The patents that quietly run your plant.

This invention provides low dust low density gypsum wallboard products having high total core void volumes, corresponding to low densities in the range of about 10 to 30 pcf. The wallboards have a set gypsum core formed between two substantially parallel cover sheets, the set gypsum core preferably having a total void volume from about 80% to about 92%, and made from a slurry including stucco, pregelatinized starch, and a naphthalenesulfonate dispersant. The combination of the pregelatinized starch and the naphthalenesulfonate dispersant also provides a glue-like effect in binding the set gypsum crystals together. The wallboard formulation, along with small air bubble voids (and water voids) provides dust control during cutting, sawing, routing, snapping, nailing or screwing down, or drilling of the gypsum-containing products. This invention also provides a method of making the low dust low density gypsum products including the introduction of soap foam in an amount sufficient to form a total void volume, including air voids, preferably from about 80% to about 92% in the set gypsum core, corresponding to a set gypsum core density from about 10 pcf to about 30 pcf. The wallboards produced by the method generate significantly less dust during working.

A lightweight gypsum board is provided, including, by dry weight, gypsum as the largest single ingredient, perlite as the second largest single ingredient, and starch as a minor ingredient, in the board. The starch may be pre-cooked prior to mixing, and is dispersed in the core of the board to act as a binder for binding the gypsum to the perlite. Gypsum board made according to the invention is lighter in weight, yet has a comparable nail pull value to conventional wallboard.

The invention generally provides gypsum-containing slurries including stucco, naphthalenesulfonate dispersant, and pregelatinized starch. The naphthalenesulfonate dispersant is present in an amount of about 0.1%–3.0% by weight based on the weight of dry stucco. The pregelatinized starch is present in an amount of at least about 0.5% by weight up to about 10% by weight of pregelatinized starch by weight based on the weight of dry stucco in the formulation. Other slurry additives can include trimetaphosphate salts, accelerators, binders, paper fiber, glass fiber, and other known ingredients. The invention also comprises the gypsum-containing products made with such slurries, for example, gypsum wallboard, and a method of making gypsum wallboard.

The present invention provides a dispersant and foaming agent combination that is useful in the production of gypsum wallboard and other aqueous cementitious products. The dispersant in the combination according to the invention is a naphthalene sulfonate-aldehyde condensate alkali salt polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from about 17,000 to about 47,000. The alkali is preferably an alkali metal and/or an alkaline earth metal. The aldehyde is preferably formaldehyde. The foaming agent used in the combination according to the invention is a soap, preferably an alkali salt of an alkyl ether sulfate and/or an alkyl sulfate. The combination of a high molecular weight dispersant and a foaming agent produces a gypsum wallboard core effect that more efficiently entrains air (i.e., creates void space), thereby lowering overall board weight without detrimentally affecting strength.

This invention is a process and foaming system for producing foamed gypsum board which permits the production and control of large foam voids in the gypsum core by adjusting the ratio of a first foaming agent and a second foaming agent. My process includes the steps of preforming a first foaming agent which forms stable foam voids in a gypsum slurry and independently preforming a second foaming agent which forms unstable foam voids in a gypsum slurry. Independently, blending the two different foaming agents is the key to controlling void size. A greater amount of the second foaming agent and a lesser amount of the first foaming agent is preferred.

The present invention provides a mixer and a mixing method which enable stable supply of slurry at a high flow rate with foam being uniformly mixed therein, and which enable reduction in consumption of foam to be fed to the slurry. The mixer (10) has a housing (20), a rotary disc (32), a slurry outlet port (45), a slurry delivery conduit (46) and a hollow connector section (47). A foam feeding port (41) is disposed in a predetermined position of an annular wall or the hollow connector section. The foam feeding port feeds the foam to the slurry, immediately before the slurry enters the slurry outlet port, or feeds the foam to the slurry in the hollow connector section. The slurry and the foam mix with each other at the slurry outlet port or on its downstream side. The foam is not substantially subjected to agitation impact of the mixer and a quantity of loss of the foam is reduced. The foam is uniformly mixed with the slurry even when the flow rate of slurry is increased, and therefore, the production rate of gypsum boards can be increased.

This invention relates to a foamed gypsum slurry. More specifically, it relates to a foamed gypsum slurry that includes a defoamer to produce a distribution of foam bubbles. The gypsum slurry is useful for making building panels.

The invention pertains to a process for modifying gypsum, wherein a continuous feed of raw gypsum is provided; the water content of the raw gypsum is determined in the continuous feed by near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) measurement; the raw gypsum is calcined in a calcination unit at a fire rate to remove water from the raw gypsum and to obtain a continuous feed of calcined gypsum having a water content within a selected range; a water content of the calcined gypsum is determined by near infrared spectroscopy, and the fire rate is adjusted based on the water content of the raw gypsum and of the calcined gypsum. Further, the invention pertains to an apparatus for performing said process.