Methods for plasticizing cementitious mixtures having relatively high water/cement ratio (at least 0.40 or higher) are surprisingly improved in terms of dosage efficiency, compared to conventional superplasticizer polycarboxylate polymers, when the polycarboxylate polymer is formed from particularly small-sized, specifically selected monomer constituents: (A) polyoxyalkylene monomer represented by the structural formula (R.sup.1)(R.sup.3)CC(R.sup.2)((CH.sub.2).sub.m(CO).sub.nO(CH.sub.2).sub.o(AO).sub.pR.sup.4) wherein (AO).sub.p represents linear ethylene oxide groups and p is 5-23 and more preferably 5-15; (B) unsaturated carboxylic acid represented by (R.sup.5)(R.sup.7)CC(R.sup.6)(C(O)OM) wherein M represents an alkali metal, the ratio of component A to component B being 20:80 to 50:50; and, optionally, (C) a hydrophilic monomer represented by (R.sup.8)(R.sup.9)CC(R.sup.10)(CX) wherein R.sup.8, R.sup.9, and R.sup.10 each represent hydrogen or methyl group, and X represents C(O)NH.sub.2, C(O)NHR.sup.11, C(O)NR.sup.12R.sup.13, SO.sub.3H, C.sub.6H.sub.4SO.sub.3H, or C(O)NHC(CH.sub.3).sub.2CH.sub.2SO.sub.3H, or mixture thereof, wherein R.sup.11, R.sup.12, and R.sup.13 each represent a C.sub.1 to C.sub.5 alkyl group.

The present invention relates generally to polyelectrolyte-layer forming block copolymers adsorbed at colloid interfaces in aqua solution and compositions and uses thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to agricultural material compositions comprising particles of at least one agricultural material and a polyelectrolyte-layer forming block copolymer. The present invention also relates to non-agricultural material compositions comprising particles of at least one non-agricultural material and a polyelectrolyte-layer forming block co-polymer.

The invention concerns a process for the preparation of a calcium silicate hydrate and ettringite containing hardening accelerator composition by reaction of a water-soluble calcium compound, silicate compound, aluminum compound and a sulfate compound, wherein the molar ratio of silicon to sulfate is from 2/1 to 30/1 and the reaction of the four compounds being carried out in the presence of an aqueous solution which contains a comb polymer suitable as a plasticizer for hydraulic binders. Also concerned are the use of said accelerators in building material mixtures, the building material mixtures containing said accelerators and a process for the preparation of a sprayable binder composition in which said accelerators are used.

The invention concerns a process for the preparation of a calcium silicate hydrate and ettringite containing hardening accelerator composition by reaction of a water-soluble calcium compound, silicate compound, aluminum compound and a sulfate compound, wherein the molar ratio of silicon to sulfate is from 2/1 to 30/1 and the reaction of the four compounds being carried out in the presence of an aqueous solution which contains a comb polymer suitable as a plasticizer for hydraulic binders. Also concerned are the use of said accelerators in building material mixtures, the building material mixtures containing said accelerators and a process for the preparation of a sprayable binder composition in which said accelerators are used.

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a hardening accelerator composition by reacting a calcium source selected from calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide with a water-soluble silicate compound in the presence of at least one water-soluble polymeric dispersing agent and the hardening accelerator composition obtainable by said process. The composition has a low content of anions and of alkali cations and is therefore broadly applicable in building material mixtures.

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a hardening accelerator composition by reacting a calcium source selected from calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide with a water-soluble silicate compound in the presence of at least one water-soluble polymeric dispersing agent and the hardening accelerator composition obtainable by said process. The composition has a low content of anions and of alkali cations and is therefore broadly applicable in building material mixtures.

The invention relates to a composition comprising at least 10 wt. % of a binder based on calcium sulfate and 0.005 to 5 wt. % of an additive made of at least one water-soluble salt of a multivalent metal cation, at least one compound which is capable of releasing an anion that forms a poorly soluble salt together with the multivalent metal cation, and at least one polymer dispersant which comprises anionic and/or anionogenic groups and polyether side chains. The invention further relates to a method for producing said composition and to the use thereof as a calcium sulfate flow screed, a flowable calcium sulfate filler compound, or an earth-moist calcium sulfate screed.

The invention relates mainly to a polymer comprising a hydrocarbon-based main chain bearing carboxylic groups and polyalkoxylated chains and up to 4% by weight of anti-oxidant groups, relative to the weight of the final polymer, grafted to the main chain. It also relates to a method for preparing such a polymer and to an admixture which is of use as a plasticizer of suspensions of mineral particles comprising same. Finally, it is related to the use of such a polymer for fluidifying suspensions of mineral particles and reducing the water demand of hydraulic compositions.

A method for inerting a swellable clay and/or for reducing or inhibiting adverse effects of swellable clays on the effectiveness of dispersants in mineral binder compositions, includes adding a comb polymer to a mineral binder composition. The comb polymer includes: at least one poly(alkylene oxide) side chain-bearing monomer unit without ionic groups, optionally at least one cationic monomer unit, optionally at least one anionic monomer unit, and optionally, at least one non-ionic monomer unit.

The present invention relates to a process for producing calcium silicate hydrate under hydrothermal conditions, wherein an organic compound is added in at least one of the process steps and wherein the organic compound has a molecular weight of 100 to 600 g/mol and from 0.02 to 0.035 functional groups per gram of the organic compound, wherein the functional groups being selected from OH, COOH, COOM.sub.a, SO.sub.3H or SO.sub.3M.sub.a, or C(O)H, wherein M is hydrogen, a mono-, di- or trivalent metal cation, ammonium ion or an organic amine radical and a is , or 1. Further the invention is directed to the calcium silicate hydrate produceable according to the process of the present invention and its use as curing accelerator for hydraulic binders.