Disclosed are: damage-resistant ECMCs that need to work and remain elastic between minus 120° C. and positive 300° C.; ECMCs that need to be able to contain a flame of 1900° C. for more than 90 minutes; and composite structures, especially highly stressed structures. One of the characteristic problems of ceramic matrices is their fragility. Indeed, when a fracture starts, it propagates easily in the matrix. Disclosed are elastic ceramic matrix composites (ECMCs), for which: the ceramic matrix is split into solid “ceramic microdomains” (CMDs); the CMDs are connected to one another by a dense network of “elastic microelements” (EMEs); and the bonds between the EMEs and the CMDs are strong chemical bonds, preferably covalent.

The invention relates to a method (100) for selecting the composition of a construction material including an excavated clay soil, said construction material composition to include deflocculating agent and activating agent quantities adapted to the excavated clay soil, said method including a step of receiving (130) a measured value of at least one physicochemical property of an excavated clay soil, and a step of selecting (170) a deflocculating agent quantity and an activating agent quantity adapted to the excavated clay soil. In addition, the invention also relates to a method (200) for calibrating a calculation algorithm for determining the composition of a site construction material, to a construction material formed from an excavated clay soil, and to a system (400) for preparing a construction material including an excavated clay soil.

A light weight geopolymer concrete, having a specific gravity less than 2.0, more typically between 1 and 1.3, is provided that has compressive strength comparable to or greater than ordinary Portland concrete. The light weight geopolymer concrete has low shrinkage, expansion, and cracking, and substantially no loss of compressive strength when exposed to high temperatures of 800° C. or greater, as would occur in a fire. To be useful as a load bearing member for general applications, such as residential housing, the compressive strength of the light-weight geopolymer concrete should be at least 10 MPa, preferably greater than 12 MPa, for example greater than 15 MPa. For more demanding uses, the compressive strength should be near or at the compressive strength of concrete, that is, greater than 20 MPa, preferably greater than 30 MPa, and optimally greater than 35 MPa. To be useful during and after a fire, the strength must not be reduced by more than 20%, preferably not less than 10%, optimally not reduced at all when exposed to heat up to 800° C. Embodiments of the invention include low-density high-temperature-resistant geopolymer concrete which increases load bearing strength when exposed to temperatures above 400° C., preferably at 800° C. Key constituents for forming most embodiments include a geopolymer source such as fly ash, a cement-coated expanded vermiculite, a fiber such as wollastonite, and soluble silicates such as alkali silicates.

A composite member includes an inorganic matrix part made from an inorganic substance and a dispersed component present in a dispersed state within the inorganic matrix part and having elasticity, wherein a material making up the dispersed component has a modulus of elasticity in tension of 100 Pa or more and 3.5 GPa or less. The composite member has a porosity of 20% or less in a section of the inorganic matrix part.

A composite member includes an inorganic matrix part made from an inorganic substance and a dispersed component present in a dispersed state within the inorganic matrix part and having elasticity, wherein a material making up the dispersed component has a modulus of elasticity in tension of 100 Pa or more and 3.5 GPa or less. The composite member has a porosity of 20% or less in a section of the inorganic matrix part.

The present invention relates to a suspension comprising 50-95% by weight of the total suspension (w/w) of at least one metallic material and/or ceramic material and/or polymeric material and/or solid carbon containing material; and at least 5% by weight of the total suspension of one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof. In addition, the invention relates to uses of such suspension in 3D printing processes.

The present invention relates to method for producing construction aggregate, comprising the steps of: (i) preparing materials, which comprises (% by weight): fly ash (80 to 99.75%); alkaline activator (0.25 to 20%); water (6 to 30% of total weight of fly ash and alkaline activator); (ii) mixing the alkaline activator with all the aforementioned water amount to create alkaline activator solution, after which will be mixed with fly ash to create geopolymer mortar; (iii) molding the geopolymer mortar with the compressive force of 2 MPa and more with desired dimension, wherein the molding is carried out with hydraulic pressing, extrusion, rolling or tablet lamination. (iv) solidifying; and (v) optionally, crushing the construction aggregate obtained above to a predefined dimension. Besides, the present invention relates to the construction aggregate from fly ash obtained by the above mentioned method.

The invention relates to a mineral binder suitable for use in binding aggregate in a mineral mortar or concrete mixture, said binder comprising the following components:

a) at least 40 wt % of calcined kaolinitic clay and ultrafine crushed CDW,
wherein the ratio between calcined clay and ultrafine crushed CDW is between 3:7 and 1:1 (w/w),
b) optionally 2-50 wt. % of a chemical activator; and
wherein the calcined kaolinitic clay, the ultrafine crushed CDW and the optionally present chemical activator are present in a combined amount of at least 90 wt. %, based on the total weight of the binder. The invention further relates to mineral mortar or concrete mixtures based on this mineral binder, as well as building units made from these mixtures.

Some implementations herein described improvements to concrete products and processes for producing concrete products that may provide a positive environmental impact and that can be stronger relative to the percent of cement used. Particular examples include improvements to zero-slump to near-zero-slump concrete mixture design, material storage and handling, batching, mixing, sequencing and curing processes, as well as forming and curing techniques.

Some implementations herein described improvements to concrete products and processes for producing concrete products that may provide a positive environmental impact and that can be stronger relative to the percent of cement used. Particular examples include improvements to zero-slump to near-zero-slump concrete mixture design, material storage and handling, batching, mixing, sequencing and curing processes, as well as forming and curing techniques.