Abstract: An assembly for deck construction includes a post having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, the post defining a plurality of internal slots. A base is secured to the lower end portion of the post, and a post-beam cap secured to the upper end portion of the post. The post-beam cap includes a continuous load-bearing upper surface, a lower flanged portion configured to engage the upper end portion of the post, and a plurality of contoured tabs extending from a lower surface of the post-beam cap, wherein the plurality of contoured tabs are configured to engage more than one of the plurality of internal slots of the post. The continuous load-bearing upper surface is configured to abut and distribute loads from a beam of the deck construction to the post, and the beam distributes the loads to the base.

Abstract: A shingle includes a substrate having an asphalt coating on a top surface of the substrate and on a bottom surface of the substrate. A surface layer of granules is embedded in the asphalt on the top surface of the substrate. A backdust layer of particles is embedded in the asphalt on the bottom surface of the substrate. A sealant is disposed on the backdust. A hydrophobic material is applied to the sealant.

Abstract: A glass composition is provided that includes SiO2 in an amount from 50.0 to 65.0% by weight; Al2O3 in an amount from 18.0 to 23.0% by weight; CaO in an amount from 1 to 8.5% by weight; MgO in an amount from 9.0 to 14.0% by weight; Na2O in an amount from 0.0 to 1.0% by weight; K2O in an amount from 0.0 to 1.0% by weight; Li2O in an amount from 0.1 to 4.0% by weight; TiO2 in an amount from 0.0 to 2.5% by weight, Y2O3 in an amount from 0 to 10.0% by weight; La2O3 in an amount from 0 to 10.0% by weight; Ce2O3 in an amount from 0 to 5.0% by weight; and Sc2O3 in an amount from 0 to 5.0% by weight. Glass fibers formed from the inventive composition may be used in applications that require high stiffness and have elastic modulus between 88 and 115 GPa. Such applications include woven fabrics for use in forming wind turbine blades and aerospace structures.

Abstract: A shingle coating asphalt composition is provided that is produced from a paving grade asphalt. The asphalt composition comprises a paving-grade asphalt that has been modified with one or more polymer additives; and a secondary additive comprising one or more of a viscosity reducing agent, a wax, a salt of a fatty acid ester, and an amide of a fatty acid. The shingle coating asphalt coating composition is used to make a shingle. The shingle includes a substrate, the asphalt, and roofing granules.

Abstract: A cellular glass system for insulating an outer surface of a fluid carrying or storing vessel, such as a pipe, is disclosed. The system is comprised of segments of cellular glass insulation. A sealant is provided at the interface between adjacent cellular glass segments to seal the system from moisture and thermal intrusion.

Abstract: A system for insulating a curtain wall structure is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of insulation hangers, a curtain wall insulation, and a safing insulation. The insulation hangers include a reinforcing member that engages a horizontal transom of the curtain wall structure. The system is attached only to horizontal transoms of the curtain wall structure via the insulation hangers to provide ease of installation and/or enhanced reliability.

Abstract: A one-piece insulation mounting bracket is disclosed. The mounting bracket readily supports the insulation (e.g., curtain wall insulation) without the need for separate fasteners, locking washers, etc. As a result, the insulation can be mounted more quickly than with conventional mounting systems.

Abstract: Methods of and systems for forming pipe insulation are disclosed. The pipe insulation has properties that are non-homogenous through its thickness.

Abstract: A roofing membrane is provided that includes at least one substrate at least partially impregnated with a first asphalt coating composition and a liquid parting agent emulsion applied to the upper surface of the asphalt-coated substrate. The liquid parting agent emulsion comprises one or more thermoplastic polymers and about 15 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of at least one mineral filler, based on the weight of the total solids in the emulsion. The first asphalt coating composition is free of oxidized asphalt.

Abstract: A method of making a laminated shingle is provided. The method includes coating a shingle mat with roofing asphalt to make an asphalt-coated sheet, adhering a reinforcement member to a portion of the asphalt-coated sheet, covering the asphalt-coated sheet, and optionally covering the reinforcement member, with granules to make a granule-covered sheet, dividing the granule-covered sheet into an overlay sheet and an underlay sheet, wherein the overlay sheet has a tab portion normally exposed on a roof and a headlap portion normally covered-up on a roof, the headlap portion having a lower zone adjacent the tab portion and an upper zone adjacent the lower zone, and wherein the reinforcement member is adhered to the lower zone of the headlap portion and laminating the overlay sheet and the underlay sheet to make the laminated shingle.

Abstract: Inorganic infrared attenuation agent blends have been developed to improve the thermal insulation properties of polymeric foams such as polystyrene low density foams. The inorganic infrared attenuation agent blends can include two or more metal oxides such as silicon dioxide, manganese (IV) oxide, iron (III) oxide, magnesium oxide, bismuth (III) oxide, cobalt oxide, zirconium (IV) oxide, molybdenum (III) oxide, titanium oxide, and calcium oxide. In some preferred embodiments, the inorganic infrared attenuation agent blends can include four or more of these metal oxides.

Abstract: A cross-linked nonwoven fibrous mat is disclosed comprising a core layer including a fibrous precursor mat bound with a formaldehyde-free core binder composition and a cross-linker disposed on at least one surface of the core layer, said cross-linker comprising one or more of isocyanate, polyol, and melamine functional groups. The cross-linked nonwoven mat has a hot-wet retention of at least 25%.

Abstract: An aqueous binder composition is disclosed that comprises at least one long-chain polyol having at least two hydroxyl groups and a number average molecular weight of at least 2,000 Daltons; a primary cross-linking agent comprising at least two carboxylic acid groups; and a secondary cross-linking agent comprising a short-chain polyol having at least two hydroxyl groups and a number average molecular weight less than 2,000 Daltons.

Abstract: A non-woven fiber mat for lead-acid batteries is provided. The non-woven fiber pasting mat includes glass fibers coated with a sizing composition; a binder composition; and one or more additives. The additives reduce water loss in lead-acid batteries.

Abstract: Asphalt-based roofing materials, such as shingles, are disclosed that include a layer of parting material. The layer of parting material is applied to at least a part of the top, bottom, or both the top and the bottom of the shingle. When the shingle includes the parting material on the bottom, the layer of parting material replaces all or a portion of a backdust layer. When the shingle includes the layer of parting material on the top, the layer of parting material replaces a portion of granules on the shingle. The layer of parting material can be applied to the shingle in patterns and configurations that permit an adhesive to be applied to the shingle and function as intended. The parting material may include a metal salt of a fatty acid, a polyolefin, and/or a crosslinkable silane.

Abstract: A fiber catching device includes a base having an inboard portion and an outboard portion, an external wall extending upwardly from the inboard portion of the base, an outboard hook extending upwardly from the outboard portion of the base and extending to a height above the external wall, and at least one receiver disposed between the external wall and the outboard hook. In one variation, a plurality of protrusions are disposed on the external wall and define a plurality of gaps there between.

Abstract: Asphalt-based roofing materials, such as shingles, are disclosed that include a band of a parting material. The asphalt-based roofing material includes at least one asphalt-coated substrate that defines a headlap portion and a tab portion each having opposed top and bottom surfaces; a layer of backdust applied to at least a portion of the bottom surface of the headlap portion and to at least a portion of the bottom surface of the tab portion; a release section of parting material applied to the layer of backdust, where the parting material is included in the in the range of 0.0005 kg/m2 to 1 kg/m2; and an adhesive.

Abstract: The general inventive concepts relate to engineered wood products. The engineered wood products demonstrate improved properties including acoustic damping, fire resistance, and water absorption relative to similar engineered wood products that comprise only a single source of fibers. In contrast, the inventive engineered wood products include a combination of at least two types of fibers.