Abstract: Roofing granules comprising agglomerated inorganic material, and building materials, such as shingles, that include such roofing granules. By fabricating roofing granules from agglomerating inorganic material it is possible to tailor the particle size distribution so as to provide optimal shingle surface coverage, thus reducing shingle weight and usage of raw materials. Additionally, the use of agglomeration permits the utilization of by-products from conventional granule production processes.

Abstract: A cleaning module for cleaning bone stock used in surgical procedures. The cleaning module includes a shell. The shell defines a void space to receive the bone stock. A cutter is rotating mounted in the void space. A shaving tube, also able to rotate, is coaxially disposed about the cutter. The cutter and shaving tube have complementary edges. A drive assembly rotates the cutter and shaving tube at different speeds, at different times or in different directions relative to the cutter. As a result of the rotation of the cutter and shaving tube soft tissue adhering to the bone stock is cut away from the bone stock by the relative rotating of the cutting edges of the cutter and shaving tube.

Abstract: A brush element containing a plurality of bristles having medial bends formed into a plurality of tufts, each tuft being surrounded by a mechanical restraining means, a back for said brush comprising a body of fiberglass filled and reinforced substantially inflexible high impact thermoset polyester resin, each medial bend of said bristles being embedded in said resin such that its upper end is closer to the top surface of said back than to the bottom surface thereof and the restraining means being closer to the bottom surface of said back than to the top surface thereof. The polyester resin has a notched izod impact strength greater than 2 foot-pounds per inch and a Shore D hardness greater than 50.