Foamed gypsum compositions

A composition for use in making a crosslinked, foamed gypsum product, said composition comprising:

• gypsum;
• a foaming agent which is the reaction product of a long-chain organic cation-forming compound having the general formula (I):
• where R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms;
• R1 is selected form the group consisting of an alkyl group having from 1-16 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group having from 1-16 carbon atoms, a benzyl group, a group which, when taken together with the nitrogen, represents a heterocyclic radical, and any of such groups having a hydrogen atom replaced by a fluorine atom;
• R2 and R3 are selected form the group consisting of an alkyl group having form 1-6 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group having from 1-6 carbon atoms, a benzyl group, a hydrogen atom, a group which, when taken together with the nitrogen, represents a heterocyclic radical, and any of such groups having a hydrogen atom replaced by a fluorine atom;
• and X− is an anionic counter ion;
• and a long-chain anionic forming compound having the formula (II):
• where R′ is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical with 10 to 24 carbon atoms;
• X2− is an anionic group selected from the group consisting of carboxylate, sulfate, sulfonate, and phosphate;
• and Y+ is a cationic counter ion selected from the group consisting of ammonium, sodium, and potassium salt;
• wherein the long-chain organic cation formed from (I) and the long-chain organic anion formed from (II) are present in a weight ratio of from 0.05:1 to 15:1;
• epoxy resin;
• and
• a hardener.