Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a large architectural precast concrete panel for use in outside walls and applicable to the curtain wall technique of architecture, wherein a resinous substance and an inorganic material are placed in a mold, then a hydraulic cement composition is placed on the layer of above mixture. The polymerization of the resinous substance and the hydration of the cement composition are carried out in the mold simultaneously. A particularly preferred process employs the following critical conditions:1. The viscous methyl methacrylate syrup is one obtained by mixing about 100 parts by weight of viscous methyl methacrylate syrup with from about 0.5 to about 15 parts by weight of a radical polymerizable cross-linking monomer having .alpha., .beta.-unsaturated groups to obtain a resin solution;2. The particle size of the aggregates is between 0.6 and 15mm diameter;3.

Abstract: Production of high strength structural building components by steam curing a compressed mixture of laterite, lime and water at a temperature preferably between 70.degree. and 100.degree. C.

Abstract: Hydraulic cement or the like is poured into a closed mould under a reduced pressure condition to a level slightly higher than a predetermined level. Coarse aggregate and steel rods are prepacked in the mould. After pouring the pressure in the mould is increased to atmospheric pressure or a higher pressure to force the hydraulic cement above the predetermined level back into the space below the level thus compacting the poured in hydraulic cement. A cushion device is provided for the pouring device. An overflow tank is connected to the mould to observe the level of the poured cement. The pressure in the overflow tank is also decreased during pouring and increased after pouring.

Abstract: Shaped articles such as tiles and panels are produced from aqueous slurries of hydraulic cement, with or without aggregate, to which "super" water reducers have been admixed, by casting in a synthetic polymer mold with glossy, water-repellent surface, to yield castings with highly reflective, glassy surfaces. Color pigments may be added to the formulation to yield castings with reflective, glossy colored surfaces.

Abstract: Methods of centrifugally molding a resin pipe or molding a layered composite pipe utilizing a rotating inner member are disclosed. The rotating inner member rotates at a speed higher than the centrifugally rotating mold and is movable towards and away from the mold surface. Movement toward the mold compresses the molding material between the rotating inner member and the centrifugally rotating mold. Movement away from the mold permits any material adhering to the inner member to be cleaned from said inner member due to the centrifugal speed of said inner member.

Abstract: The disclosed heterogeneous hot-melt sealant system is particularly well suited to sealing the typical tongue-and-groove joint between the base and cover of a burial vault. The hot-melt system comprises a plurality of layers, each layer being a distinct phase which resists chemical or morphological penetration (e.g. paraffin oil migration) from the adjacent layer. The layers are typically applied to the groove in the cover for the vault by individual casting or pouring of each of a plurality of hot-melt compositions in the molten state. Each hot-melt composition comprises an essentially amorphous polypropylene, a hydrocarbon resin (e.g. synthetic terpene resin), and a hydrocarbon (e.g. paraffin) oil. The first (bottom) poured hot-melt contains more polypropylene and less oil and terpene resin than the second (upper) pour.

Abstract: Box-like units having at least one open side for use, for example, in the construction of prefabricated buildings are cast from a composition of gypsum and water optionally including other material such as Portland or Aluminous cement. The mixture is cast between an external mould defining the external faces of the unit and an internal core defining the internal faces of the unit and the core is formed from, or covered with, material which causes its faces which come into contact with the mixture to have a higher co-efficient of heat reflection than that of the faces of the external mould which come into contact with the mixture. The mixture is allowed to set and the external mould is removed, after which the mixture is allowed to harden further and during this hardening becomes heated by the exothermic reaction between the gypsum and the water to cause the hardened mixture to expand away from the core. This allows the core to be subsequently removed without it being necessary to make the core collapsible.

Abstract: A pipe of concrete, cement mortar or other cementitious material is formed by an integrally cast cementitious mass which is reinforced with a glass fibre strand or roving forming a substantially helical winding extending around the pipe and incorporated in the cement matrix of the cementitious mass. Preferably there are two windings, one incorporated in the outer periphery of the mass and the other incorporated in the inner periphery of the mass. The pipe is preferably made by a centrifugal casting operation in which a centrifugal casting mould is rotated and the glass fibre strand or roving is fed from a feeding device within the mould and is caused to adhere to the internal peripheral face of the mould and then the feeding device is moved axially along the mould as the mould rotates so that the winding is formed from the roving around the internal peripheral face of the mould.

Abstract: A hollow cored concrete slab is the product of the method which includes casting a base layer of concrete into a suitable form. Placing precast concrete channel members in transversely spaced relation on the freshly cast base layer with the flanges of the members in contact with the base layer and the webs of the members in spaced relation from the base layer. Casting an upper layer of concrete onto the fresh base layer and around the channel members and striking the upper layer in spaced relation above the channel members so that the upper layer of concrete covers the webs of the channel members to a given depth. The slab is then cured with the channel members remaining a structural part thereof and providing for the transversely spaced hollow cores therein.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing molded structures and coatings based on curable inorganic binding agents and water which comprises coating shape-imparting surfaces made from materials such as wood, plaster, plastic or iron, with a mixture containing a curable organosilicon compound, a solvent and finely dispersed solid particles, such as silicon dioxide, quartz powder, diatomaceous earth and silicious chalk, applying the building materials, curing and removing the molded structures.

Abstract: Processes for coating concrete bricks with exposed surfaces having sharply delineated portions of contrasting color and/or texture by periodically and regularly forming atomized particles of a viscous cementitious slurry and directing same on to portions of surfaces of each of a plurality of green concrete bricks in groups located stationary in regular fashion for a brief period and thereafter firing the thus coated uncured brick. The processes include steps for rapidly and/or sequentially varying the colors applied to the different groups of bricks during successive cycles of coating the successively treated different groups of such brick.

Abstract: A structural component, such as a load-bearing column or a floor panel, is initially made undersize between two opposed faces and is brought to accurate size and the angularity of said faces made accurate, by locating the component relative to a reference surface, with a gap between that surface and one of the faces, that face is provided in the gap with a layer of settable material capable of adhering to the face, and this material is squeezed by relative adjustment between the reference surface and an abutment to give the component the desired accuracy.