Abstract: A flangeway filler and sealing composition suitable for use in a flangeway or expansion joint in a railroad crossing of a roadway surface prepared by the steps of (i) placing cryogenically granulated elastomeric particles in a suitable container; (ii) adding a polyurethane resin to said cryogenically granulated elastomeric particles; (iii) mixing the cryogenically granulated elastomeric particles and the polyurethane resin. The cryogenically granulated elastomeric particles have an average particle size of less than about 3 mm, and the ratio of the cryogenically granulated elastomeric particles to the polyurethane resin is greater than 6 to 1 by weight.

Abstract: A process for decomposing vulcanized rubber which comprises swelling 100 parts by weight of vulcanized rubber with 10-3000 parts by weight of an organic solution, and adding and mixing 0.1-20 parts by weight of an organic hydroperoxide (a) and of 0.001-1 mole equivalent per said (a) of at least one member (b) selected from the group consisting of copper salts, cobalt salts, and strongly alkaline compounds.

Abstract: An improved building material element or board having good thermal insulation properties comprising expanded vermiculite granules coated with 2 to 30% by weight, based on the weight of vermiculite, with an organic binder formed into a press cake which is then press heated to form the building element, the improvement comprising that at least a portion of the coated vermiculite granules are recycled particles which increases the density and has a more uniform and more easily sized surface and a process for its preparation.