The present invention concerns combinations of a water repellent alkyl ketene dimer as a component (I) and a water repellent metal alcoholate as a component (II) that are strongly synergistic in repelling water from water absorbing surfaces, resulting in a surprisingly long water droplet absorption time. The combinations of the invention can be applied to the surface of any material that has water absorbing properties such as, but not limited to, wood, woven and non-woven sheeting materials, paper, building materials, gypsum board, and leather.

The method of curing reinforced concrete uses a liquid membrane-forming curing compound for the curing of reinforced concrete, but without fully coating the reinforced concrete with the curing compound, thus allowing for oxygen permeation through the reinforced concrete to effect passive layer formation on steel rebar embedded in the reinforced concrete. Prior to curing, a mask is applied to at least one surface of a slab of reinforced concrete, such that the mask covers about 10% of the surface area of the at least one surface. The at least one surface of the slab of reinforced concrete is then coated with a liquid membrane-forming curing compound. The liquid membrane-forming curing compound is allowed to dry, thus forming a curing compound layer on the at least one surface of the slab of reinforced concrete. The mask is then removed to form at least one uncoated region.

The method of curing reinforced concrete uses a liquid membrane-forming curing compound for the curing of reinforced concrete, but without fully coating the reinforced concrete with the curing compound, thus allowing for oxygen permeation through the reinforced concrete to effect passive layer formation on steel rebar embedded in the reinforced concrete. Prior to curing, a mask is applied to at least one surface of a slab of reinforced concrete, such that the mask covers about 10% of the surface area of the at least one surface. The at least one surface of the slab of reinforced concrete is then coated with a liquid membrane-forming curing compound. The liquid membrane-forming curing compound is allowed to dry, thus forming a curing compound layer on the at least one surface of the slab of reinforced concrete. The mask is then removed to form at least one uncoated region.

Processes for incorporating phase change materials (PCM) into porous construction elements, composite construction elements produced thereby, and structures constructed therefrom. Such a process includes heating a PCM to a temperature at or above a melting temperature thereof to liquify the PCM and yield a liquid PCM, fully immersing a porous construction element in the liquid PCM, and infiltrating the liquid PCM into porosity of the construction element while the construction element and liquid PCM are at a subatmospheric pressure level and at a temperature sufficient to maintain the PCM in a liquid state to yield a composite construction element in which the porosity of the construction element has been at least partially filled with the PCM. Such a composite construction element is preferably capable of increasing the thermal inertia of a building envelope constructed therefrom with little or no detrimental effects on properties of the construction elements.

Processes for incorporating phase change materials (PCM) into porous construction elements, composite construction elements produced thereby, and structures constructed therefrom. Such a process includes heating a PCM to a temperature at or above a melting temperature thereof to liquify the PCM and yield a liquid PCM, fully immersing a porous construction element in the liquid PCM, and infiltrating the liquid PCM into porosity of the construction element while the construction element and liquid PCM are at a subatmospheric pressure level and at a temperature sufficient to maintain the PCM in a liquid state to yield a composite construction element in which the porosity of the construction element has been at least partially filled with the PCM. Such a composite construction element is preferably capable of increasing the thermal inertia of a building envelope constructed therefrom with little or no detrimental effects on properties of the construction elements.

This disclosure relates to an inorganic-organic metal phosphate ceramic coating from the reaction of an inorganic phosphate of the formulas (i) A.sub.m(H.sub.2PO.sub.4).sub.m.nH.sub.2O or (ii) AH.sub.3(PO.sub.4).sub.2.nH.sub.2O; where A is ammonium or an m-valent metal element; m=1, 2, or 3; and n is 0 to 25; and at least one metal oxide or hydroxide represented by the formula B.sub.2mO.sub.m or B(OH).sub.2m, where B is a 2m-valent metal; and m=1 or 1.5; thereof; and at least one polymer capable of reacting with at least the one metal oxide or hydroxide; or a first organic precursor combined with the inorganic phosphate and a second organic precursor combined with the at least one metal oxide or hydroxide, the second organic precursor configured to chemically react with the one or more first organic precursor.

The permeability of cementitious materials is reduced by chemically functionalizing the surface and infiltrating it with a lubricant. However, the development process was not trivial, where additional steps were required to optimize the cement types used (e.g. geopolymer and Portland cement). It was observed that after the complete modification, the wetting behavior of the cement against water changed from dynamic wetting to hydrophobic (water droplets with water CA>120. Furthermore, compression testing showed that there was negligible difference in the bulk mechanical properties, more specifically the ultimate strength and the Young's modulus. The result is cementitious materials with omniphobicity and damage-tolerant resistance to permeable fluids.

A carbon dioxide immobilization method includes: impregnating a cured cement body (10) with a carbon dioxide absorbing liquid containing a carbon dioxide absorbent (20) to obtain a cured cement body (1) for carbon dioxide immobilization, in which the carbon dioxide absorbent (20) is supported within the cured cement body (10); and bringing the cured cement body (1) for carbon dioxide immobilization into contact with air to immobilize carbon dioxide contained in the air in the cured cement body (1) for carbon dioxide immobilization.

A carbon dioxide immobilization method includes: impregnating a cured cement body (10) with a carbon dioxide absorbing liquid containing a carbon dioxide absorbent (20) to obtain a cured cement body (1) for carbon dioxide immobilization, in which the carbon dioxide absorbent (20) is supported within the cured cement body (10); and bringing the cured cement body (1) for carbon dioxide immobilization into contact with air to immobilize carbon dioxide contained in the air in the cured cement body (1) for carbon dioxide immobilization.

This disclosure relates to an inorganic-organic metal phosphate ceramic coating from the reaction of an inorganic phosphate of the formulas (i) A.sub.m(H.sub.2PO.sub.4).sub.m.Math.nH.sub.2O or (ii) AH.sub.3(PO.sub.4).sub.2.Math.nH.sub.2O; where A is ammonium or an m-valent metal element; m=1, 2, or 3; and n is 0 to 25; and at least one metal oxide or hydroxide represented by the formula B.sub.2mO.sub.m or B(OH).sub.2m, where B is a 2m-valent metal; and m=1 or 1.5; thereof; and at least one polymer capable of reacting with at least the one metal oxide or hydroxide; or a first organic precursor combined with the inorganic phosphate and a second organic precursor combined with the at least one metal oxide or hydroxide, the second organic precursor configured to chemically react with the one or more first organic precursor.