Systems and methods for detecting or monitoring treatment fluids in subterranean formations are provided. In certain embodiments, the methods comprise: providing an enhanced treatment fluid that comprises at least a base fluid and one or more contrast enhancement agents selected from the group consisting of: a magnetic material; a dispersive material; and any combination thereof, wherein the enhanced cementing fluid comprises one or more micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) sensors; and introducing the enhanced treatment fluid into at least a portion of a well bore penetrating a portion of a subterranean formation.

A concrete structure formed of a mixture of concrete and a plurality of custom manufactured twisted steel micro-rein-forcements (TSMRs). Each TSMR has a twist pitch of two or more twists per 25.4 mm applied along its longitudinal axis. The TSMRs are made from a common base stock and have the number of twists predetermined such that a concrete structure formed with at least 10 wt. % per unit volume less TSMRs than fibers in a conventional concrete structure exhibits the same or better performance than the conventional concrete structure in one or more of a stress, deflection, energy, or crack mouth opening (CMOD) properties as determined through defined standard tests. The performance requirement may be based on the actual test result and/or the consistency (coefficient of variation of the result).

A method of manufacturing a concrete product includes providing a metal-based cementing agent including at least one of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 and Fe.sub.3O.sub.4, an aqueous phosphoric acid cement reacting agent, an aggregate having at least one metallic oxide, a setting agent including at least one of Fe.sup.+2 and Mn.sup.+2, and an acid scavenging agent including at least one of K-feldspar and magnesium silicate. The method includes mixing the metal-based cementing agent, the cement reacting agent, the aggregate, the setting agent and the acid scavenging agent together to form a liquid concrete mixture, and placing the liquid concrete mixture in a form and allowing the liquid concrete mixture to set up and cure into the concrete product. The method can optionally include the additional step of placing the concrete product into an oven at a temperature of between 170 and 190 C.

An additive for producing a hardenable building material, especially a mineral composition comprising clays, comprising or consisting of: a) a dispersing agent, selected from aluminates, aluminate precursors, phosphates, silicates and/or polyacrylates, which is capable of dispersing clay particles in an aqueous slurry, and b) a coagulating agent, selected from salts of divalent metal cations, preferably salts of alkaline earth metals and/or iron, especially magnesium, calcium and/or iron salts, capable of causing clay particles to agglomerate in a aqueous slurry.

An additive for producing a hardenable building material, especially a mineral composition comprising clays, comprising or consisting of: a) a dispersing agent, selected from aluminates, aluminate precursors, phosphates, silicates and/or polyacrylates, which is capable of dispersing clay particles in an aqueous slurry, and b) a coagulating agent, selected from salts of divalent metal cations, preferably salts of alkaline earth metals and/or iron, especially magnesium, calcium and/or iron salts, capable of causing clay particles to agglomerate in a aqueous slurry.

Hydrophobized granular material comprising from 30 to 95% by weight of a pyrogenic mixed oxide based on silica and at least one oxide of metal M selected from of Al, Ti and Fe with the content of metal M oxide in the mixed oxide being from 01 to 10% by weight, and from 5 to 70% by weight of at least one IR-opacifier selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, zirconium dioxide, ilmenites, iron titanates, zirconium silicates, manganese oxides, graphites, carbon blacks and mixtures thereof.

Hydrophobized granular material comprising from 30 to 95% by weight of a pyrogenic mixed oxide based on silica and at least one oxide of metal M selected from of Al, Ti and Fe with the content of metal M oxide in the mixed oxide being from 01 to 10% by weight, and from 5 to 70% by weight of at least one IR-opacifier selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, zirconium dioxide, ilmenites, iron titanates, zirconium silicates, manganese oxides, graphites, carbon blacks and mixtures thereof.

Process for the production composite articles, comprising the steps of: a) providing a curable mixture comprising: 30-95 wt % of filler material, —5-70 wt % of resin, selected from unsaturated polyester resins, vinyl ester resins, (meth)acrylate resins, and combinations thereof, 0.5-10 phr of at least one peroxyester, 0.1-2.0 phr of at least one organic hydroperoxide, the weight ratio peroxyester/organic hydroperoxide being below 14.0, the curable mixture being essentially free of ketone peroxide, b) shaping the mixture, and c) heating the shaped mixture at a temperature in the range 60-100° C. to affect hardening of the resin and the formation of an article.

Process for the production composite articles, comprising the steps of: a) providing a curable mixture comprising: 30-95 wt % of filler material, —5-70 wt % of resin, selected from unsaturated polyester resins, vinyl ester resins, (meth)acrylate resins, and combinations thereof, 0.5-10 phr of at least one peroxyester, 0.1-2.0 phr of at least one organic hydroperoxide, the weight ratio peroxyester/organic hydroperoxide being below 14.0, the curable mixture being essentially free of ketone peroxide, b) shaping the mixture, and c) heating the shaped mixture at a temperature in the range 60-100° C. to affect hardening of the resin and the formation of an article.

A waterproofing agent for concrete includes: 1-60 parts by weight of ferric ions; 1-60 parts by weight of carboxylate ions; 1-40 parts by weight of 8-hydroxyquinoline; and 1-50 parts by weight of pyrosulfate ions.