Abstract: An exterior sheathing cementitious panel which prevents water penetration and air leakage is provided. Methods for manufacturing exterior sheathing cementitious panels with a highly efficient integrated air/water barrier membrane are provided as well.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and a method for determining an edge hardness value for a cementitious board can be used to effectively determine the hardness of the board after it has been made and dried at a predetermined location, such as, at a stacking station, for example. An actuator assembly can manipulate a punch such that the punch is inserted into one of the edges of one of the cementitious boards in the stacker in a controlled manner. A force gauge can be associated with the punch to measure the resistance force exerted by the cementitious board in response to the punch being inserted into its edge. The measured resistance force can be used to determine the edge hardness value.

Abstract: Geopolymer compositions utilizing fly ash and an inorganic mineral including alkaline earth metal oxide as cementitious reactive components. The inorganic mineral includes alkaline earth metal oxide preferably calcium oxide (also known as lime or quicklime) or magnesium oxide, or combinations thereof. The cementitious reactive powder may also optionally include one or more aluminous cements and one or more source of calcium sulfates. The cementitious reactive powders are activated with an alkali metal chemical activator selected from at least one member of the group consisting of an alkali metal salt and an alkali metal base. The inorganic minerals including alkaline earth metal oxide preferred in this invention have an alkaline earth metal oxide content preferably greater than 50 wt %, more preferably greater than 60 wt %, even more preferably greater than 70 wt %, and most preferably greater than 80 wt %, for example greater than 90 wt %. Methods for making the compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of making a gypsum board including: preparing an aqueous slurry including a mixture of: calcium sulfate hemihydrate, water at a weight ratio of water to calcium sulfate hemihydrate of 0.2:1 to 1.2:1, and on a dry basis per 100 parts by weight (pbw) calcium sulfate hemihydrate: 0.2 to 2 pbw siloxane, 0.01 to 2 pbw siloxane polymerization catalyst including magnesium oxide and optionally fly ash, and 0.01 to 0.2 pbw triethanolamine (TEOA); allowing the siloxane to polymerize to polysiloxane; and depositing the slurry on a first cover sheet and covering the slurry with a second cover sheet to shape the slurry, and allowing the shaped slurry to set to form the gypsum board. Also, disclosed is the gypsum board resulting from the method.

Abstract: Disclosed are product (e.g., panels), slurry, and methods relating to a pregelatinized starch having a mid-range viscosity (i.e., from about 20 centipoise to about 700 centipoise).

Abstract: A constrictor valve can be associated with a conduit in fluid communication with a mixer to control a flow of cementitious slurry discharged from the mixer through the conduit. The constrictor valve can include a constrictor housing, a webbing constriction assembly, and a drive mechanism. The webbing constriction assembly includes a pair of rotatable members rotatably mounted to the constrictor housing and a plurality of webbing straps connected to the rotatable members and wrapped around the conduit. The drive mechanism includes a drive shaft and a gear assembly configured to rotate the rotatable members in opposing winding directions in response to the drive shaft rotating in a tighten direction to wrap the webbing straps tighter around the conduit to compress it and to rotate in opposing unwinding directions in response to the drive shaft rotating in a loosen direction to loosen the grip of the webbing straps on the conduit.

Abstract: A continuous ready mix joint or texture compound manufacturing system and a method for continuously manufacturing a ready mix joint or texture compound includes a continuous mixer having an inlet and an outlet, a pump disposed at the outlet of the continuous mixer, and a disperger having an inlet and an outlet. The continuous mixer is adapted to receive at least one dry ingredient and at least one wet ingredient at the inlet and continuously mix the at least one dry ingredient and the at least one wet ingredient to form a mixed composition. The pump is adapted to pump the mixed composition from the outlet of the continuous mixer to the inlet of the disperger. The disperger is adapted to receive the mixed composition and apply a shear force to the mixed composition to form a homogenized, disperged composition.

Abstract: An extension collar is provided for use with a pail having an opening and containing mixable building material. The collar includes an annular body with an upper edge, an opposite lower edge, and a sidewall connecting the edges. In addition, the body has a diameter that is complementary to, and insertable into the opening of the pail such that upon insertion into the pail, the collar adds to a height of the pail.

Abstract: A ball drop iris is provided for use in a ball drop testing apparatus. Included on the iris is a lower housing having an upper mounting flange having a ball opening and a body depending from the flange, the body defining a passage through which a test ball passes. A control ring is disposed on the upper mounting surface for sliding, rotating action relative to the lower housing. A plurality of iris petals is provided, each operationally connected to the control ring and to the upper mounting flange to pivot between a closed position in which the ball opening is blocked, and an open position in which the petals are simultaneously retracted and the opening is clear for passage of a test ball.

Abstract: A gypsum slurry includes water, a hydraulic component including calcium sulfate hemihydrate and a linear polycarboxylate dispersant. The linear polycarboxylate anionic dispersant includes a first monomeric repeating unit and a second monomeric repeating unit. The first repeating unit of the linear polycarboxylate dispersant is an olefinic unsaturated carboxylic acid repeating unit or salt thereof. The second repeating unit of the linear polycarboxylate dispersant is a vinyl sulfonate. The slurry can be made into a gypsum panel. Methods of making gypsum slurry and a gypsum panel are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides low dust low density gypsum wallboard products having high total core void volumes, corresponding to low densities in the range of about 10 to 30 pcf. The wallboards have a set gypsum core formed between two substantially parallel cover sheets, the set gypsum core preferably having a total void volume from about 80% to about 92%, and made from a slurry including stucco, pregelatinized starch, and a naphthalenesulfonate dispersant. The combination of the pregelatinized starch and the naphthalenesulfonate dispersant also provides a glue-like effect in binding the set gypsum crystals together. The wallboard formulation, along with small air bubble voids (and water voids) provides dust control during cutting, sawing, routing, snapping, nailing or screwing down, or drilling of the gypsum-containing products.

Abstract: A drying-type joint compound, a setting-type joint compound, and/or a ready-mixed, setting-type joint compound can include a phospholipid dedusting agent. For example, a drying-type joint compound can include: (a) a primary filler at 50 weight percent (wt %) to 98 wt % on a dry basis, wherein the primary filler includes one of calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate dihydrate, and talc, and a mixture thereof (b) a secondary filler at up to 25 wt % on a dry basis; (c) a binder at 1 wt % to 15 wt % on a dry basis; (d) a polymer thickener at 0.05 wt % to 3 wt % on a dry basis; (e) a phospholipid dedusting agent at 0.01 wt % to 3 wt % on a dry basis; (0 an additive up to 10 wt % o on a dry basis; and (g) water at a weight ratio of water to dry components of 1:6 to 2:1.

Abstract: A durable, moisture-resistant gypsum product is provided with smooth furnish which comprises a laminated glass fiber mat in which glass fibers are compressed and cross-linked with a thermosetting polymeric resin. Methods for making these gypsum products and glass fiber mats are provided as well.

Abstract: Provided is a method for detecting respirable participles in a bulk material comprising particles. The method comprises: analyzing morphology of the particles; analyzing chemical composition of the particles; creating a profile of the particles, wherein each particle in the profile is characterized by its shape, size and chemical composition; selecting particles from the profile which match the size and chemical composition of a respirable particle; and calculating a percentage of the respirable particles in the bulk material.

Abstract: A gypsum fiber roofing panel with an angled edge for accommodating environmentally-induced expansion is provided, including a homogeneous body formed from a slurry of gypsum and reinforcing fibers having a face panel, a back panel, and a plurality of side edges, each side edge having an angle relative to a plane defined by the adjacent face panel in the range of 81-87° for accommodating environmentally-induced expansion relative to adjacent panels upon installation on a roof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composite gypsum board comprising a board core and a concentrated layer, as well as related methods of preparing board and slurries. The board core and the concentrated layer both are formed from water and stucco. The concentrated layer is designed to have higher density and/or nail pull than the core. The concentrated layer is further formed from one or more of starch thickener, cellulose, and/or copolymer containing polyacrylamide and acrylic acid. In some embodiments, the concentrated layer is formed from an enhancing additive to enhance strength therein, while the core is formed without using enhancing additive or less enhancing additive than used in forming the board core.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composite gypsum board comprising a board core and a concentrated layer, as well as related methods of preparing board and slurries. The board core and the concentrated layer both are formed from water and stucco. The concentrated layer is designed to have higher density and/or nail pull than the core. The concentrated layer is further formed from a polysaccharide that forms a complex with calcium ions, e.g., an alginate compound such as sodium alginate. In some embodiments, the concentrated layer is formed from an enhancing additive to enhance strength therein, while the core is formed without using enhancing additive or less enhancing additive than used in forming the board core.

Abstract: A layered gypsum wallboard can include: a gypsum board having opposing front and back faces, wherein the gypsum board comprises a first cover sheet material at the front face, a second cover sheet material at the back face, and a gypsum core layer comprising gypsum; an adhesive layer on the second cover sheet material of the gypsum board, the adhesive including a polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of ?10° C. to 30° C.; an intermediate gypsum layer including gypsum on the adhesive layer such that the adhesive layer is between the second cover sheet material and the intermediate gypsum layer, wherein the adhesive layer and the intermediate gypsum layer have a combined thickness of 0.09 inches to 0.25 inches; and a third cover sheet material, wherein the intermediate gypsum layer is between and in contact with the adhesive layer and the third cover sheet material.

Abstract: This invention provides gypsum wallboards with a unique microstructure where the walls between voids are enhanced in thickness and strength to substantially improve the strength and handling properties of the wallboards. A method of making lightweight gypsum wallboards is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are product (e.g., panels), slurry, and methods relating to a pregelatinized starch having a mid-range viscosity (i.e., from about 20 centipoise to about 700 centipoise), and an extruded pregelatinized starch.