Abstract: A neutral pH foamed glass article is produced from a mixture of pulverized glass particles, foaming agent, binder, and water, wherein the glass article is heated to remove excess moisture and organic materals, then further heated to cause the foaming agent to emit a foaming gas, thereby causing foaming of the glass article. The foamed glass article is annealed in a controlled cooling fashion to avoid thermal stress, cracking and devitrification. The foamed glass articles may be used as artificial pumice stones in the stone-washed garment industry. Preferably, the mixture contains an amount of lignosulfonate to produce foamed glass having substantially neutral pH values in a range of from about 7.0 to 8.4.

Abstract: A setting-type cementitious composition useful for a variety of applications, including, in a preferred embodiment, a joint compound for finishing joints between adjacent gypsum wallboards, comprising a first or cementitious component in pre-mixed form comprising an aqueous slurry of calcium sulfate hemihydrate and a retarder formed of two ingredients, one an organic retarder and the other a retarder which is a chelating agent, and a second or accelerator component comprising an accelerator material preferably in aqueous solution, the first component having an adequately long shelf life suitable for marketing, and, when the cementitious component is mixed with the second component for acceleration, the cementitious mixture acquires excellent application properties maintained throughout a suitable working period. The cementitious component hydrates after a suitable period to form a set material of excellent properties.