A concrete comprises in relative parts by weight: 100 of Portland cement; 0.25 to 9 of a defoamer; 0.001 to 6 of a surfactant; 0 to 230 of coarse gravel and/or fine gravel and/or shear enhancers; 0 to 85 of sand; 0 to 60 of a particulate pozzolanic or non-pozzolanic material or a mixture thereof having a mean particle size less than 15 micrometers; 0 to 80 of a particulate pozzolanic or non-pozzolanic material or a mixture thereof having a mean particle size between 15 to 88 micrometers; 0.3 to 18 of a water-reducing superplasticizer; 0 to 14 of polyethylene fibers; and 5 to 40 of water. An air mixing process using a tightly sealed mixing tool is used to thoroughly mix the constituents of the concrete before adding the water for curing. By adjusting relative parts in the composition, concretes of high and ultrahigh performance can be achieved efficiently.

A concrete comprises in relative parts by weight: 100 of Portland cement; 0.25 to 9 of a defoamer; 0.001 to 6 of a surfactant; 0 to 230 of coarse gravel and/or fine gravel and/or shear enhancers; 0 to 85 of sand; 0 to 60 of a particulate pozzolanic or non-pozzolanic material or a mixture thereof having a mean particle size less than 15 micrometers; 0 to 80 of a particulate pozzolanic or non-pozzolanic material or a mixture thereof having a mean particle size between 15 to 88 micrometers; 0.3 to 18 of a water-reducing superplasticizer; 0 to 14 of polyethylene fibers; and 5 to 40 of water. An air mixing process using a tightly sealed mixing tool is used to thoroughly mix the constituents of the concrete before adding the water for curing. By adjusting relative parts in the composition, concretes of high and ultrahigh performance can be achieved efficiently.

The present invention provides calcium sulphate-based product having reduced shrinkage after exposure to high temperatures, the product comprising gypsum, a pozzolan source (e.g. in an amount between 4-27 wt %) and a metal salt additive (in an amount between 0.5 and 10 wt %). The pozzolan source may be selected from a kaolinitic clay material, fly ash, rice husk ash, diatomaceous earths, volcanic ashes and pumices, micro-silica, silica fume and silicone oil. The metal salt additive may be a metal salt which decomposes between a temperature of 300-500° C. to yield a metal oxide, e.g. magnesium nitrate.

The present invention provides calcium sulphate-based product having reduced shrinkage after exposure to high temperatures, the product comprising gypsum, a pozzolan source (e.g. in an amount between 4-27 wt %) and a metal salt additive (in an amount between 0.5 and 10 wt %). The pozzolan source may be selected from a kaolinitic clay material, fly ash, rice husk ash, diatomaceous earths, volcanic ashes and pumices, micro-silica, silica fume and silicone oil. The metal salt additive may be a metal salt which decomposes between a temperature of 300-500° C. to yield a metal oxide, e.g. magnesium nitrate.

Methods of wellbore cementing are provided. A method of cementing may comprise calculating a lime to silica correlation for two or more cementitious components of a cement composition; and adjusting a concentration of at least one of the cementitious components such that the lime to silica correlation meets or exceeds a target.

Methods of wellbore cementing are provided. A method of cementing may comprise calculating a lime to silica correlation for two or more cementitious components of a cement composition; and adjusting a concentration of at least one of the cementitious components such that the lime to silica correlation meets or exceeds a target.

A cementitious blend composition and a concrete mix composition preferable for making concrete resistant to high temperatures and alkaline conditions, particularly for making durable concrete for constructing an alumina digester tank in an aluminum smelter. The cementitious blend composition includes at least one hydraulic cement, silica fume (SF), and natural pozzolan (NP), wherein a weight percent ratio of at least one hydraulic cement:SF:NP in the cementitious blend composition lies in the range of (24-63):(5-44):(32-40) with the sum of the weight percentages of the at least one hydraulic cement, the SF, and the NP not exceeding 100%. The concrete mix composition comprises water and the cementitious blend composition, wherein a weight ratio of the water to the cementitious blend composition is 0.2-0.5, and wherein the concrete mix composition has a content of the cementitious blend composition of 400-550 kg/m.sup.3.

A cementitious blend composition and a concrete mix composition preferable for making concrete resistant to high temperatures and alkaline conditions, particularly for making durable concrete for constructing an alumina digester tank in an aluminum smelter. The cementitious blend composition includes at least one hydraulic cement, silica fume (SF), and natural pozzolan (NP), wherein a weight percent ratio of at least one hydraulic cement:SF:NP in the cementitious blend composition lies in the range of (24-63):(5-44):(32-40) with the sum of the weight percentages of the at least one hydraulic cement, the SF, and the NP not exceeding 100%. The concrete mix composition comprises water and the cementitious blend composition, wherein a weight ratio of the water to the cementitious blend composition is 0.2-0.5, and wherein the concrete mix composition has a content of the cementitious blend composition of 400-550 kg/m.sup.3.

The present invention provides a calcium sulphate-based product (e.g. a wall board) comprising gypsum, a pozzolan source such as a clay additive, rice husk ash or diatomaceous earth and a metal salt additive. The product may be produced by drying an aqueous slurry comprising calcined gypsum, the pozzolan source and the metal salt additive. The clay additive may be a kaolinitic clay. The metal salt additive may be a magnesium salt e.g. magnesium nitrate, magnesium chloride or magnesium hydroxide.

The present invention provides a calcium sulphate-based product (e.g. a wall board) comprising gypsum, a pozzolan source such as a clay additive, rice husk ash or diatomaceous earth and a metal salt additive. The product may be produced by drying an aqueous slurry comprising calcined gypsum, the pozzolan source and the metal salt additive. The clay additive may be a kaolinitic clay. The metal salt additive may be a magnesium salt e.g. magnesium nitrate, magnesium chloride or magnesium hydroxide.