Abstract: A process for treating a substrate made of stone material, preferably in the form of slabs, is provided which process improves the mechanical, thermal and catalytic properties of the substrate. The process includes applying a protective coating to the outer surface of the substrate made of stone material and, to improve adhesion of the protective coating to the outer surface of the substrate, preliminarily subjecting the substrate to one or more pre-treatment steps that eliminate or reduce the presence of pollutants and porosity on the surface of the substrate. The pre-treatment of the substrate made of stone material comprises at least one step of treatment under vacuum conditions inside an autoclave, preferably under pressure conditions lower than 10?2 mbar. Then, after having brought the substrate back to ambient pressure, it is possible to apply and effectively adhere the protective coating to the surface of the stone material.

Abstract: A process for treating a substrate made of stone material, preferably in the form of slabs, is provided which process improves the mechanical, thermal and catalytic properties of the substrate. The process includes applying a protective coating to the outer surface of the substrate made of stone material and, to improve adhesion of the protective coating to the outer surface of the substrate, preliminarily subjecting the substrate to one or more pre-treatment steps that eliminate or reduce the presence of pollutants and porosity on the surface of the substrate. The pre-treatment of the substrate made of stone material comprises at least one step of treatment under vacuum conditions inside an autoclave, preferably under pressure conditions lower than 10?2 mbar. Then, after having brought the substrate back to ambient pressure, it is possible to apply and effectively adhere the protective coating to the surface of the stone material.

Abstract: A pack (P) of slabs is formed by positioning successive layers of ornamental slabs of stone alternating with supplementary layers of slabs in succession on a support base (10). A liquid-tight container (C) is then formed around the pack (P) with a peripheral space left around the edges of the layers. The container (C) is then subjected to a vacuum and a settable fluid binder is introduced into the container that the binder fills the whole of the peripheral space, penetrates the gaps between the slabs, and covers the pack of slabs. The vacuum is then released and the binder is permitted to set to produce a consolidated pack of slabs in a block in which the faces of the block corresponding to the edges of the layers are covered by a hermetic covering of binder. The block is then cut to produce composite panels.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method for cutting blocks of stone (12), by means of a gangsaw (1) provided with diamond sector blades (35), comprising, besides a reciprocal approaching movement between the blades (35) and the block (12) and a periodical reciprocating movement of the blades (35), also a cyclic movement of approaching and moving away of the blades (35) relative to the block (12) and a hunting movement of the blade-holder frame. (FIG.