Abstract: A liquid art medium for creating three dimensional art comprises sodium bicarbonate, starch, acrylic polymer emulsion, water, and calcium carbonate. The liquid art medium can be applied to a variety of surfaces for various art projects. Once applied, the medium can be manipulated while still wet and different colors of the medium can be used together without the colors running into each other or bleeding. When dry, the medium can be colored, etched, carved, or sanded to make further artistic effects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved investment powders for use in making improved investment molds for casting metals, and the use of such molds with vacuum and/or either conventional, convection conduction or microwave heating apparatus, to rapidly eliminate water, wax and residual carbon from the mold cavities at temperatures lower than the casting temperature range of the mold at the time of casting.

Abstract: The invention provides cementitious mixtures, particularly for use as shotcrete binding materials. The resultant shotcrete has characteristics of rapid setting as low as 5 to 10 minutes, high early compressive strength (5 to 25 MPa in two hours curing, 20 to 60 MPa in one day curing), high permanent compressive strength and negligible shrinkage. High aluminous content roasted cement clinkers with gypsum, anhydrite, lime, limestone, bentonite and other additives are used in the mixtures. There are especially suitable for use in shotcrete engineering. The methods of using the improved shotcrete are similar to those of using Portland cement, with significantly decreased rebound at site.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new plaster, coating or adhesive composition based on plaster, containing an amylaceous compound. The amylaceous compound used according to the invention consists of a cationic amylaceous compound having, characteristically, a fixed nitrogen content at least equal to about 0.15% and a solubility in water at least equal to about 50%.

Abstract: A raised liquid art medium comprises baking soda, corn starch, water, gesso, and chalk. The medium can be applied to a variety of surfaces for various art projects. Once applied, the medium can be manipulated while still wet and different colors of the medium can be used together without the colors running into each other or bleeding. When dry, the medium can be colored, etched, carved, or sanded to make further artistic effects.

Abstract: A method of preparation of gypsum wallboard, as well as a core composition suitable for use therein, are disclosed. The core composition includes a slurry of calcium sulfate hemihydrate (stucco), water, and calcium aluminum lignosulfonate and/or aluminum lignosulfonate.

Abstract: A cement composition comprising fine aggregate, preferably sand, in an amount of about 10 to about 25 wt %; blast furnace slag cement, in an amount of about 20 to about 35 wt %; gypsum, in an amount of about 20 to about 35 wt %; Portland cement, in an amount of about 4 to about 30 wt %; and cement plasticizer in an amount of about 0.3 to about 3 wt %. The dry cement composition may be formulated with aggregate and water to prepare a flowable liquid, self-leveling and self-smoothing coating material that may be applied to a substrate such as a floor substrate. The applied coating requires no manual finishing or smoothing, yet hardens to form a level, very smooth coating that possesses excellent compressive strength.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing ceramic-like materials with specific properties by binding an inorganic filler in the form of a dry composition with a grain size of up to 25 .mu.m containing in the volume ratio 1:0.-1.52 a waste phosphogypsum and magnetite or glass-forming oxides, with an unsaturated polyester resin in an amount of 46-220 volume parts per 100 volume parts of the filler. The use of magnetite makes it poisible to prepare materials with magnetic properties, while glass-foming oxides enable preparing materials effective to absorb an X-radiation of 45-55 keV and a hard radiation of 0.6-125 MeV. When an expanding agent is added to the raw composition according to this invention, an expanded material is obtained, having completely closed pores, particularly useful in the building industry.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of making gypsum products such as plasterboard from foamed gypsum plaster slurry. The method uses a first mixing chamber 10 containing a high speed rotor 14 and inlets 18, 19 for gypsum plaster and water. The initial dispersion of gypsum plaster and water foamed in the first chamber passes directly and continuously into a second chamber 25 containing a low speed rotor 29. Preformed foam is introduced into the second chamber through an inlet 33, and the foamed slurry product leaves the second chamber through an outlet 34, to be formed into plasterboard.

Abstract: An acoustical tile composition based on a gypsum/cellulosic fiber composition which can replace all or a portion of the mineral wool normally present in acoustical ceiling tiles. The gypsum/cellulosic fiber composition is combined with a lightweight aggregate material and a binder to form a composition which is used in a water-felting process to manufacture acoustical ceiling tiles and panels. The preferred source of the cellulosic fiber is a composite gypsum/cellulose fiber material which is prepared by mixing the gypsum and cellulosic fiber material with sufficient water to form a dilute slurry which is then heated under pressure to calcine the gypsum, converting it to an alpha calcium sulfate hemihydrate. The resulting composite material comprises cellulosic fibers physically interlocked with calcium sulfate crystals. Another source of both gypsum and cellulosic fibers is waste (scrap) gypsum wallboard. Expanded perlite is the preferred lightweight aggregate material.

Abstract: A dental gypsum composition is disclosed, comprising (A) 100 parts by weight of calcined gypsum, (B) from 0.005 to 5.0 parts by weight of an alkali metal tartrate, (C) from 0.1 to 5.0 parts by weight of a sugar alcohol, and (D) from 0.005 to 3.0 parts by weight of a retarder. The composition provides a denture model excellent in surface smoothness, dimensional precision, and mechanical strength even when combined with an impression made of an agar-based material or an alginate-based material.

Abstract: Geopolymer-modified gypsum construction materials. Compositions derived from combining geopolymer adhesives with conventional gypsum wallboard slurry formulations produce an interpenetrating network (IPN) which cures by loss of process water to a refractory solid having improved fire and water resistance. Geopolymer adhesive starting compositions includes soluble and insoluble silicates, buffers and salts, and a chemical setting agent in aqueous suspension.

Abstract: An improved molding powder which comprises alkali metal alginate, calcium salt, tetrasodium pyrophosphate and filler, the alginate being from Laminaria hyperborea. The mixture sets to form a rubbery object.

Abstract: This invention provides a hydraulic composition which contains a cementitious material in powder form, .beta.-1,3-glucan, and a superplasticizer. The composition makes it possible to prepare concrete with high resistance to segregation, high fluidity, and excellent filling ability. Because of this, vibration of the concrete is not necessary during casting; it can simply be poured.

Abstract: A hydraulic inorganic compositions which comprises a hydraulic inorganic powder at least one of polysaccharides selected from the group consisting of .beta.-1,3-glucans, pullulan and XCD-Polymer in an amount of 0.1-10 parts by weight in relation to 100 parts by weight of the hydraulic inorganic powder, and water in an effective amount.The composition preferably further contains a reinforcing fiber, a filler, in particular mountain leather, a coagulant and/or a second molding aid, in particular, methyl cellulose.The composition is hardened by hydration under normal pressure to provide a hardened molded article such as a cement board.

Abstract: A system for finishing the joint between abutting panels of drywall by applying one or two of a joint compound comprising mostly gypsum plaster together with a small amount of monofilament fibers about 4 mm to 10 mm long.