The present disclosure relates to ultra-high density concrete composite containing super-absorbent polymer (SAP)-Attached Fibers, suitable for making a near-vacuum tube for hyperloop transportation system, a method for manufacturing the ultra-high density concrete composite, a method for manufacturing a concrete member using the ultra-high density concrete composite and an ultra-high density concrete member manufactured by the method.

An insulation medium invention includes a plurality of microspheres. Each microsphere comprises a porous core comprising a porous core material and having an exterior surface, a gas within the porous core, and a coating layer coating all of the exterior surface of the porous core. The coating layer comprises a coating material which transitions from a first state to a second state. In the first state, the coating material is permeable to the gas. In the second state the material is impermeable to the gas. The coating material in the second state is configured to encapsulate and maintain partial vacuum of the gas inside the porous core. In one embodiment, in the second state the coating is impermeable to air. Insulated structures, a method of making an insulation medium, a fluid storage media, and a method of delivering a fluid are also disclosed.

A process for producing cement includes combining a cement precursor and a wax, wherein the wax includes alkyl ketene dimer wax and/or alkenyl ketene dimer wax, grinding the cement precursor and the wax to yield cement grains coated with the wax. A cement includes cement powder grains and a coating of wax on the Portland cement powder grains, wherein the wax includes alkyl ketene dimer wax and/or alkenyl ketene dimer wax. A process for making cementitious material includes combining a cement with water to yield a slurry, wherein the cement includes cement powder grains and a coating of wax on the cement powder grains, wherein the wax includes alkyl ketene dimer wax and/or alkenyl ketene dimer wax, and allowing the slurry to set.

A composite cementitious feedstock includes mineral rock agglutinates, super absorbent polymer (SAP) particles, cement particles, and a binder. Each of the agglutinates has irregular surface regions and cavities originating at the irregular surface regions. At least a portion of the SAP particles and cement particles are disposed on the irregular surface regions and in the cavities. The binder coheres the agglutinates, SAP particles, and cement particles.

The Present disclosure is related to hot-mix asphalt (“HMA”) which open new price/performance areas to asphalt cement concrete (“ACC”) pavement. Equivalent-performing pavement may be made at lower cost, or higher-performing pavement may be made at equivalent-to-prior-art cost. The amendments, recycled asphalt pavement (“RAP”, and including recycled asphalt shingles [“RAS”]), and reinforcing fiber (aramid fiber) may be adjusted as described herein to achieve a desired price/performance target.

A concrete structure includes a continuous fiber-reinforced polymer material arranged as a main reinforcing material or a tendon. A short fiber reinforcing material consisting of an organic fiber is mixed in 0.5% or more with respect to an entire volume. The continuous fiber-reinforced polymer material is shaped like a rod or a stranded wire. A ratio Lf/Gm between a fiber length Lf of the organic fiber of the short fiber reinforcing material and a maximum aggregate diameter Gm of a concrete composition is 1.2 to 3.7, and an aspect ratio Lf/De, in which De is an equivalent diameter that is a cross-sectional area of the organic fiber converted into a circle diameter, is 30 to 69.

A concrete structure includes a continuous fiber-reinforced polymer material arranged as a main reinforcing material or a tendon. A short fiber reinforcing material consisting of an organic fiber is mixed in 0.5% or more with respect to an entire volume. The continuous fiber-reinforced polymer material is shaped like a rod or a stranded wire. A ratio Lf/Gm between a fiber length Lf of the organic fiber of the short fiber reinforcing material and a maximum aggregate diameter Gm of a concrete composition is 1.2 to 3.7, and an aspect ratio Lf/De, in which De is an equivalent diameter that is a cross-sectional area of the organic fiber converted into a circle diameter, is 30 to 69.

A cementitious panel system reinforced on its opposed surfaces by a fabric of basalt fiber woven or non-woven mesh. Preferably the mesh is a woven basalt scrim with thicker yarn and larger mesh openings to provide a cementitious panel with improved handling properties while retaining tensile strength and long term durability. The fabric is constructed as a mesh of high modulus strands of bundled basalt fibers. The fabric also has suitable physical characteristics for embedment within the cement matrix of the panels or panels closely adjacent the opposed faces thereof. The fabric provides a panel system with long-lasting, high strength tensile reinforcement and improved handling properties regardless of their spatial orientation during handling. Included as part of the invention are methods for making the reinforced cementitious panel.

Embodiments of the invention are amendments to hot-mix asphalt (“HMA”) which open new price/performance areas to asphalt cement concrete (“ACC”) pavement. Equivalent-performing pavement may be made at lower cost, or higher-performing pavement may be made at equivalent-to-prior-art cost. The amendments, recycled asphalt pavement (“RAP”, and including recycled asphalt shingles [“RAS”]), and reinforcing fiber (aramid fiber) may be adjusted as described herein to achieve a desired price/performance target.

Processes disclosed are capable of converting biomass into high-crystallinity, hydrophobic cellulose. In some variations, the process includes fractionating biomass with an acid (such as sulfur dioxide), a solvent (such as ethanol), and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; and depositing lignin onto cellulose fibers to produce lignin-coated cellulose materials (such as dissolving pulp). The crystallinity of the cellulose material may be 80% or higher, translating into good reinforcing properties for composites. Optionally, sugars derived from amorphous cellulose and hemicellulose may be separately fermented, such as to monomers for various polymers. These polymers may be combined with the hydrophobic cellulose to form completely renewable composites.