Abstract: A building panel has an expanded plastic core with thin reinforcing strips bonded to front and back surfaces of the core, at least along the edges thereof, and may have a wire grid attached in offset relation to one surface thereof for receiving a material such as concrete. The panel is manufactured by a process of expanding a plastic material in a mold by the application of heat to form a core, removing the core from the mold, placing thin reinforcing strips on front and back surfaces of the core with an adhesive system between strips and core, returning the core to the mold and heating the interior of the mold to bond the strips to the core and achieve dimensional stability during molding.

Abstract: This invention relates to a structural laminate having a plastic surface finish coat laminated to a structural base which has exceptional bond strength between the structural base and the plastic layer with which it interfaces. The structural base comprises a glass reinforced gypsum layer. The plastic laminate portion comprises a plastic surface finish coat, preferably a polyester gel coat or an acrylic resin, bonded to a reinforcing layer of curable polyester or epoxy resin reinforced with glass fibers. The reinforcing layer is adhered to a bonding layer which comprises glass fibers protruding from the reinforcing layer and coated with a limited amount of organic resin such as polyester or epoxy resin. The glass reinforced gypsum layer is applied to the protruding fibers of the bonding layer to form an interface having a bond strength of at least about 150 psi as determined by ASTM C297-68.

Abstract: An inexpensive, thoroughly insulated upright-wall, ceiling, floor or roof, made of panels fastened together along contacting panel edges. Each panel has a can-supporting, substantially planar element (a sheet of plywood, masonite, plastic, metal lath, or the like), reinforcing bars defining outer edges of the panel, layers of cans between the reinforcing bars, wire or plastic panel-reinforcing network on the cans; and optionally it may include molded matrix material (foamed, cellular, polyolefin plastic, or concrete of portland or other cement and sand or porous aggregate --for example, cinders, vermiculite, pumice, charred sawdust or the like) on the cans. The can-supporting element is placed in a mold or rack; a plurality of insulating layers of cans are put on this element, preferably with their axes parallel to it; reinforcing network is placed on the cans and fastened to the bars; and optionally moldable plastic material in fluent form may be poured or injected onto the network and cans.

Abstract: The invention is a building structure of material which uses a water-activated binder, such as cement-mortar or concrete, and of a form having one thickness dimension much smaller than the other two dimensions perpendicular thereto. The structure includes a substrate sheet extending along a surface substantially perpendicular to the thickness dimension and a layer of the water activated binder material having a multiplicity of short metal wire reinforcing elements distributed therein.

Abstract: A system of constructing buildings by connecting together expanded plastic panels with reinforcing strips bonded thereto and wire mesh attached to the exterior surfaces thereof upon a foundation with at least a portion of the panels having a curved configuration to maximize structural strength of the combination of panels. Concrete is applied to the exterior of the combined panels with the wire mesh then forming reinforcing in the resultant concrete wall upon the panels and the interior is coated with plaster to form a low cost structure with very good insulating properties.

Abstract: A metal mesh lath, which is capable of receiving a spray or projection rendering of a material such as plaster or mortar, is provided on its rear surface with a coating of a resilient adhesive, particularly an elastomer or resilient plastic, which is stuck to the metal mesh and forms an elastic membrane over the apertures of the mesh.

Abstract: A method and means by which buildings, particularly residential buildings, can be prefabricated of cut-to-size metal wall framing and roof member elements for erection upon a prepared foundation at the site, the building framework thus erected being adapted to structural completion by a process involving scratch cement-plaster coating the outsides of expanded sheet metal enclosing the rib-work of the walls and the underside of roofing rib framework assembly, and thereafter pump-spraying a cementacious mixture between the voids of such rib-work against the opposite side of the scratch-coated expanded sheet metal to provide a substantially monolithic steel-reinforced basic building structure.

Abstract: Compound elements for lining such vessels as storage tanks, prestressed concrete reactor pressure vessels, and other gastight areas for use in nuclear reactor construction. The compound elements have a leakproof, plate-shaped metal base, and comprise anchors, contact elements, and reinforced concrete. The contact elements and base of one compound element are welded to a contact element and the base of an adjacent combination element so as to confine with each other a hollow chamber.

Abstract: A construction panel for incorporating into a building or house structure; the construction panel being comprised of a frame consisting of spaced apart vertical studs and transverse top and bottom plates wider than said studs, an insulation board secured to one face of the frame and within a cavity formed by said plates and studs and an, in situ laid concrete-like composition layer comprising expanded mica, expanded polystyrene, and mortar cement applied to the exposed, outwardly facing side of said insulation board, the concrete-like composition layer having a filament mesh reinforcement imbedded therein, the construction panel being manufactured in a plant and transported to a construction site where it is simply installed. Also a novel concrete-like composition useful in producing formed objects, including construction panels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a structural element in the form of a panel of foamed plastic material provided with a ribbed metal reinforcing member at least part of which is heated to a temperature exceeding the melting point of the foamed plastic material, the reinforcing member subsequently being urged into contact with the panel and becoming welded to the panel. The ribbed reinforcing member may be of expanded metal to act as a plaster support.

Abstract: Ferrocement structures and the method for producing them comprising: providing a load-bearing framework, covering the framework with a strong flexible sheet-like material and then a flexible metal reinforcing material, and applying cement mortar thereover to cover the reinforcing material. The framework can be made of easily fabricated wooden ribs.