An apparatus for delivering a wet concrete mix to a product mold, where the apparatus comprises a hopper configured to retain a fresh concrete mix, a source of treated water having a concentration of nanobubbles of a gas at least double a natural concentration of nanobubbles of the gas within a natural state of the water, a water transport coupling the source of treated water with the hopper, a valve interposed within the water transport for selectively releasing the treated water into the hopper, and a mixer in communication with the hopper for mixing the treated water with the fresh concrete mix to yield an infused wet concrete.

Provided is a novel cured article that enables to expand the use of debris and the like as well as the use of plant biomass. The cured article contains an inorganic material and at least one selected from lignin and cellulose.

Proppant particles formed from slurry droplets and methods of use are disclosed herein. The proppant particles can include a sintered ceramic material and can have a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh and an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns. The methods of use can include injecting a hydraulic fluid into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein and injecting a fluid containing a proppant particle into the fracture, the proppant particle including a sintered ceramic material, a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh, and an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns.

[Object] To provide a building material having excellent durability. [Solution] A building material has a convex part formed on a surface thereof, the convex part including a first lateral surface part and a second lateral surface part corresponding to the first lateral surface part. The building material is formed from a mixture containing a hydraulic material, an admixture, and a plant-based reinforcing material, and the plant-based reinforcing material at least in the convex part is distributed in the mixture with the hydraulic material and the admixture attached to the plant-based reinforcing material. A distribution of the plant-based reinforcing material in the first lateral surface part and a distribution of the plant-based reinforcing material in the second lateral surface part are substantially the same. Desirably, the convex part includes a first edge part that is an edge part of the first lateral surface part and a second edge part that is an edge part of the second lateral surface part and that corresponds to the first edge part, and a distribution of holes formed in the first edge part and a distribution of holes formed in the second edge part are substantially the same.

A nanobubble-infused liquid is mixed into a dry concrete mix to form an infused wet concrete, where the nanobubble-infused liquid includes a concentration of nanobubbles of a gas at least double a natural concentration of nanobubbles of the gas within a natural state of the liquid. The nanobubble-infused liquid is preferably liquid water infused with a desired concentration of carbon-dioxide (CO.sub.2) nanobubbles sized within a certain prescribed range. The infused wet concrete is then transported to the mold of a concrete products forming machine to form a molded product that has enhanced qualities including increased carbon capture within the resulting concrete product, improved curing times, increased flowability, self-healing, and improved release from the product mold.

Products, including treatment compositions, and methods for improving cement performance are provided. More specifically, products and methods for improving cement hydration, and thus cement performance, using vegetation are provided. The vegetation may be processed into a vegetative extract that may be used to create a treatment composition. The treatment composition may be used to enhance hydration of cement. The products and methods disclosed herein may be used to create a stronger, lower cost, and longer-lasting cementitious product.

The use of a clay including: less than 25% of kaolinite; and at least 20% of muscovite and/or illite; the muscovite and/or illite/kaolinite weight ratio being greater than 1, for the preparation of a pozzolanic material.

A liquid additive composition comprising a particulate material, an organic carrier fluid, a viscosifier, and an alcohol alkoxylate surfactant; wherein the particulate material is substantially insoluble in the organic carrier fluid; wherein the particulate material comprises a water-interactive material and/or a water-insoluble material; wherein the organic carrier fluid comprises a glycol and/or a glycol ether; and wherein the viscosifier comprises amorphous silica. A method comprising (a) contacting a particulate material, an organic carrier fluid, a viscosifier, and an alcohol alkoxylate surfactant to form a mixture; and (b) agitating the mixture to form the liquid additive composition.

Stone slabs, and systems and methods of forming slabs, are described. Some example slabs include a first pattern defined by a first particulate mineral mix and a second pattern defined by a second particulate mineral mix different from the first particulate mineral mix. The first particulate mix includes greater than 50 weight percent of first metallic particles.

The present invention relates to fiber cement products comprising a first layer, which first layer is covered by at least one second layer, characterized in that said first layer is the top layer and the first layer material has a density of between about 0.4 and about 0.9 g/cm.sup.3 inclusive, and at least comprises cement and between 1 wt % and 70 wt % (relative to the total dry weight of said first layer material) of a lightweight filler, and said at least one second layer is the bottom layer and covers only one of the main surfaces of the first layer, thereby forming a bi-layered fiber cement product, wherein the second layer material has a density of between about 0.9 and about 1.4 g/cm.sup.3 inclusive, and at least comprises fibers and cement.