The present invention relates to a geopolymer produced from a synthetic aluminosilicate. The synthetic aluminosilicate was produced by sol gel technology, heat treated and, later, activated using sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide in solution, having as a final product a synthetic geopolymer. The final product was submitted to CO.sub.2 adsorption analysis using thermogravimetry for adsorbed quantification. In addition to the pure geopolymer, it is also possible to produce the synthetic geopolymer with the addition of surfactant, or in the composite form with the addition of zeolite, or heat treated to form a zeolite or functionalized with amine, for example, to increase the adsorption capacity.

The present invention provides a bidirectional energy-transfer system comprising: a thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete, disposed in a structural object; a location of energy supply or demand that is physically isolated from, but in thermodynamic and/or electromagnetic communication with, the thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete; and a means of transferring energy between the structural object and the location of energy supply or demand. The system can be a single node in a neural network. The thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete includes a conductive, shock-absorbing material, such as graphite. Preferred compositions are disclosed for the thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete. The bidirectional energy-transfer system may be present in a solar-energy collection system, a grade beam, an indoor radiant flooring system, a structural wall or ceiling, a bridge, a roadway, a driveway, a parking lot, a commercial aviation runway, a military runway, a grain silo, or pavers, for example.

Methods for making carbon-fiber reinforced geopolymer composites are provided. The methods produce metakaolin-based geopolymer composites in which multiwalled carbon nanotubes and/or carbon nanofibers are well dispersed in an metakaolin-based geopolymer matrix. The mixing protocols of the methods used to produce carbon-fiber reinforced geopolymer composites produce composites with reduced porosity, high elastic moduli, high strength, and/or high fracture toughness.

A process for fireproofing materials, using the following steps: a) placing a material in contact with a viscoelastic suspension obtained by mixing a pozzolanic material with an alkaline activation solution having at least one soluble metal hydroxide; b) geopolymerizing the viscoelastic suspension; c) obtaining a fireproof material with a geopolymer.

A method of reducing lost circulation includes introducing a lost circulation solution comprising Saudi Arabian volcanic ash, a curing agent, and a resin into a subsurface formation through a wellbore, wherein the Saudi Arabian volcanic ash comprises SO.sub.3, CaO, SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, MgO, and K.sub.2O; and allowing the lost circulation solution to thicken within the subsurface formation, thereby forming a barrier between the subsurface formation and the wellbore to reduce lost circulation.

The invention relates to radiation-treated reinforcement fibers, reinforced asphalt and portland cement concrete, and grout, methods for producing the same and application for their use. The radiation treatment includes exposing reinforcement fibers to electromagnetic energy, e.g., gamma rays, and/or electron-beam (E-beam) radiation. As a result of the treatment, the radiation-treated reinforcement fibers have a modified or deformed surface, e.g., an abraded and/or porous surface, as compared to reinforcement fibers without a radiation treatment.

An insulating material, in particular a permeable fire-proof insulating material comprising water glass and polystyrene, consisting of a hardening mixture which contains 1 to 32.4 wt % of expanded polystyrene, 57.5 to 96.0 wt % of aqueous sodium silicate solution, 2 to 6 wt % of aluminium hydroxide, 0.8 to 2.6 wt % water glass hardener and 0.1 to 0.5 wt % of water glass stabilizer, while the surface of the expanded polystyrene is provided with carbon black, the carbon black making up 0.1 to 1 wt % of total weight. A method for the production of insulating material, in particular a method for the production of permeable fire-proof insulating material comprising water glass and polystyrene, according to which firstly the polystyrene beads are mixed with an aqueous solution of carbon black so as to coat their entire surface, then is added to the aqueous sodium silicate solution aluminium hydroxide and the whole is mixed so as to form an insulating mixture, and then a water glass stabilizer is added to the aqueous sodium silicate solution, and then to this solution is mixed water glass hardener, with this solution being further stirred for 1 to 10 minutes to form a binder solution, and the insulating mixture is added to the binder solution with constant stirring, and the whole is mixed, and the resulting mixture is then poured into the application site.

System and means soil stabilization and moisture control for building foundations including methods and systems for stabilization moisture in a site for building foundation by applying soil moisture stabilization material in various forms, a preferred stabilization material being a mixture of aluninosilicate Pozzolan mineral and granular material such as sand.

Disclosed herein are a lightweight geopolymer foam with low thermal conductivity and a manufacturing method therefor in which coal bottom ash and fly ash are used together as materials for the geopolymer foam and silica fume is added to a mixed solution of an alkali activator and sodium hydroxide. The geopolymer foam can be utilized for improving insulation performance and safety for a structure constructed with eco-friendly cement.

A method of pumping a fluid and reactive solid into a mineral formation includes the fluid reacting with the mineral formation to produce a nucleation product. The method may be used in shale formations to seal fissures and prevent leakage. The fluid used in this method may comprise CO.sub.2 and the nucleation products may be the products of carbonation reactions. A cement formed by reacting CO.sub.2 with a reactive solid under deep geological formation conditions is also disclosed.