The present invention relates, inter alia, to method of assessing the reactivity of a polymerizable material (especially an aluminosilicate) in forming a geopolymer. The present invention also relates to methods of forming a geopolymer, and to geopolymers formed by the method. The method of assessing the reactivity of the polymerizable material may include first assessing whether the polymerizable material is layered or particulate. Next, if the polymerizable material is layered, the method may include measuring the moles of polymerization network forming elements in an amount of polymerizable material, whereby the moles of polymerization network forming elements is indicative of the reactivity of the polymerizable material in forming a geopolymer. Alternatively, if the polymerizable material is particulate, the method may include measuring the molar charge of polymerization network modifiers in an amount of polymerizable material, whereby the molar charge of polymerization network modifiers is indicative of the reactivity of the polymerizable material in forming a geopolymer.

A process for making a cement, the cement containing a naturally occurring silicate bound in an organic binder, and a metal oxide. An example process includes dissolving the organic binder at least in part, using an effective amount of a chemical activator. An example process also includes providing the silicate to react with other components of the cement. An example process also includes providing the silicate to participate in crystal growth. An example process also includes providing the silicate so that the cement is a structural load bearing cement.

A process for making a cement, the cement containing a naturally occurring silicate bound in an organic binder, and a metal oxide. An example process includes dissolving the organic binder at least in part, using an effective amount of a chemical activator. An example process also includes providing the silicate to react with other components of the cement. An example process also includes providing the silicate to participate in crystal growth. An example process also includes providing the silicate so that the cement is a structural load bearing cement.

The invention is directed to kits, compositions, tools and methods comprising a cyclic industrial process to form biocement. In particular, the invention is directed to materials and methods for decomposing calcium carbonate into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide at an elevated temperature, reacting calcium oxide with ammonium chloride to form calcium chloride, water, and ammonia gas; and reacting ammonia gas and carbon dioxide at high pressure to form urea and water, which are then utilized to form biocement. This cyclic process can be achieved by combining industrial processes with the resulting product as biocement. The process may involve retention of calcium carbonate currently utilized in the manufacture of Portland Cement.

The invention is directed to kits, compositions, tools and methods comprising a cyclic industrial process to form biocement. In particular, the invention is directed to materials and methods for decomposing calcium carbonate into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide at an elevated temperature, reacting calcium oxide with ammonium chloride to form calcium chloride, water, and ammonia gas; and reacting ammonia gas and carbon dioxide at high pressure to form urea and water, which are then utilized to form biocement. This cyclic process can be achieved by combining industrial processes with the resulting product as biocement. The process may involve retention of calcium carbonate currently utilized in the manufacture of Portland Cement.

The invention is directed to kits, compositions, tools and methods comprising a cyclic industrial process to form biocement. In particular, the invention is directed to materials and methods for decomposing calcium carbonate into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide at an elevated temperature, reacting calcium oxide with ammonium chloride to form calcium chloride, water, and ammonia gas; and reacting ammonia gas and carbon dioxide at high pressure to form urea and water, which are then utilized to form biocement. This cyclic process can be achieved by combining industrial processes with the resulting product as biocement. The process may involve retention of calcium carbonate currently utilized in the manufacture of Portland Cement.

The invention relates to geopolymer compositions, geopolymers and methods for their production and use. The geopolymers may be used as aggregates, and those aggregates may be used in concrete manufacture. The geopolymer composition comprises fly ash or a fly ash substitute, an aluminum phyllosilicate, an alkaline component and water, wherein the water is present at an amount of about 6% to about 10% by weight of the composition. The geopolymers are made by forming a geopolymer composition as described above, compacting the mixture by applying pressure of about 50 to about 90 kgf/cm.sup.2; and curing the compacted mixture to form the geopolymer.

Method for creating a brake pad with a block of friction material, in which sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate are dissolved in water, the aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate is mixed with commercial metakaolin until a wet paste is obtained, the wet paste is formed and dried until a dried geopolymeric aggregate is obtained, the aggregate is ground to a powder, the dried ground aggregate is used as an exclusive or almost-exclusive inorganic geopolymeric binder in a friction material compound and the raw compound is hot-molded under a pressure greater than a water saturation pressure at the molding temperature.

A method for making geopolymer cementitious binder compositions for cementitious products such as concrete, precast construction elements and panels, mortar and repair materials, and the like is disclosed. The geopolymer cementitious compositions of some embodiments are made by mixing a synergistic mixture of thermally activated aluminosilicate mineral, calcium aluminate cement, a calcium sulfate and a chemical activator with water.

A treatment fluid for treating a portion of a water-sensitive subterranean formation comprising: a base fluid; and a stabilizing compound, wherein the stabilizing compound reduces or eliminates swelling of a water-swellable mineral of the portion of the water-sensitive subterranean formation, and wherein the stabilizing compound comprises: (A) a cationic functional group; and (B) a hydrophobic portion. A method of treating a portion of a water-sensitive subterranean formation comprising: introducing a treatment fluid into a wellbore, wherein the wellbore penetrates the subterranean formation, wherein the portion of the subterranean formation comprises a water-swellable mineral.