. The provision of aerated concrete for the core provides many key advantages over conventional wallboard sheets, such as gypsum wallboard, for example. The at least one face layer may include first and second face layers on respective first and second major surfaces of the core. The one or more face layers may include paper. The core may have a generally rectangular shape defining a pair of opposing side edges and a pair of opposing end edges. The first major surface may have beveled portions adjacent respective opposing side edges in some embodiments. The at least one face layer may extend around the opposing side edges. In addition, the opposing end edges of the core may be exposed.

Abstract: A system for making wallboard or backerboard sheets may include a mixer for mixing materials for making aerated concrete, at least one face layer supply, and a former downstream from the mixer. The former is for forming core material having opposing first and second major surfaces and comprising aerated concrete, and for securing at least one face layer from the at least one face layer supply onto at least one of the first and second major surfaces of the core material. The system may also include a cutter downstream from the former for cutting the core material and at least one face layer secured thereto into a plurality of wallboard or backerboard sheets. The provision of aerated concrete for the core provides many key advantages over conventional gypsum wallboard sheets, and/or conventional backerboard sheets, such as gypsum greenboard or cementitious backerboard, for example.

Abstract: A system for making wallboard or backerboard sheets may include a mixer for mixing materials for making aerated concrete, at least one face layer supply, and a former downstream from the mixer. The former is for forming core material having opposing first and second major surfaces and comprising aerated concrete, and for securing at least one face layer from the at least one face layer supply onto at least one of the first and second major surfaces of the core material. The system may also include a cutter downstream from the former for cutting the core material and at least one face layer secured thereto into a plurality of wallboard or backerboard sheets. The provision of aerated concrete for the core provides many key advantages over conventional gypsum wallboard sheets, and/or conventional backerboard sheets, such as gypsum greenboard or cementitious backerboard, for example.

Abstract: A method for making wallboard or backerboard sheets which are relatively lightweight, strong, and which have good fire resistance, thermal insulation, and sound absorbing properties includes forming core material having opposing first and second major surfaces and comprising aerated concrete, securing at least one face layer on at least one of the first and second major surfaces of the core material, and cutting the core material and at least one face layer secured thereto into a plurality of wallboard or backerboard sheets. The provision of aerated concrete for the core provides many key advantages over conventional gypsum wallboard sheets, and/or conventional backerboard sheets, such as gypsum greenboard or cementitious backerboard, for example. In one class of embodiments, the method may further include curing the core material prior to securing the at least one face layer thereto. In another class, the method may further include curing the core material after securing the at least one face layer thereto.

Abstract: A system for making wallboard or backerboard sheets may include a mixer for mixing materials for making aerated concrete, at least one face layer supply, and a former downstream from the mixer for forming core material having opposing first and second major surfaces and comprising aerated concrete. The former is preferably also for securing at least one face layer from the at least one face layer supply onto at least one of the first and second major surfaces of the core material. The former may include a mold downstream from the mixer for receiving the materials for making aerated concrete therein and allowing the materials to rise and stiffen into a body, an autoclave downstream from the mold for curing the body, and a saw blade downstream from the autoclave for sawing the body into sheets of core material. A magnetic field generator is provided adjacent the saw blade for causing the saw blade to be substantially flat to saw substantially flat sheets of core material from the body.

Abstract: A system includes a saw comprising at least one saw blade for sawing at least one body of aerated concrete into sheets of core material having opposing major surfaces, at least one face layer supply, and a conveyor for advancing the sheets of core material along a path of travel as at least one face layer is secured thereto from the at least one face layer supply. The system may further include a shuttle for repetitively advancing the at least one body of aerated concrete past the at least one saw blade to saw successive sheets of core material. The shuttle, in turn, may comprise a car for carrying the at least one body of aerated concrete, a track for guiding the car, and at least one actuator for moving the car along the track. The saw blade may extends in a substantially horizontal direction. Accordingly, the saw may further comprise a vertical indexer for vertically indexing the at least one saw blade to saw successive sheets of core material.

Abstract: A system for making wallboard or backerboard sheets may include a former for forming core material having opposing first and second major surfaces and comprising aerated concrete, and for securing at least one face layer from at least one face layer supply onto at least one of the first and second major surfaces of the core material. The former may include a saw blade for sawing bodies of cured aerated concrete into sheets of core material, a lower conveyor for advancing a series of bodies past the saw blade, and an upper conveyor for conveying a remaining portion of a body downstream from the saw blade back to a position upstream from the saw blade. Accordingly, the former provides for the efficient processing of relatively large cured bodies of aerated concrete to be formed into wallboard or backerboard sheets.