Process for the production of calcium silicate-containing stone blanks useful in constructing building walls

Abstract

A process and apparatus is provided for the production of calcium silicate-containing stone blanks which are useful in constructing building walls. A crude mixture, of a granulated silicate-containing material, lime, water, a cement and a foaming agent, is subjected to no more than a minimum application of external pressure and is subsequently hardened in an autoclave. The cement produces the necessary strength for the blank, so that the latter becomes transportable while the final strength is achieved by reaction of the silicate-containing material during the autoclave treatment. In order to arrive at acceptable molding times and in order to achieve a simplified process with slight fragment bulk density and optimal head damping characteristics, the crude mixture is rendered pourable, is filled into molds in a quantity corresponding to the fragment volume of the stone blank, and the crude mixture in the mold is heated essentially uniformly to a temperature between 45.degree. C. and 90.degree. C. until achieving the desired blank-strength. The production of the blanks is carried out in molds, which are equipped with a heating system for heating the crude mixture in the molds, whereby the heating takes place by means of an electric high frequency field and/or indirectly via the molds and possibly via mold spikes, which are individually heatable and serve for the development of a pattern of holes in the stone.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.