Organomineral solid and foamed material

1. A two-part composition comprising first and second parts which form a foamed isocyanate material when mixed, wherein

the first part comprises a source of metal ions and water and the second part comprises an isocyanate, and wherein

the composition has a ratio of NCO in the isocyanate to water to metal ions of 1 mol:3.5 to 5.5 mol:95 to 650 mmol, and wherein

the source of metal ions is a water soluble metal salt selected from the group consisting of phosphate, bromide, pyrophosphate, polyphosphate, bicarbonate, carbonate, chloride, sulfate, nitrate, nitrite, and mixtures of two or more of such salts, and wherein

the first and second parts do not contain a polyalcohol and form the foamed isocyanate material when mixed by hydrolysis of the isocyanate in the second part.

2. The two-part composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the metal is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal.

3. The two-part composition as defined in claim 2 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium and magnesium.

4. The two-part composition as defined in claim 3 , wherein the water soluble metal salt is selected from the group consisting of potassium phosphate, potassium polyphosphate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, potassium nitrate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium sulfate, sodium chloride and/or sodium nitrite.

5. The two-part composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises from 95 to 450 mmol of the metal ion per mol of NCO in the isocyanate.

6. The two-part composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the ratio of NCO in the isocyanate to water to metal ions is 1 mol:4.5 to 5.5 mol:95 to 450 mmol.

7. The two-part composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the content of —NCO groups is from 5.0 to 33% by weight with —NCO functionality of at least about 2.

8. The two-part composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the isocyanate is a polyisocyanate and/or a polyisocyanate prepolymer.

9. The two-part composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first part comprises at least one further component selected from the group consisting of a flame retarder, an inorganic filler and a gelling agent.

10. The two-part composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first part and optionally the second part comprises a tertiary amine.

11. The two-part composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the second part comprises a plasticizer and/or a surface active compound.

12. The two-part composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the volume ratio of the first part to the second part is from 1:4 to 4:1.

13. A method of preparing a foamed isocyanate material which method comprises the steps of:

a) providing a first part comprising a source of metal ions and water, wherein the source of metal ions is a water soluble metal salt selected from the group consisting of phosphate, bromide, pyrophosphate, polyphosphate, bicarbonate, carbonate, chloride, sulfate, nitrate, nitrite, and mixtures of two or more of such salts;

b) providing a second part comprising an isocyanate; and

c) mixing the first part with the second part in the absence of a polyalcohol to form the foamed isocyanate material by hydrolysis of the isocyanate in the second part.

14. A method of controlling the foaming factor in the formation of a foamed isocyanate material which method comprises the steps of:

a) providing a first part comprising a source of metal ions and water and a second part comprising an isocyanate, wherein the source of metal ions is a water soluble metal salt selected from the group consisting of phosphate, bromide, pyrophosphate, polyphosphate, bicarbonate, carbonate, chloride, sulfate, nitrate, nitrite, and mixtures of two or more of such salts;

b) selecting a concentration of metal ions in the first part to provide a desired foaming factor; and

c) mixing the first part with the second part in the absence of a polyalcohol to form the foamed isocyanate material by hydrolysis of the isocyanate in the second part.

15. A method of controlling the foaming factor in the formation of a foamed isocyanate material which method comprises the steps of:

a) providing a first part comprising a source of metal ions and water and a second part comprising an isocyanate, wherein the source of metal ions is a water soluble metal salt selected from the group consisting of phosphate, bromide, pyrophosphate, polyphosphate, bicarbonate, carbonate, chloride, sulfate, nitrate, nitrite, and mixtures of two or more of such salts;

b) selecting a concentration of one or more of metal ions and water in the first part, and alternatively or in addition selecting the concentration of the isocyanate in the second part, to provide a desired foaming factor; and

c) mixing the first part with the second part in the absence of a polyalcohol to form the foamed isocyanate material by hydrolysis of the isocyanate in the second part.

16. A method of consolidating and/or sealing a ground formation in construction, a tunnel or a mine which method comprises the steps of:

a) supplying providing a first part comprising a source of metal ions and water and a second part comprising an isocyanate to the ground formation in need of consolidation and/or sealing, wherein the source of metal ions is a water soluble metal salt selected from the group consisting of phosphate, bromide, pyrophosphate, polyphosphate, bicarbonate, carbonate, chloride, sulfate, nitrate, nitrite, and mixtures of two or more of such salts; and

b) mixing the first part with the second part in the absence of a polyalcohol to form a foamed isocyanate material by hydrolysis of the isocyanate in the second part to consolidate and/or seal the ground formation.

17. A two-component system comprising first and second parts which form a foamed isocyanate material when mixed, wherein

the first part consists of water and a source of metal ions optionally with one or more additives selected from the group of additives consisting of an inorganic filler, a flame retarder, a surface active compound, an amine, and a gelling agent, and wherein

the source of metal ions is a water soluble metal salt selected from the group consisting of phosphate, bromide, pyrophosphate, polyphosphate, bicarbonate, carbonate, chloride, sulfate, nitrate, nitrite, and mixtures of two or more of such salts; and wherein

the second part consists of an isocyanate optionally with one or more additives selected from the group of additives consisting of a plasticizer, an amine and a surface active compound, and wherein

the first and second parts do not contain a polyalcohol and form the foamed isocyanate material when mixed by hydrolysis of the isocyanate in the second part.