Abstract:
A discharge gate is provided for a gypsum slurry mixer, and includes a lower member having an inlet opening configured for receiving the slurry, and an outlet opening configured for delivering the slurry to a dispensing device. An upper member is attached to the lower member, at least one of the upper and lower members having at least one opening for accommodating insertion of an injection port for introducing the foam to the slurry. A cavity is configured for mixing the foam and slurry, and is defined by inner surfaces of the lower member and the upper member.
Abstract:
Disclosed are product (e.g., panels), slurry, and methods relating to a pregelatinized starch having a mid-range viscosity (i.e., from about 20 centipoise to about 700 centipoise), and an extruded pregelatinized starch.
Abstract:
A discharge gate is provided for a gypsum slurry mixer, and includes a lower member having an inlet opening configured for receiving the slurry, and an outlet opening configured for delivering the slurry to a dispensing device. An upper member is attached to the lower member, at least one of the upper and lower members having at least one opening for accommodating insertion of an injection port for introducing the foam to the slurry. A cavity is configured for mixing the foam and slurry, and is defined by inner surfaces of the lower member and the upper member.
Abstract:
A gypsum slurry is provided that includes calcium sulfate hemihydrate; water; a dispersant component comprising at least one of the following a comb-branched polymer with polyether side chains, naphthalene sulfonate-formaldehyde condensate or melamine sulfonate-formaldehyde condensate; a foaming agent; and a polycondensation component with three polycondensation repeating units. Also provided is a method for making a gypsum slurry with a foaming agent in which the ratio between the dispersant component and the polycondensation component is adjusted to control for the size of foam bubbles in the gypsum slurry. Gypsum products made from the gypsum slurry are provided and methods for making the products are provided as well.
Abstract:
A slurry distributor can include a feed conduit and a distribution conduit in fluid communication therewith. The feed conduit can include a first and second feed inlets disposed in spaced relationship to each other. The distribution conduit can extend generally along a longitudinal axis and include an entry portion and a distribution outlet in fluid communication therewith. The entry portion is in fluid communication with the first and second feed inlets of the feed conduit. The distribution outlet extends a predetermined distance along a transverse axis. The first and second feed inlets each has an opening with a cross-sectional area. The entry portion of the distribution conduit has an opening with a cross-sectional area which is greater than the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the openings of the first and second feed inlets. The slurry distributor can be placed in fluid communication with a gypsum slurry mixer.
Abstract:
A multi-leg discharge boot can include an inlet conduit and first and second outlet conduits separated by a junction portion. The inlet conduit includes an entry segment, a transition segment and a heel portion disposed therebetween. The inlet conduit can include an inlet end and a junction end. A junction portion is disposed at the junction end of the inlet conduit between first and second junction openings. The junction portion includes a substantially planar wall region that is substantially perpendicular to a main flow discharge axis.
Abstract:
A slurry distributor can include a distribution conduit and a slurry wiping mechanism. The distribution conduit extends generally along a longitudinal axis and includes an entry portion, a distribution outlet in fluid communication with the entry portion, and a bottom surface extending between the entry portion and the distribution outlet. The distribution outlet extends a predetermined distance along a transverse axis, which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The slurry wiping mechanism includes a movable wiper blade in contacting relationship with the bottom surface of the distribution conduit. The wiper blade is reciprocally movable between a first position and a second position over a clearing path, which is disposed adjacent the distribution outlet.
Abstract:
A flow splitter can include an inlet conduit and first and second outlet conduits separated by a junction portion. The inlet conduit can include an inlet end and a junction end. The inlet conduit is disposed along a main flow axis extending between the inlet end and the junction end. The inlet end defines an inlet opening. The junction end defines first and second junction openings. The first junction opening is disposed in spaced relationship to the second junction opening. The junction portion is disposed at the junction end of the inlet conduit between the first and second junction openings. The junction portion includes a substantially planar wall region that is substantially perpendicular to the main flow axis. The flow splitter can be placed in fluid communication with a cementitious slurry mixer and a slurry distributor with the flow splitter disposed therebetween.
Abstract:
Disclosed are hydrophobic finish compositions and cementitious articles made with the hydrophobic finish compositions. In some embodiments, the article is a waterproof gypsum panel surface reinforced with inorganic mineral fibers that face a flexible and hydrophobic cementitious finish possessing beneficial waterproofing properties. These waterproof gypsum panels have many uses, such as, tile backer board in wet or dry areas of buildings, exterior weather barrier panel for use as exterior sheathing, interior wall and ceiling, and roof cover board having water durability and low surface absorption. The flexible and hydrophobic cementitious finish can include fly ash, film-forming polymer, preferably silane compound (e.g., alkyl alkoxysilane), an extended flow time retention agent including either one or more carboxylic acids, salts of carboxylic acids, or mixtures thereof, and other optional additives. Preferably a pre-coated non-woven glass fiber mat is employed to provide the inorganic mineral fibers for the surface reinforcement.
Abstract:
Embodiments of a system and a method for manufacturing a cementitious panel can be used to produce a cementitious panel having a multi-layer air/water barrier membrane assembly. The layers of the membrane can be built up via a series of applicator stations applying a fluid composition using roll coating, for example. Between applicator stations the applied layer of fluid composition can be subjected to drying conditions via infrared heating. To help protect from the deleterious effects of infrared heating, the cementitious panel can be conveyed through a cooling tunnel after each drying section.