Abstract: A partition is adapted to support a fixture and has a front surface to which the fixture may be affixed and a back surface that faces away from the fixture. The partition comprises a plasterboard and a reinforcing board, the reinforcing board being located between the plasterboard and the front surface, and the plasterboard comprising at least 1 wt % fibre and at least 1 wt % polymer is additive.

Abstract: A plasterboard comprises a gypsum matrix having particles of agglomerated fibres embedded therein in an amount of at least 1 wt % relative to the gypsum, the gypsum matrix further comprising a polymeric additive, the polymeric additive being present in an amount of at least 1 wt % relative to the gypsum.

Abstract: The present invention provides a calcium sulphate-based product (e.g. a wall board) comprising gypsum and silicone oil. The product may be produced by drying an aqueous slurry comprising calcined gypsum and the silicone oil. The silicone oil is included in the slurry in an amount greater than 10 wt % which results in a product have greater than 8.5 wt % silicone oil. This improves structural integrity of the wallboard after exposure to elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A gypsum product has a first polymeric additive and a second polymeric additive distributed therein, wherein the first polymeric additive is a synthetic polymer and the second polymeric additive is starch. It has been found that the combination of starch and a synthetic polymer may result in one or more of the following advantages in the manufacture and performance of gypsum products: —increased strength; —greater ease of manufacturing due to the increased fluidity of stucco slurries containing both additives; and —increased resistance to hygroscopic expansion.

Abstract: The present invention provides calcium sulphate-based product having reduced shrinkage after exposure to high temperatures, the product comprising gypsum, a pozzolan source (e.g. in an amount between 4-27 wt %) and a metal salt additive (in an amount between 0.5 and 10 wt %). The pozzolan source may be selected from a kaolinitic clay material, fly ash, rice husk ash, diatomaceous earths, volcanic ashes and pumices, micro-silica, silica fume and silicone oil. The metal salt additive may be a metal salt which decomposes between a temperature of 300-500° C. to yield a metal oxide, e.g. magnesium nitrate.

Abstract: A method of producing a gypsum product comprises the steps of: ?preparing a stucco slurry; ?adding starch-containing flour to the slurry in an amount of at least 2% relative to the dry weight of the stucco; and ?allowing the stucco slurry to set.

Abstract: The present invention provides a calcium sulphate-based product (e.g. a wall board) comprising gypsum, a pozzolan source such as a clay additive, rice husk ash or diatomaceous earth and a metal salt additive. The product may be produced by drying an aqueous slurry comprising calcined gypsum, the pozzolan source and the metal salt additive. The clay additive may be a kaolinitic clay. The metal salt additive may be a magnesium salt e.g. magnesium nitrate, magnesium chloride or magnesium hydroxide.

Abstract: A calcium sulphate-based product including gypsum and a shrinkage resistance additive. The shrinkage resistance additive is a metal nitrate, hydroxide, acetate or sulphate and is preferably provided in an amount greater than 4 wt % (based on the amount of additive and gypsum). The additive may be a nitrate of an alkali metal (e.g. potassium), an alkaline earth metal (e.g. magnesium or calcium), a transition metal (e.g. iron or zinc) or aluminium.

Abstract: A plasterboard comprises a gypsum matrix having a polymeric additive distributed therein in an amount of at least 1 wt % relative to the gypsum, the gypsum matrix further having a first group of fibres and a second group of fibres embedded therein, wherein the fibres of the first group of fibres have an average length that is at least three times the average length of the fibres of the second group of fibres.

Abstract: A partition for a building structure comprises a support frame and a plasterboard affixed to the support frame with a plurality of screws. The plasterboard comprises a gypsum matrix having fibres embedded therein in an amount of at least 1 wt % relative to the gypsum, as well as a polymeric additive that is present in an amount of at least 1 wt % relative to the gypsum. The support frame comprises a plurality of elongate timber members and the average spacing between nearest-neighbour screws is greater than 400 mm.

Abstract: The invention provides a calcium sulphate-based product comprising a phosphate as additive for increased fire resistance. Particularly preferred phosphate additives may be those containing aluminum or ammonium ions.

Abstract: The invention provides a calcium sulphate-based product comprising a phosphate as additive for increased fire resistance. Particularly preferred phosphate additives may be those containing aluminium or ammonium ions.

Abstract: Phosphonic coletomers of the formula I: ##STR1## wherein X.sub.5 is hydrogen, an alkali metal atom, an alkaline earth metal atom, or an ammonium or amine residue; and A.sub.2 is a copolymer residue comprising two different residues ##STR2## wherein r is an integer ranging from 2 to 100, and wherein, in the first residue, W.sub.3 is --COOH, and in the second residue, W.sub.3 is --CONHC(CH.sub.3).sub.2 CH.sub.2 SO.sub.3 X.sub.5 wherein X.sub.5 is as hereinbefore defined. The cotelomers inhibit scale and corrosion in aqueous systems.

Abstract: Phosphonic telomer intermediates for preparing the telomers of U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,731 may be produced by an aqueous process comprising (a) reacting hypophosphorous acid with a carbonyl compound which is preferably an aldehyde, a ketone or an imine, and (b) reacting the product of (a) with an olefinic reactant or reactants in the presence of a suitable initiator especially a free radical initiator. The telomer intermediates are themselves useful as scale inhibitors in aqueous systems.

Abstract: Phosphonic (co) telomers of the type described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,046,707 and 4,681,686 and European Patent Application 360746 may be produced by an aqueous process comprising (a) reacting hypophosphorous acid with a carbonyl compound which is preferably an aldehyde, a ketone or an imine, (b) reacting the product of (a) with an olefin or olefins in the presence of a suitable initiator especially a free radical initiator, and (c) converting the product obtained from (b) to a phosphonic (co) telomer, e.g., by reaction with hypochlorite. The (co) telomer products are useful as scale inhibitors in aqueous systems.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting the precipitation of barium scale from an aqueous system, comprising adding to the aqueous system a product having the formula I: ##STR1## in which M is hydrogen or an alkali metal ion, an ammonium ion or a quanternized amine radical; R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl; and n is an integer having an average value ranging from 4 to 20.

Abstract: A corrosion- and/or scale inhibitor composition comprising: A) a corrosion- and/or scale inhibitor; and B) a compound having the formula (I): ##STR1## or a water-soluble salt thereof in which R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl, the weight ratio of component A) to component B), ranging from 10:90 to 90:10.The compounds of formula I are new compounds.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting corrosion of metal surfaces in contact with an aqueous system, comprising contacting the metal surfaces with a telomer compound having the formula I: ##STR1## in which M is hydrogen or an alkali or alkaline earth metal ion, an ammonium ion or a quaternised amine radical; and n is an average integer ranging from 1 to 60.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting the precipitation of calcium carbonate scale from an aqueous system, comprising adding to the aqueous system, a compound having the formula I: ##STR1## in which M is hydrogen or an alkali metal ion, an ammonium ion or a quaternized amine radical; R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl; and n is an integer ranging from 1 to 10.

Abstract: Polymaleic anhydride having a weight average molecular weight by gel permeation chromatography of between 450 and 800 and a polydispersivity of between 1.0 and 1.15 is produced by polymerizing maleic anhydride, using a peroxide initiator in an amount not greater than 10% by weight of the anhydride, in a dilute solution in o-xylene or a substituted o-xylene.