METHODE DE REVETEMENT DE BILLES DE POLYSTYRENE EXPANSIBLE

METHOD FOR COATING EXPANDABLE POLYSTYRENE BEADS

Abrégé français

Une méthode de revêtement de billes de polystyrène expansible à utiliser dans un mélange de béton, la méthode comprenant les étapes consistant à : fournir une pluralité de billes de polystyrène expansible, placer les billes de polystyrène expansible dans un mélangeur, mouiller les billes de polystyrène expansible avec un liquide, ajouter un retardateur de prise dans le mélangeur, ajouter un conservateur biocide dans le mélangeur, ajouter des cellules sanguines animales séchées dans le mélangeur, ajouter de la colle gélatine dans le mélangeur, ajouter du carbonate de calcium dans le mélangeur, activer le mélangeur pendant une période prédéterminée et retirer les billes de polystyrène expansible du mélangeur pour les utiliser dans le mélange de béton.

Abrégé anglais

A method for coating expandable polystyrene beads for use in a concrete mixture, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of expandable polystyrene beads, placing the expandable polystyrene beads in a mixer, wetting the expandable polystyrene beads with a liquid, adding a setting retardant in the mixer, adding a biocide preservative in the mixer, adding dried animal blood cells in the mixer, adding gelatin glue in the mixer, adding calcium carbonate to the mixer, activating the mixer for a predetermined period of time and removing the expandable polystyrene beads from the mixer to use in the concrete mixture.

Revendications

7
CLAIMS
1. A method for coating expandable polystyrene beads for use in a concrete
mixture, the method comprising the steps of:
a) providing a plurality of expandable polystyrene beads;
b) placing the expandable polystyrene beads in a mixer;
c) wetting the expandable polystyrene beads with a liquid;
d) adding a setting retardant in the mixer;
e) adding a biocide preservative in the mixer;
f) adding dried animal blood cells in the mixer;
g) adding gelatin glue in the mixer;
h) adding calcium carbonate to the mixer;
i) activating the mixer for a predetermined period of time; and
j) removing the expandable polystyrene beads from the mixer to use in the
concrete mixture.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein step c) comprises the step of
wetting
the expandable polystyrene beads with water.
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein step e) comprises the step of
adding a glycol low toxicity biocide preservative in the mixer.
4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein step f) comprises
the
step of adding spray-dried animal blood cells in the mixer.
5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein step h) comprises
the step of adding limestone in the mixer.
6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein step a) comprises
the step of providing expandable polystyrene containing a uniformly

8
distributed flame retardant.
7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the period of time
is
at least 15 minutes.
8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the mixer comprises
a ribbon mixer.
9. Expandable polystyrene beads coated with a coating composition comprising
water, a setting retardant, a biocide preservative, a plurality of dried
animal
blood cells, a gelatin glue and a calcium carbonate.
10. Expandable polystyrene beads according to claim 9, wherein the coating
comprises in parts by 4000 L of expandable polystyrene beads: 4 L to 20 L of
water, 2L to 8 L of setting retardant, 30 ml to 150 ml of biocide
preservative, 4
Kg to 20 Kg of dried animal blood cells, 10 mg to 100 mg of gelatin glue and
20 Kg to 50 Kg of calcium carbonate.
11. Expandable polystyrene beads according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the
coating comprises in parts by 4000 L of expandable polystyrene beads: 12 L
of water, 4 L of setting retardant, 90 ml of biocide preservative, 10 Kg of
dried
animal blood cells, 40 mg of gelatin glue and 36 Kg of calcium carbonate.

Description

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METHOD FOR COATING EXPANDABLE POLYSTYRENE BEADS
Field of the invention:
The present invention relates to concrete compositions. More particularly, the
present invention relates to a method for coating expandable polystyrene beads
for use in a concrete mixture.
Background of the invention:
Concrete composition is known in the art. More specifically, the use of
aggregates in concrete compositions is also known in the art. Fine and coarse
aggregates make up the bulk of a concrete mixture.
The use of lightweight granules such as polystyrene beads in concrete
mixtures is also known in the art. Known to the Applicant is U.S. Patent No.
5,308,396 issued May 3, 1994 to Kovacs.
However, conventional polystyrene beads are highly static and they are
difficult to manipulate. Additionally, drying time of concrete mixture using
conventional polystyrene beads is long.
Hence, in light of the aforementioned, there is a need for a method for
coating expandable polystyrene beads which, by virtue of its design, would be
able to overcome some of the above-discussed prior art concerns.
Summary of the invention:
One object of the present invention is to provide a solution to at least one
of
the above-mentioned prior art drawbacks.
The present invention relates to a coating method for expandable polystyrene
beads with a mixture to decrease the static effect of the beads.

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In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method for coating expandable polystyrene beads for use in a concrete mixture,
the method comprising the steps of:
a) providing a plurality of expandable polystyrene beads;
b) placing the expandable polystyrene beads in a mixer;
c) wetting the expandable polystyrene beads with a liquid;
d) adding a setting retardant in the mixer;
e) adding a biocide preservative in the mixer;
f) adding dried animal blood cells in the mixer;
g) adding gelatin glue in the mixer;
h) adding calcium carbonate to the mixer;
i) activating the mixer for a predetermined period of time; and
j) removing the expandable polystyrene beads from the mixer to use in the
concrete mixture.
In some implementations, step c) comprises the step of wetting the
expandable polystyrene beads with water.
In some implementations, step e) comprises the step of adding a glycol low
toxicity biocide preservative in the mixer.
In some implementations, step f) comprises the step of adding spray-dried
animal blood cells in the mixer.
In some implementations, step h) comprises the step of adding limestone in
the mixer.
In some implementations, step a) comprises the step of providing expandable
polystyrene containing a uniformly distributed flame retardant.

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In some implementations, the predetermined period of time is at least 15
minutes.
In some implementations, the mixer comprises a ribbon mixer.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
expandable polystyrene beads coated with a coating composition comprising
water, a setting retardant, a biocide preservative, a plurality of dried
animal blood
cells, a gelatin glue and a calcium carbonate.
In some implementations, the coating comprises in parts by 4000 L of
expandable polystyrene beads: 4 L to 20 L of water, 2L to 8 L of setting
retardant,
30 ml to 150 ml of biocide preservative, 4 Kg to 20 Kg of dried animal blood
cells,
10 mg to 100 mg of gelatin glue and 20 Kg to 50 Kg of calcium carbonate.
In some implementations, the coating comprises in parts by 4000 L of
expandable polystyrene beads: 12 L of water, 4 L of setting retardant, 90 ml
of
biocide preservative, 10 Kg of dried animal blood cells, 40 mg of gelatin glue
and
36 Kg of calcium carbonate.
Brief description of the drawings:
Figure 1 is a schematic flow diagram of a method in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention:
In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar
elements. Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity and clarity, namely so as to
not
unduly burden the figures with several reference numbers, not all figures
contain
references to all the components and features, and references to some
components and features may be found in only one figure, and components and
features of the present invention illustrated in other figures can be easily
inferred
therefrom. The embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned

, .
4
and/or dimensions shown in the figures are optional, and are given for
exemplification purposes only.
Furthermore, although the present invention may be used with various objects,
such as concrete mixture, for example, it is understood that it may be used
with
other object and/or mixtures.
As shown in Figure 1, there is provided a method for coating expandable
polystyrene beads for use in a concrete mixture, the method comprising the
steps
of: providing a plurality of expandable polystyrene beads 10; placing the
expandable polystyrene beads in a mixer 12; wetting the expandable polystyrene
beads with a liquid 14; adding a setting retardant in the mixer 16; adding a
biocide
preservative in the mixer 18; adding dried animal blood cells in the mixer 20;
adding
gelatin glue in the mixer 22; adding calcium carbonate to the mixer 24;
activating
the mixer for a predetermined period of time 26; and removing the expandable
polystyrene beads from the mixer to use in the concrete mixture 28.
In some implementations, the step of providing a plurality of expandable
polystyrene beads 10 comprises the step of providing expandable polystyrene
containing a uniformly distributed flame retardant, preferably, providing
Neopor
2400TM beads.
The step of placing the expandable polystyrene beads in a mixer 12 is to
provide a mean for mixing the ingredients with the expandable polystyrene
beads
and thereby coating the beads. The mixer may include a ribbon mixer or any
other
typical concrete mixer, as apparent to a person skilled in the art.
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A liquid is also used for wetting the expandable polystyrene beads 14. This
step helps the other dry ingredients to adhere to the beads. Preferably, the
liquid
comprises water.
Adding a setting retardant in the mixer 16 can improve the bond between the
5 beads and the dry ingredients. It can also strengthen the concrete
mixture.
In some implementations, the step of adding a biocide preservative in the
mixer 18 is preferably accomplished by adding a glycol low toxicity biocide
preservative in the mixer, such as Nipacide BIT-20Tm. The biocide preservative
is
added to help, among other things, eliminates odors from the mixture.
In some implementations, the step of adding dried animal blood cells in the
mixer 20 is preferably accomplished by adding Jefo AP 301TM animal blood cells
in the mixer. The dried animal blood cells support a more homogeneous mixture.
Binding the dried animal blood cells onto the beads can be improved by adding
gelatin glue in the mixer 22. The gelatin glue is also used as an adhesive to
further enhance the bonding between the dry ingredients and the beads.
In some implementations, the step of adding calcium carbonate to the mixer
24 is preferably accomplished by adding limestone in the mixer, such as
Betocarb F- SATm. The calcium carbonate can also accelerate drying the mixture
by absorbing excess humidity.
The mixer can be activated for a predetermined period of time 26 and at any
stage during the method for coating expandable polystyrene beads. The
predetermined period may depend on the quantity of the mixture, the type of
mixer used and the mixing speed, as apparent to a person skilled in the art.
Preferably, the mixing time is between 15 minutes and 120 minutes.
Once the expandable polystyrene beads are substantially coated with the
mixture and dry, the user can proceed with the step of removing the expandable
polystyrene beads from the mixer 28 to use in the concrete mixture, or any
other

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application requiring expandable polystyrene beads as apparent to a person
skilled in the art.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
expandable polystyrene beads coated with a coating composition comprising
water, a setting retardant, a biocide preservative, a plurality of dried
animal blood
cells, a gelatin glue and a calcium carbonate.
In some implementations, the coating comprises in parts by 4000 L of
expandable polystyrene beads: 4 L to 20 L of water, 2L to 8 L of setting
retardant,
30 ml to 150 ml of biocide preservative, 4 Kg to 20 Kg of dried animal blood
cells,
10 mg to 100 mg of gelatin glue and 20 Kg to 50 Kg of calcium carbonate.
In some implementations, the coating comprises in parts by 4000 L of
expandable polystyrene beads: 12 L of water, 4 L of setting retardant, 90 ml
of
biocide preservative, 10 Kg of dried animal blood cells, 40 mg of gelatin glue
and
36 Kg of calcium carbonate.
Of course, numerous modifications could be made to the above-described
embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in
the
appended claims.