US 5,543,186 A · Sealable liquid-tight, thin-walled containers made from hydraulically settable materials

Abstract

Sealable liquid-tight containers and methods for economically manufacturing such containers for storing and dispensing substances and any other purposes for which conventional sealable liquid-tight containers are utilized. The containers are readily and economically formed from mixtures of hydraulically settable binders such as hydraulic cement, gypsum and clay with water. Appropriate additives can also be added to the mixture which impart desired characteristics and properties to both the mixture and the hardened containers. The mixtures can be utilized to form containers by various methods. One method involves forming the containers without substantial mixing of the mixture, compacting the mixture and hydrating the mixture. Other methods involve molding the mixture, extruding the mixture and forming sheets from the mixture to be converted into containers. The components may also be dried, coated, lined, laminated and/or receive printing.

Claims232

Dependent claims

An article of manufacture comprising:

a sealable container having a liquid-tight barrier, at least a substantial portion of said sealable container being formed from a substantially hardened hydraulically settable matrix formed from a hydraulically settable mixture comprising a hydraulically settable binder, water, fibers, and a rheology-modifying agent, the hydraulically settable matrix having a thickness less than about 3 mm and being characterized in that it may be bent, folded or rolled to significantly mechanically deform the substantially hardened matrix without substantial rupture of the hydraulically settable matrix.

An article of manufacture comprising:

a sealable container having a liquid-tight barrier, at least a portion of said sealable container being formed from a hydraulically settable mixture comprising:
a hydraulically settable binder and water in amounts such that the hydraulically settable mixture has a hydraulically settable binder to water ratio in a range from about 0.01:1 to about 4:1, the hydraulically settable binder being selected from the group consisting of portland cement, slag cement, calcium aluminate cement, silicate cement, phosphate cement, white cement, high alumina cement and magnesium oxychloride cement;
a fibrous material having a concentration in a range of from about 0.2% to about 50% by volume of the hydraulically settable mixture and an average aspect ratio greater than about 100:1;
a rheology-modifying agent having a concentration in a range from about 0.5% to about 50% by weight of the hydraulically settable mixture;
and
an aggregate material having a concentration up to about 80% by weight of the hydraulically settable mixture, the hydraulically settable mixture forming a hydraulically settable matrix and being characterized in that the portion of the sealable container formed from the hydraulically settable mixture achieves form stability while in a green state in about 10 minutes or less after the hydraulically settable mixture is first formed into the portion of the sealable container, the hydraulically settable matrix having a thickness less about 1 cm and a density less than about 1.6 g/cm.sup.3.

3 more elements

An article of manufacture for storing, dispensing or portioning substances comprising:

a sealable liquid-tight container, at least a substantial portion of said container being formed from a hydraulically settable mixture comprising a hydraulically settable binder selected from the group consisting of portland cement, slag cement, calcium aluminate cement, silicate cement, phosphate cement, white cement, high alumina cement and magnesium oxychloride cement, rheology-modifying agent, and water, the hydraulically settable mixture hardening into a hydraulically settable matrix and being characterized in that the portion of the sealable container formed from the hydraulically settable mixture achieves form stability while in a green state in less than about one minute after the mixture is first formed into the portion of the sealable container, the hydraulically settable matrix having a thickness less than about 1 cm and a density less than about 1.6 g/cm.sup.3.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sealable liquid-tight, thin-walled containers made from hydraulically settable materials

Life of this patent

Sealable liquid-tight, thin-walled containers made from hydraulically settable materials

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims232