Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing sheets based on hydraulic binder, particularly sheets of plasterboard with feathered edges. This method comprises the steps of: 1) making a mark (301) on a facing (2 or 3) of the preform (5); 2) detecting the mark (301); and 3) sending an actuating signal to a device (9) for cutting the preform (5). The invention also relate to a production line for producing such sheets, and to an apparatus, particularly for making an impression (12, 12bis) in a preform (5). This apparatus comprises: a frame (101); first (102, 103) and second (105, 106) pulleys; two belts (108, 109) wrapped around the pulleys (102, 103, 105, 106); at least one wire (111) extending between these belts (108, 109) so that its axis is parallel to the axis of the pulleys (102, 103, 105, 106).

Abstract: A production line for producing sheets based on hydraulic binder, the production line including in an upstream zone of the production line, marking device for marking a facing material of the preform with a mark; in a downstream zone of the production line, detecting device for detecting the mark made by the marking device; a cutting device; and an actuating device for actuating said cutting device after receiving a detection signal from the detection device.

Abstract: A concrete in which metallic fibers are dispersed, obtained through mixing with water a composition including a cement; ultrafine elements with a pozzolanic reaction; granular elements distributed into two granular classes (C1)>1 mm and <5 mm and (C2) ranges from 5 to 15 mm; cement additions; an amount of water E added in the mixture; a dispersant, and preferably a superplasticizer; metallic fibers, in an amount maximum equal to 120 kg per m3 of concrete, the contents of the various components (a), (b), (C1), (C2), (d) and the amount of water E, expressed in volume, meeting the following relationships: ratio 1: 0.50?(C2)/(C1)?1.20; ratio 2: 0.25?[(a)+(b)+(d)]/[(C1)+(C2)]?0.60; ratio 3: 0.10?(b)/(a)?0.30; ratio 4: 0.05?E/[(a)+(b)+(d)]?0.75; ratio 5: (d)/(a)?0.20. The invention applies to the manufacture of voussoirs without frameworks, of tiles and of elements of the plate, shell type or the like.

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of organic fibers having a melting point lower than 300° C., an average length l more than 1 mm and a diameter Ø not more than 200 ?m, in ultra high performance concrete for improving the concrete fire resistance, the amount of organic fibers being such that their volume ranges between 0.1 and 3% of the concrete volume after setting and the concrete having a compressive strength at 28 days of at least 120 Mpa, a bending strength of at least 20 Mpa, and a spread value in non-hardened state of at least 150 mm, the values being for a concrete preserved at 20° C., the concrete consisting of a particularly hardened cement matrix wherein metal fibres are dispersed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method which consists in mixing the mortar and a setting and hardening accelerator in a screw conveyor (13) and in pouring into the cavity (8) by gravity the resulting mixture through a chute (14, 28, 30).

Abstract: A synthetic slag is produced by melting the mineral content of an organic carbon-containing mineral, for example, oil shale or tar sands, with a source of lime such as cement kiln dust. The organic carbon, especially hydrocarbon, content of the mineral is oxidized by oxygen gas, which typically is derived from air or an air/oxygen combination, in an exothermic reaction and the heat generated provides the thermal energy for the reaction between the mineral content and the source of lime. In this way the gaseous products will typically comprise nitrogen, unreacted oxygen, water vapor and carbon dioxide, and heat energy can be readily recovered from the hot off gas products evolving during the combustion reaction. The synthetic slag may be pelletized and employed as lightweight mineral aggregate or milled, or atomized and then milled, to cement fineness to provide slag cement.

Abstract: A construction assembly for interior works including prefabricated elements, wherein the prefabricated elements include a coating layer formed of at least one skim coat deposited on the prefabricated elements by a coating device; and at least one jointing material, e.g. a sealing coat, joint coat and/or joint pointing coat, which joints adjacent said prefabricated elements to form a substantially plane outer surface.

Abstract: A construction assembly includes a plurality of plaster boards, each of the plaster boards having a plaster body and at least one sheet of liner, the liner including an inner surface attached to the plaster body and an outer surface having an outer face; wherein said plaster boards are assembled creating at least one joint; and a joint-pointing coat jointing said plaster boards to form a substantially plane outer surface including the outer surface of said at least one joint and said outer surface of said liner, wherein the composition of the joint-pointing coat is adapted for the finishing of said at least one joint; wherein both the joint-pointing coat in the dry state and the outer face of the sheet of liner are adapted to form an overall surface having a substantially homogeneous coloration.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing gypsum board includes applying compressed air to an input end of a tube, wherein the tube includes the input end, an output end, and a venturi located between the input end and the output end; admitting a foaming agent to the input end of the tube so as to form a mixture of the compressed air and the diluted foaming agent; passing the mixture through the venturi and out the output end; combining the mixture with gypsum and water to form a gypsum slurry; and casting the gypsum slurry onto a continuous web for forming a gypsum board.

Abstract: A jointing compound or plaster for construction elements, particularly paper-faced plasterboards. This plaster includes, in percentages by weight with respect to the total weight of plaster 50 to 85% of a mineral filler; 1 to 20% of an organic binder dispersible in an aqueous phase; 1 to 15% of a silicate-based agent other than the mineral filler; 0.2 to 5% of a hydrophobic agent which is a silicone derivative; 0.05 to 5% of polyvinyl alcohol; and water to make up to 100%. A method of producing a work such as a partition, a wall covering ox a ceiling is also disclosed.

Abstract: Concrete's durability to freeze-thaw cycles is dependent on its level of air entrainment, the appropriate level of which is achieved with the aid of surface active or air entraining agents. These agents promote the fragmentation of large air voids into smaller ones and stabilize air voids in the concrete. The carbon matter found in fly ash when used as a pozzolanic component of concrete, adsorbs the air entraining agents, reduces the air voids and concrete's ability to withstand many freeze-thaw cycles. This invention teaches a process for a partial removal of the carbon from the coal ash, used in concrete, through a partial combustion of only a fine carbon fraction of the carbon residue of the coal ash responsible for adsorbing the air entraining agents, in a reactor with a controlled ignition system. The process of the invention thus limits the adsorption of the air entraining agents and improves the freeze-thaw properties of the concrete produced.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring attributes such as color, thickness and/or retro reflectivity of a road marking disposed on a road surface. The apparatus includes a vehicle that travels over the road surface. The vehicle transports a measurement system and a computer. The measurement system includes at least one subsystem, which may include a color measurement subsystem, a thickness measurement subsystem and/or a retro-reflectivity measurement subsystem. The computer receives the measurement information from the measurement system.

Abstract: A method of cement clinker manufacture comprises feeding a clinker feed material containing a source of calcium carbonate into a feed end of a cement kiln, the feed material is heat processed in the kiln to produce cement clinker with emission of carbon dioxide from thermal decomposition of said source of calcium carbonate and discharge of the carbon dioxide from the kiln, and cement clinker is discharged from a discharge end of the kiln; a coal ash derived from burning pulverized lignite or sub-bituminous coal is included in the feed material fed into the feed end to replace a portion of the source of calcium carbonate, and provides a source of calcium as well as other components notably silicon and aluminum, in the formation of the cement clinker, with a lowering of the emission of carbon dioxide in the kiln, per unit weight of cement clinker produced.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing plasterboard and a plasterboard manufacturing unit are provided, the process including feeding hydratable calcium sulphate and water into a first mixer (2) and into a second mixer (3); feeding in a facing (5); preparing a first gypsum slurry in the first mixer (2); preparing a second gypsum slurry in the second mixer (3); applying the first slurry onto the facing and forming a crude surface layer; applying the second slurry onto the crude surface layer and forming a crude core layer with a density lower than that of the crude surface layer; forming a plasterboard; hydrating and drying the board. This process allows the formation of the different layers of gypsum to be controlled independently.

Abstract: A synthetic slag is produced by a high temperature combustion reaction between coal ash having a high carbon content, and a source of lime such as cement kiln dust. The carbon content of the coal ash is oxidized by oxygen gas, which typically is derived from air or an air/oxygen combination in an exothermic reaction and the heat generated is exploited in the melting process. In this way the gaseous products will typically comprise nitrogen, unreacted oxygen and carbon dioxide, and heat energy can be readily recovered from the hot off gas products evolving during the combustion reaction. The synthetic slag may be pelletized and employed as lightweight mineral aggregate or milled to cement fineness to provide slag cement.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for applying thermoplastic marking material to a pavement surface. The apparatus includes a hopper for holding a supply of particulate thermoplastic marking material in a non-molten state, a means for conveying the thermoplastic marking material from the hopper to a continuous melt processor, and a conduit from the continuous melt processor to a dispenser that directs molten thermoplastic marking material to the pavement surface. The apparatus further includes means for heating the continuous melt processor and conduit to a temperature that is higher than the melt temperature of the thermoplastic marking material. The present invention also provides a method of applying a thermoplastic marking material to a pavement surface.

Abstract: A clinker-type hydraulic binder obtained by burning comprising a magnesia spinel mineralogical phase and at least a calcium aluminate mineralogical phase, with a lime content less than 15% of the binder by dry weight. The magnesia spinel represents between 68% and 81% by dry weight of the binder and preferably the calcium aluminates consist essentially of CA and CA2, with C═CaO and A═Al2O3. The invention also concerns the use of such a binder for making a refractory concrete and a method for making such a binder. The invention is useful for making steel ladles (1), preferably for their wear lining.

Abstract: A concrete includes organic fibers, dispersed in a cement matrix. The cement matrix includes elements having predetermined particle sizes. The organic fibers have predetermined lengths and diameters. The behavior of the concrete is improved both with respect to the occurrence of minute cracks and the propagation of large cracks as a result of a synergistic effect between the cement matrix and the organic fibers.

Abstract: The invention concerns a self-levelling concrete and a method for making a structural part from said concrete. The concrete which comprises aggregate and solid particles with size grading not more than 12 mm, comprises a superplasticizer which is a compound containing a least an amino-(dialkylene phosphonic) group and at least a polyalkylated chain, or one of its salts. The method is implemented by advantageously pumping the concrete using one or several immersion tubes with their injecting end at a lower level than the framework.

Abstract: A water-resistant prefabricated structural element comprising a substrate based on cured plaster, said substrate being able to be obtained by at least the following steps: (a) homogeneously mixing a dry material, comprising mostly at least one hydratable calcium sulfate, a water-repellent agent comprising at least one silicone compound, and water and preforming said substrate in the wet state; (b) drying the preformed substrate in order to obtain said substrate formed in the solid and dry state; wherein the homogeneous mix, prior to the preforming of the substrate in the wet state, also includes a mineral additive comprising at least one mineral component having a synergistic water-repellency affinity with said silicone compound.