A construction composition comprises a) a cementitious binder comprising one or more calcium silicate mineral phases and one or more calcium aluminate mineral phases; b) optionally, an extraneous aluminate source; c) a sulfate source; d) an ettringite formation controller comprising (i) glyoxylic acid, a glyoxylic acid salt and/or a glyoxylic acid derivative; and (ii) at least one of a borate source and a carbonate source, wherein the carbonate source is selected from inorganic carbonates having an aqueous solubility of 0.1 g.Math.L.sup.−1 or more, organic carbonates, and mixtures thereof; and e) a polyol in an amount of 0.2 to 2.5 wt.-%, relative to the amount of cementitious binder a). The composition contains 0.05 to 0.2 mol of total available aluminate, calculated as Al(OH).sub.4.sup.−, from the calcium aluminate mineral phases plus the optional extraneous aluminate source, per 100 g of cementitious binder a); and the molar ratio of total available aluminate to sulfate is 0.4 to 2.0. The construction composition exhibits high early strength and sufficient open time. The advantageous effects are readily achievable for a variety of cements with varying elemental compositions.

Various embodiments include cementitious compositions with low levels of embodied greenhouse gas emissions, in particular carbon dioxide, as a result of its production and/or use compared to conventional cementitious materials, such as portland cement. Various embodiments include any cementitious material or materials with low embodied carbon, as well as any material produced using this cement.

A method for producing a decorated mineral composite body, a decorated mineral composite body and the use of a multilayer film for producing a decorated mineral composite body.

A method of producing a carbonated composite material includes: providing a carbonatable cementitious material in particulate form; mixing the carbonatable cementitious material with water to produce a mix; forming a predetermined shape with the mix, wherein the predetermined shape has an initial pore structure containing an initial pore solution having a first pH; pre-conditioning the predetermined shape to remove a predetermined amount of the water from the predetermined shape to produce a pre-conditioned shape; carbonating the pre-conditioned shape in an environment comprising carbon dioxide to produce a modified pore structure containing a modified pore solution having and a second pH, wherein the difference between the first pH and the second pH is represented by a ΔpH, and the ΔpH is 1.0 or less.

A method of producing a carbonated composite material includes: providing a carbonatable cementitious material in particulate form; mixing the carbonatable cementitious material with water to produce a mix; forming a predetermined shape with the mix, wherein the predetermined shape has an initial pore structure containing an initial pore solution having a first pH; pre-conditioning the predetermined shape to remove a predetermined amount of the water from the predetermined shape to produce a pre-conditioned shape; carbonating the pre-conditioned shape in an environment comprising carbon dioxide to produce a modified pore structure containing a modified pore solution having and a second pH, wherein the difference between the first pH and the second pH is represented by a ΔpH, and the ΔpH is 1.0 or less.

Cementitious compositions comprising a hydraulic cementitious material, a compound selected from the group consisting of a polyhydroxy aromatic compound, a polycarboxylic acid-containing compound or a salt thereof, ascorbic acid or a salt thereof, or a combination thereof, and a particulate material or a water soluble silicate-containing material that interacts with the compound are described herein. The polyhydroxy aromatic compound can be a water soluble compound having from two to thirty hydroxyl groups. The particulate material can exhibit a particle size distribution, wherein at least about 90% by weight of the particles have a diameter of less than 2 mm. Suitable particulate materials include nanoparticles and microparticles. The cementitious compositions can be used to form building materials. The cementitious compositions are especially suited for inhibiting corrosion of reinforcing steel bars embedded in concrete mixtures. Methods of making and using the cementitious composition are also disclosed.

A method for manufacturing concrete parts has the steps of: providing a hydraulic cement and aggregate; mixing the cement and aggregate with water to provide a fresh concrete; introducing CO.sub.2 into the fresh concrete in an amount resulting in a carbonation degree of more than 0.5 wt.-% and less than 5 wt.-% of the total carbonatable Ca and Mg phases for a first carbonation step; curing the fresh concrete until at least 15 wt.-% of the calcium aluminates are hydrated to provide a green concrete part; subjecting the green concrete part to CO.sub.2 in an amount resulting in a carbonation degree of more than 10 wt.-% of the total carbonatable Ca and Mg phases for a final carbonation step; and storing the part for 0.5 hours to 28 days for further hydration of not-yet carbonated, not-yet hydrated cement to provide the concrete part. and concrete parts obtainable with the method.

Synthetic pozzolans are produced using local materials to provide a cementitious material that is uniform in chemistry and properties independent of the location where the materials are obtained. Two methods of production are described. One is a high temperature process in which materials are processed in a semi-molten or molten state. The second process is a low temperature aqueous process.

The invention provides novel methods and novel additive compositions and use thereof in a wide range of concrete production for improving properties of concrete materials, such as durability and aestheticity. The methods and compositions of the invention may be applied in a variety of cement and concrete components in the infrastructure, construction, pavement and landscaping industries.

The invention provides novel methods and novel additive compositions and use thereof in a wide range of concrete production for improving properties of concrete materials, such as durability and aestheticity. The methods and compositions of the invention may be applied in a variety of cement and concrete components in the infrastructure, construction, pavement and landscaping industries.