Reinforced polystyrene slabs for construction

Abstract

Reinforced polystyrene slabs for construction are provided, along with methods for their production. Polystyrene slabs may be reinforced to produce construction elements that are light and strong, especially with respect to the slab's flexural rigidity. Reinforcement elements such as rods, tubes and/or meshes may be embedded in the polystyrene slab, e.g., as inserts during the production process. Reinforcement elements made of various materials may be set into the mold in which polystyrene is foamed and set—thus incorporating the reinforcement elements within the polystyrene slab. The reinforcement elements may be made of metal, plastic, carbon fibers, glass fibers, basalt fibers, and combinations thereof. The reinforced polystyrene slabs may be coated by various materials for protection and to further increase their strength. The reinforced polystyrene slabs are configured to provide specified flexural rigidity (resistance to flexing), while keeping the slabs light-weight.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reinforced polystyrene slab for construction, the reinforced polystyrene slab comprises:
 a polystyrene slab, and   reinforcement elements embedded in the polystyrene slab.   
     
     
         2 . The reinforced polystyrene slab of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement elements comprise rods and/or tubes. 
     
     
         3 . The reinforced polystyrene slab of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement elements comprise a mesh. 
     
     
         4 . The reinforced polystyrene slab of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement elements comprise fibers and/or cables. 
     
     
         5 . The reinforced polystyrene slab of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement elements are made of at least one of: metal, plastic, carbon fibers, glass fibers and/or basalt fibers. 
     
     
         6 . The reinforced polystyrene slab of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement elements further comprise a cement mixture coating the embedded reinforcement elements at least partly. 
     
     
         7 . The reinforced polystyrene slab of  claim 1 , configured to have a load support ability that is larger by up to 70% compared with polystyrene slab having the same weight. 
     
     
         8 . The reinforced polystyrene slab of  claim 1 , further comprising a coating on one or both sides. 
     
     
         9 . The reinforced polystyrene slab of  claim 8 , wherein the coating comprises at least one of: a flexible cement coating, a concrete coating and/or a polymeric coating. 
     
     
         10 . The reinforced polystyrene slab of  claim 8 , wherein the coating is reinforced by fibers, fabrics and/or meshes. 
     
     
         11 . The reinforced polystyrene slab of  claim 8 , wherein the coating further comprises a protective material. 
     
     
         12 . The reinforced polystyrene slab of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the reinforcement elements are set in slits on at least one side of the polystyrene slab,   the slits are further filled with a cement mixture coating the embedded reinforcement elements at least partly, and   the coating comprises a cement coating.   
     
     
         13 . The reinforced polystyrene slab of  claim 8 , configured to have a load support ability that is larger by up to 70% compared with polystyrene slab having the same weight. 
     
     
         14 . The reinforced polystyrene slab of  claim 1 , configured as at least one of: a grave construction element comprising a wall and/or a cover, a ceiling construction element and/or a partition. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising preparing a reinforced polystyrene slab for construction by embedding reinforcement elements into a polystyrene slab. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising embedding rods and/or tubes by insertion into the polystyrene slab and/or embedding a mesh, rods and/or tubes by producing the polystyrene slab to encompass the mesh, rods and/or tubes and/or embedding fibers and/or cables into the polystyrene slab during production thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising coating the embedded reinforcement elements at least partly by a cement mixture and/or coating the reinforced polystyrene slab on one or both sides. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 setting the reinforcement elements in slits on at least one side of the polystyrene slab, and   filling the slits with a cement mixture that coats the embedded reinforcement elements at least partly,   wherein the coating comprises a cement coating.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising configuring the coated reinforced polystyrene slab to have a load support ability that is larger by up to 70% compared with polystyrene slab having the same weight. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising configuring the reinforced polystyrene slab as at least one of: a grave construction element comprising a wall and/or a cover, a ceiling construction element and/or a partition.