A method for the use of a clay including: less than 30% of kaolinite; and at least 20% of muscovite and/or illite; from 1% to 20% of smectite; the muscovite and/or illite/kaolinite weight ratio being greater than 1; for the preparation of a geopolymer precursor.

A method for the use of a clay including: less than 30% of kaolinite; and at least 20% of muscovite and/or illite; from 1% to 20% of smectite; the muscovite and/or illite/kaolinite weight ratio being greater than 1; for the preparation of a geopolymer precursor.

Article made of conglomerate material in the form of a slab comprising an aggregate which includes granules of expanded material having a selected particle size range and defining between them inter-granular cavities containing only air and no filling material. The aggregate also includes a binder present in a controlled minimum quantity sufficient for lining the granules of expanded material. The article also comprises a lining layer integral with the aggregate. The invention also relates to a method for the production of an article made of conglomerate material.

Article made of conglomerate material in the form of a slab comprising an aggregate which includes granules of expanded material having a selected particle size range and defining between them inter-granular cavities containing only air and no filling material. The aggregate also includes a binder present in a controlled minimum quantity sufficient for lining the granules of expanded material. The article also comprises a lining layer integral with the aggregate. The invention also relates to a method for the production of an article made of conglomerate material.

Methods of cementing include providing a geopolymer cement composition that includes a monophase amorphous hydraulic binder material (MAHBM), a metal silicate, an alkaline activator, and a carrier fluid, introducing the geopolymer cement composition into a subterranean formation, and allowing the geopolymer cement composition to set in the subterranean formation. The MAHBM includes silica or alumina core particulates coated with an amorphous calcium silicate hydrate.

A method for forming a refractory material is described comprising the steps of placing a core material 12 into a granulator device 16, operating the granulator device 16 to form the core material into granules 16, adding a coating material 18 to the granulator device 16, operating the granulator device 16 to result in the formation of a layer 20 of the coating material 18 encapsulating the granules 16, and then heating the coated granules 22. Materials manufactured using the method are also described.

A method for forming a refractory material is described comprising the steps of placing a core material 12 into a granulator device 16, operating the granulator device 16 to form the core material into granules 16, adding a coating material 18 to the granulator device 16, operating the granulator device 16 to result in the formation of a layer 20 of the coating material 18 encapsulating the granules 16, and then heating the coated granules 22. Materials manufactured using the method are also described.

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.

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 method of controlled hydration expansion of a smectite-containing day mineral (SCM) within an aqueous environment in a confined volumetric space, the method comprising the steps of: —introducing an amount of an SCM into said volumetric space via an inlet thereinto, and initiating the hydration expansion of the SCM to release SCM particles into the confined volumetric space, and increase the pressure therein; and —introducing a flow path modification to control said released SCM particles from undergoing a recompression, said modification thereby maintaining the pressure in the volumetric space.