Abstract: Formulations and coatings that seal and protect sensitive natural porous stone, such as, calcareous stone from acid etching. The formulations include one-part and two-part formulations for coating calcareous stones in interior and exterior environments. Various formulations of the invention may include an acrylic hybrid polymer dispersion, a polyurethane dispersion binder, and water. The polyurethane dispersion binder may include one or more acrylic urethane hybrid polymer dispersions or acrylic dispersions or acrylic hybrid polymer dispersions. The acrylic hybrid polymer dispersion may be an epoxy-acrylic hybrid polymer dispersion. The two-part formulations may further include a first hydroxyl function acrylic binder dispersion and a second epoxy functional silane hardener that are mixed together to form the coatings of the invention.

Abstract: A support for installing facing materials such as ceramic tiles on a substrate such as floors, walls and ceilings wherein the support plate has a plurality of spaced apart recesses in the plate material, with the recesses being open at the top surface and have solid sidewalls and a base, and a plurality of slots in the non-recessed portions of the plate material extending through the top surface and bottom surface, the slots joining one or more adjacent recesses. The support plate of the invention is used for tile installations between the substrate and such tile. Thin-set mortar that is used to secure the tile to the support plate flows into the recesses and into the slots forming a continuous bond between the mortar and the adjacent slots providing for a strong bond between the support plate, mortar and the tiles.

Abstract: Methods and high visible-light reflective reactive resinous coatings that increase visible light inside a grow house and enhance plant growth therein. A pre-dispersion of a resin, zinc oxide, one or more fillers, and retroreflective microspheres, is mixed with a one-part or two-part reactive coating system to provide a high-reflectance reactive resin coating composition. At least one or more layers of the high-reflectance reactive resin coating composition is coated onto a substrate inside the grow house and allowed to cure. The cured high-reflectance reactive resin layer has a light reflectance increase up to 60% in lumens increasing an amount of visible light inside the grow house to enhance plant growth.

Abstract: Methods of forming composite block briquettes of prefabricated thinsets, grouts, and self-leveling underlayment products having high sand content, and the resultant composite block briquettes. Processing conditions within a compacting tool are controlled to generate a press force that is applied to a prefabricated cementitious product having a high sand content, whereby the press force enables formation of sustainable prefabricated product briquettes having a high sand content. The controlled compacting processing conditions and parameters of the invention generate usable briquettes that break up and form the intended resultant product of the starting prefabricated cementitious product.

Abstract: Electronic trowels, systems and methods of applying a layer of material using the present electronic trowels. The various electronic trowels include a handle, at least one blade, and one or more sensors residing on or within the trowel. The trowel is for applying a layer of material over a surface area, whereby the one or more sensors detect and collect material installation data during application of the layer of material over the surface area. One or more electronic devices coupled to the one or more sensors receive and analyze the collected installation data for monitoring and controlling the application of the layer of material to ensure a desired end product is achieved. Application errors may be detected before, during, or after the installation process.

Abstract: A support for installing facing materials such as ceramic tiles on a substrate such as floors, walls and ceilings wherein the support plate has a plurality of spaced apart recesses in the plate material, with the recesses being open at the top surface and have solid sidewalls and a base, and a plurality of slots in the non-recessed portions of the plate material extending through the top surface and bottom surface, the slots joining one or more adjacent recesses. The support plate of the invention is used for tile installations between the substrate and such tile. Thin-set mortar that is used to secure the tile to the support plate flows into the recesses and into the slots forming a continuous bond between the mortar and the adjacent slots providing for a strong bond between the support plate, mortar and the tiles.

Abstract: Thermally conductive cementitious compositions for use in flooring installations that are applied over a heat radiating flooring system to increase the thermal conductance of the flooring system and increase the rate of heating the flooring system. The thermally conductive cementitious compositions include a cementitious composition, amorphous flake graphite carbon, and an aqueous solution suitable for use as a thermally conductive mortar, grout or adhesive for flooring installations. The thermally conductive cementitious compositions also include a cementitious composition, mesh fine aluminum oxide, mesh coarse aluminum oxide, and an aqueous solution that provides a thermally conductive mortar, grout or adhesive for use in flooring installations.

Abstract: Electronic trowels, systems and methods of applying a layer of material using the present electronic trowels. The various electronic trowels include a handle, at least one blade, and one or more sensors residing on or within the trowel. The trowel is for applying a layer of material over a surface area, whereby the one or more sensors detect and collect material installation data during application of the layer of material over the surface area. One or more electronic devices coupled to the one or more sensors receive and analyze the collected installation data for monitoring and controlling the application of the layer of material to ensure a desired end product is achieved. Application errors may be detected before, during, or after the installation process.

Abstract: A support for installing facing materials such as ceramic tiles on a substrate such as floors, walls and ceilings wherein the support plate has a plurality of spaced apart recesses in the plate material, with the recesses being open at the top surface and have solid sidewalls and a base, and a plurality of slots in the non-recessed portions of the plate material extending through the top surface and bottom surface, the slots joining one or more adjacent recesses. The support plate of the invention is used for tile installations between the substrate and such tile. Thin-set mortar that is used to secure the tile to the support plate flows into the recesses and into the slots forming a continuous bond between the mortar and the adjacent slots providing for a strong bond between the support plate, mortar and the tiles.

Abstract: Methods, systems and polished overlays utilizing an uncoupling membrane between a substrate (e.g., floor) and a deposited polishable overlay. The overlay may be a self-leveling, polishable overlay. An uncoupling membrane is secured to a substrate followed by directly depositing a polishable overlay over and contacting the uncoupling membrane. The uncoupling membrane secures the polishable overlay to the substrate without use of a primer/broadcast sand layer. The polishable overlay may fill voids in the uncoupling membrane and may be deposited over the uncoupling membrane to a thickness residing above a top surface of the uncoupling membrane. The polishable overlay may be polished once cured whereby the uncoupling membrane reduces stresses in the overlay layer during polishing.

Abstract: Methods of formulating, premixed cement-based tiling compositions and application of such premixed cement-based tiling compositions as an adhesive or grout. The premixed cement-based tiling compositions include a premixed cementitious formulation having a pH and an alkali activation constituent. The premixed cementitious formulation includes an aluminous or a calcium aluminate cement slurry in an amount of about 35 wt. % to 50 wt. % in combination with one or more filler or modifier materials present in an amount of about 40 wt. % to 65 wt. %. The alkali activation constituent destabilizes the premixed cementitious formulation by increasing the pH thereof to generate a reaction between the premixed cementitious formulation and the alkali activation constituent resulting in the cement-based tiling composition for use as an adhesive or a grout. The alkali composition may be sodium hydroxide supersaturated with lithium carbonate.

Abstract: A support for installing facing materials such as ceramic tiles on a substrate such as floors, walls and ceilings wherein the support plate has a plurality of spaced apart recesses in the plate material, with the recesses being open at the top surface and have solid sidewalls and a base, and a plurality of slots in the non-recessed portions of the plate material extending through the top surface and bottom surface, the slots joining one or more adjacent recesses. The support plate of the invention is used for tile installations between the substrate and such tile. Thin-set mortar that is used to secure the tile to the support plate flows into the recesses and into the slots forming a continuous bond between the mortar and the adjacent slots providing for a strong bond between the support plate, mortar and the tiles.

Abstract: Grouts, grout products and methods of applying such grouts that include a urethane-acrylic hybrid polymer dispersion (UA-HPD) and a filler material. The UA-HPD may be present in an amount of about 10-40% by weight of the composition, while the filler material may be present in an amount of about 60-90% by weight of the composition. Additional filler materials may also be provided within the UA-HPD grout composition to provide the resultant UA-HPD grout with desired characteristics and properties. The UA-HPD containing grouts are applied between spaced-apart tiles and/or masonry to fill voids and/or joints there-between.

Abstract: A waterproofing membrane composition is provided which is strong, easy to use, trowelable, flexible, passes negative hydrostatic test ASTM D4068 and which can be flood tested after 24 hours @70° F. of application. The waterproofing membrane composition contains a flexible polymer, preferably an epoxy containing polyether chains formed from a glycol, a flexible curing agent, sand, and an aramid fiber. The epoxy component also preferably includes an epoxy flexibilizer and a reactive diluent for epoxy chain termination. A p-aramid fiber is preferred and it is highly preferred to use the polymer fiber in a pulp form which has a fibrillated structure.

Abstract: A waterproofing membrane composition is provided which is strong, easy to use, trowelable, flexible, passes negative hydrostatic test ASTM D4068 and which can be flood tested after 24 hours @ 70° F. of application. The waterproofing membrane composition contains a flexible polymer, preferably an epoxy containing polyether chains formed from a glycol, a flexible curing agent, sand, and an aramid fiber. The epoxy component also preferably includes an epoxy flexibilizer and a reactive diluent for epoxy chain termination. A p-aramid fiber is preferred and it is highly preferred to use the polymer fiber in a pulp form which has a fibrillated structure.

Abstract: A tile grout composition and method of using the tile grout composition to grout set tiles are provided. The tile grout composition is a water-based epoxy grout composition which has excellent stain and chemical resistant properties and is workable and easy to clean up after grouting the tiles. The grout composition employs a water dispersible epoxy polymer and a water compatible polyamine epoxy resin adduct as the curing agent in combination with a water repellent component. For colored grouts, a color coated filler such as sand is employed to obtain the enhanced tile grout properties. Luminescent and fluorescent additives and sparkle additives may be used in the grout to provide special visual effects in the light or dark.

Abstract: A tile grout composition and method of using the tile grout composition to grout set tiles are provided. The tile grout composition is a water-based epoxy grout composition which has excellent stain and chemical resistant properties and is workable and easy to clean up after grouting the tiles. The grout composition employs a water dispersible epoxy polymer and a water compatible polyamine epoxy resin adduct as the curing agent in combination with a water repellent component. For colored grouts, a color coated filler such as sand is employed to obtain the enhanced tile grout properties. Luminescent and fluorescent additives and sparkle additives may be used in the grout to provide special visual effects in the light or dark.

Abstract: A cement mortar is provided which is mixed with a liquid media, preferably either water or aqueous latex, for use as a thin-set mortar, medium bed mortar, underlayment mortar and/or grout (pointing mortar). The mortar or grout contains cement, sand and a water retaining agent and is improved by employing an aramid fiber in the mortar. A p-aramid fiber is preferred and it is highly preferred to use the polymer fiber in a pulp form which has a fibrillated structure. The overall performance properties of a cement-based mortar or grout such as a thin-set mortar are significantly improved including sag resistance, open time, bond strength, flexibility, heat aging and water immersion strength.

Abstract: A finished flooring underlayment is disclosed including a flexible membrane which is resistant to water, mold and deterioration under wet or dry conditions, and which has intertwined filaments bonded to the membrane surface that act as mortar reinforcement and as gauges to provide a uniform thickness of application for cementicious mortar. The mortar is provided separately and is mixed to a suitable consistency with either water or latex additive, then poured or placed on the mat, utilizing the gauges provided by the filaments to effect a uniform thickness of application. This mortar hardens to a strong, load bearing surface or slab suitable for application of finished flooring.

Abstract: The present invention features a drainage and support mat used as a supporting and drainage surface beneath sods, plantings, gravel and roofs and decks of concrete. The mat is made of a high-impact plastic sheet such as polystyrene, PVC, PET, etc., and consists of evenly spaced, upwardly projecting, dimple-type protuberances. Channels that are formed between the dimple projections allow water to drain off the mat surface. For greater support and load-bearing capacity, the dimples have a substantially truncated, trapezoidal or hemispherical shape. The flattened, truncated portion (upper surface) of each dimple normally retains a small amount of drainage water. To counteract this, each of the protuberances of the mat has a slotted section in or adjacent to it. The slotted section crosses the flattened, truncated portion of the dimples, allowing any accumulating water to run off and down the sides of the protuberance.