Cementitious materials having high damage tolerance and self-sensing ability are described herein. These materials may replace conventional concrete to serve as a major material component for infrastructure systems with greatly improved resistance to cracking, reinforcement corrosion, and other common deterioration mechanisms under service conditions, and prevents fracture failure under extreme events. These materials can also be used for the repair, retrofitting or rehabilitation of existing concrete structures or infrastructure systems. Furthermore, these materials may offer capacity for distributed and direct sensing of cracking, straining and deterioration with spatially continuous resolution wherever the material is located, without relying on installation of sensors. The present invention relates to multifunctional cementitious structural or infrastructure materials that integrate self-sensing with damage tolerance for improving safety, extending service life, and health monitoring of structures, components, and infrastructure systems.

This application relates to making magnesium oxychloride boards. A magnesium oxychloride slurry is mixed by directing magnesium chloride, magnesium oxide, at least one phosphate, at least one inorganic salt, and water into a mixer and mixing these ingredients together to form a slurry. At least one filler is then mixed with the slurry. The slurry is directed to a mold. The mold is formed with the slurry to form a magnesium oxychloride board. The magnesium oxychloride board is then cured.

This application relates to making magnesium oxychloride boards. A magnesium oxychloride slurry is mixed by directing magnesium chloride, magnesium oxide, at least one phosphate, at least one inorganic salt, and water into a mixer and mixing these ingredients together to form a slurry. At least one filler is then mixed with the slurry. The slurry is directed to a mold. The mold is formed with the slurry to form a magnesium oxychloride board. The magnesium oxychloride board is then cured.

A composite material includes, in an exemplary embodiment a polyurethane foam and a plurality of inorganic particles dispersed therein. The polyurethane foam is formed from a reaction mixture that includes a first polyether polyol having a first molecular weight and a functionality of about 3 or less, a second polyether polyol having a second molecular weight less than the first molecular weight and a functionality of greater than about 3, and at least one isocyanate. The ratio of an amount of the first polyol in the reaction mixture to an amount of the second polyol in the reaction mixture is between about 1:1 to about 5:1.

A composite material includes, in an exemplary embodiment a polyurethane foam and a plurality of inorganic particles dispersed therein. The polyurethane foam is formed from a reaction mixture that includes a first polyether polyol having a first molecular weight and a functionality of about 3 or less, a second polyether polyol having a second molecular weight less than the first molecular weight and a functionality of greater than about 3, and at least one isocyanate. The ratio of an amount of the first polyol in the reaction mixture to an amount of the second polyol in the reaction mixture is between about 1:1 to about 5:1.

A composite product comprising a metakaolin-based mineral polymer. The composite product has a number of applications including use as a fire resistant material, use as a thermally insulating material and use as an impact resistance material. Methods of preparing a composite product according to the present invention and a kit of parts for preparing the composite product are also disclosed.

This application relates to making magnesium oxychloride boards. A magnesium oxychloride slurry is mixed by directing magnesium chloride, magnesium oxide, at least one phosphate, at least one inorganic salt, and water into a mixer and mixing these ingredients together to form a slurry. At least one filler is then mixed with the slurry. The slurry is directed to a mold. The mold is formed with the slurry to form a magnesium oxychloride board. The magnesium oxychloride board is then cured.

This application relates to making magnesium oxychloride boards. A magnesium oxychloride slurry is mixed by directing magnesium chloride, magnesium oxide, at least one phosphate, at least one inorganic salt, and water into a mixer and mixing these ingredients together to form a slurry. At least one filler is then mixed with the slurry. The slurry is directed to a mold. The mold is formed with the slurry to form a magnesium oxychloride board. The magnesium oxychloride board is then cured.

Fibers to be added to concrete to improve its properties are coated with an alkali-insoluble polymer, to provide adhesion of the fibers to the concrete. In a further improvement, nanoparticles are dispersed in an alkali-soluble polymer coating, and this is used to coat the fibers. When the fibers are mixed into the concrete mix, the nanoparticles are dispersed throughout the concrete, avoiding problems from agglomeration of the nanoparticles if simply added to the concrete mix.

Fibers to be added to concrete to improve its properties are coated with an alkali-insoluble polymer, to provide adhesion of the fibers to the concrete. In a further improvement, nanoparticles are dispersed in an alkali-soluble polymer coating, and this is used to coat the fibers. When the fibers are mixed into the concrete mix, the nanoparticles are dispersed throughout the concrete, avoiding problems from agglomeration of the nanoparticles if simply added to the concrete mix.