Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
An improved water insensitive structural material consisting essentially of reactive expanded perlite bonded by an in situ produced water insoluble, crystalline reaction product of said expanded perlite and at least one alkali metal silicate selected from sodium silicate and potassium silicate, said structural material being made by a process comprising the steps of: (a) mixing from about 1 to about 2 parts by weight of a filler material having at least 75 parts by weight reactive expanded perlite with about 4 to about 1 parts by weight of an aqueous solution of said at least one alkali metal silicate and when said alkali metal silicate is sodium silicate, the weight ratio of SiO 2 to Na 2 O is from about 3:1 to about 4:1 and the solids content is from about 28 to about 34 weight percent and when said alkali metal silicate is potassium silicate, the weight ratio of SiO 2 to K 2 O is from about 2:1 to about 2.6:1 and the solids content is from about 24 to about 30 weight percent; (b) thereafter compressing the mixture from step (a) into a coherent article; and (c) thereafter subjecting the coherent article from step (b) to a one-stage curing process in which the article is maintained through the entire curing process at a temperature about 180° F. to about 225° F. at a relative humidity of from about 30% to 60%.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
An improved water insensitive structural material consisting essentially of reactive expanded perlite bonded by an in situ produced water insoluble, crystalline reaction product of said expanded perlite and at least one alkali metal silicate selected from sodium silicate and potassium silicate, said structural material being made by a process comprising the steps of: (a) mixing from about 1 to about 2 parts by weight of a filler material having at least 75 parts by weight reactive expanded perlite with about 4 to about 1 parts by weight of an aqueous solution of said at least one alkali metal silicate and when said alkali metal silicate is sodium silicate, the weight ratio of SiO 2 to Na 2 O is from about 3:1 to about 4:1 and the solids content is from about 28 to about 34 weight percent and when said alkali metal silicate is potassium silicate, the weight ratio of SiO 2 to K 2 O is from about 2:1 to about 2.6:1 and the solids content is from about 24 to about 30 weight percent; (b) thereafter compressing the mixture from step (a) into a coherent article; and (c) thereafter subjecting the coherent article from step (b) to a one-stage curing process in which the article is maintained through the entire curing process at a temperature about 180° F. to about 225° F. at a relative humidity of from about 30% to 60%.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The structural material of claim 1 wherein said material is produced by curing the coherent article from step (b) at a temperature of from about 180° F. to about 225° F. at a relative humidity of from about 35% to about 55%.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The structural material of claim 1 wherein said aqueous solution of alkali metal silicate is an aqueous solution of sodium silicate having a solids content of about 31.6 weight percent and a weight ratio of SiO 2 to Na 2 O of about 3.25:1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
226 words
A process for preparing a water-insensitive structural material having expanded perlite bonded by an in situ produced water insoluble, crystalline reaction product of said expanded perlite and at least one alkali metal silicate selected from sodium silicate and potassium silicate, comprising the steps of: (a) mixing from about 1 to about 2 parts by weight of a filler material having at least 75 parts by weight reactive expanded perlite with about 4 to about 1 parts by weight of an aqueous solution of said at least one alkali metal silicate and when said alkali metal silicate is sodium silicate, the weight ratio of SiO 2 to Na 2 O is about from 3:1 to about 4:1 and the solids content is from about 28 to about 34 weight percent and when said alkali metal silicate is potassium silicate, the weight ratio of SiO 2 to K 2 O is from about 2:1 to about 2.6:1 and the solids content is from about 24 to about 30 weight percent; (b) thereafter compressing the mixture from step (a) into a coherent article; and (c) thereafter subjecting the coherent article from step (b) to a one-stage curing process in which the article is maintained through the entire curing process at a temperature about 180° F. to about 225° F. at a relative humidity of from about 30% to 60%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
226 words
A process for preparing a water-insensitive structural material having expanded perlite bonded by an in situ produced water insoluble, crystalline reaction product of said expanded perlite and at least one alkali metal silicate selected from sodium silicate and potassium silicate, comprising the steps of: (a) mixing from about 1 to about 2 parts by weight of a filler material having at least 75 parts by weight reactive expanded perlite with about 4 to about 1 parts by weight of an aqueous solution of said at least one alkali metal silicate and when said alkali metal silicate is sodium silicate, the weight ratio of SiO 2 to Na 2 O is about from 3:1 to about 4:1 and the solids content is from about 28 to about 34 weight percent and when said alkali metal silicate is potassium silicate, the weight ratio of SiO 2 to K 2 O is from about 2:1 to about 2.6:1 and the solids content is from about 24 to about 30 weight percent; (b) thereafter compressing the mixture from step (a) into a coherent article; and (c) thereafter subjecting the coherent article from step (b) to a one-stage curing process in which the article is maintained through the entire curing process at a temperature about 180° F. to about 225° F. at a relative humidity of from about 30% to 60%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 4 wherein said curing is at a temperature of from about 180° F. to about 225° F. at a relative humidity of from about 35% to about 55%.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process of claim 4 wherein said aqueous solution of alkali metal silicate is an aqueous solution of sodium silicate having a solids content of about 31.6 weight percent and a weight ratio of SiO 2 to Na 2 O of about 3.25:1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process of claim 4 wherein said curing is carried out for a period of time sufficient to produce a product capable of withstanding eight hours of immersion in boiling water and than be capable of withstanding exposure to 500° F. for at least four hours without disintegration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The water insensitive structural material of claim 1 wherein said curing is carried out in a curing zone with products of combustion from open flames contacting said coherent article during the curing step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 4 wherein said curing is carried out in a curing zone with products of combustion from open flames contacting said coherent article during the curing step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The structural material of claim 1 wherein such structural material is capable of withstanding eight hours of immersion in boiling water and then is capable of withstanding exposure to 500° F. for at least four hours without disintegration.