Patent ID: 7867332

Claim:
A method for producing a solid mineral material comprising the following steps: a) producing an aqueous paste according to the following steps: a1) providing a paste formulation obtained by reaction of (i) a powder of one or more materials comprising a compound or a combination of compounds of silicon selected from the group consisting of: the silicon compounds present in the form of anhydrous silica selected from the group consisting of amorphous silicate, quartz, trymidite, cristoballite, stishovite and anhydrous silica extracted from a plant and the silicon compounds present in the form of hydrated silica selected from the group consisting of diatomite, radiolarite, opal, gaize, flint, millstone grit, jasper; agate, chert, lutecite, quartzine, petrified wood and chalcedony, with (ii) an inorganic base or a combination of inorganic bases, optionally with (iii) water; a2) providing a formulation consisting of an organic acid salt or a combination of organic acid salts, the organic acid salt(s) being selected from the group consisting of alkylcarboxylic acid salts having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms and arylcarboxylic acid salts having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms; a3) providing a formulation comprising an additional crystalline or amorphous mineral or a combination of crystalline or amorphous minerals, the crystalline or amorphous mineral(s) being selected from the group consisting of: Aluminosilicates; Aluminates; alkaline and alkaline earth carbonates; metallic carbonates; silicates composed of pure silica; and alkaline earth silicates such that the formulations provided in steps a1) to a3) comprise at least (i) silicon, in the form of anhydrous silica, or (ii) aluminium and (iii) calcium and/or magnesium, said formulation optionally comprising water; a4) mixing the formulations from steps a1), a2) and a3); to produce the aqueous paste; b) forming the aqueous paste obtained from step a) into shape; and c) hardening the aqueous paste shaped in step b) by drying at atmospheric pressure, and at a temperature of less than 99° C., until the solid inorganic material is obtained.