Abstract: One may obtain an excellent protective coating for a fabric made of heat-resistant fibers, in particular a fabric made of glass fibers like those used for the manufacture of filters in the metallurgical industry, when use is made, as a starting material, of a composition comprising an organic part made of sugar and a mineral part comprising colloidal silica and wollastonite. This composition allows thermoforming of the fabric and gives to the same a very strong protection and a rigidity. This is particularly interesting when the fabric is used for making a filter like those used during the casting of a liquid metal, especially liquid aluminum.

Abstract: This moldable refractory composition is intended to be used in the production of cast refractory pieces resistant to molten metals, especially molten aluminum. It comprises 8 to 25% by weight of an aqueous phosphoric acid solution having a concentration of phosphoric acid ranging from 40 to 85% by weight, with up to 50% of the primary acidic function of the acid phosphoric acid neutralized by reaction with vermiculite. It also comprises from 75 to 92% by weight of a mixture containing wollastonite and an aqueous suspension containing from 20 to 40% by weight of colloidal silica. The weight ratio of the aqueous suspension to the wollastonite within the mixture ranges from 0.5 to 1.2. The composition according to the invention is particularly interesting in that it can be unmolded within a very short period of time that is less than 2 hours and can be as small as 10 minutes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a decorative, non-combustible, synthetic fire-log for use in a gas or oil burning fireplace or stove. This synthetic fire-log has a density ranging from 15 to 45 lb/pi.sup.3. It is made by pouring a mineral foam into a mold shaped as a natural wood-log and letting this foam harden in the mold to form the synthetic fire-log prior to unmolding the same and letting it dry. The foam that is used for such a molding comprises 1 part by weight of a solution of phosphoric acid in which polyvinyl alcohol is dissolved in such an amount as to make the solution viscous; from 0.03 to 6 parts by weight of wollastonite containing from 0.5 to 4% by weight of a carbonate salt; from 0.2 to 10 parts by weight of water optionally one or more pigments to give a natural wood-like aspect to the synthetic fire-log; and, optionally also, a small amount of reinforcing glass fibers. The synthetic fire-log that is so-obtained looks like a natural wood-log and has the same glowing aspect in use.