Potassium bicarbonate is coated with an anionic or amphoteric surfactant, which is preferably a metal soap, such as calcium stearate, to inhibit caking on storage, and premature loss of carbon dioxide when mixed with acidulant, e.g. in a baking powder or self-raising flour blend. Loss of carbon dioxide in the blend may be further inhibited by coating the acidulant with surfactant. Combination of surfactant coating with an inorganic anti-caking agent such as silicon dioxide gives synergistic protection against caking of the potassium bicarbonate. Preferably the bicarbonate has D50 of between 35 and 200μ and is free from particles greater than 400μ.

Described is a method of preparing foams, wherein a suspension comprising an aqueous liquid, particles and at least one surfactant is provided, wherein the at least one surfactant at least partially hydrophobizes a surface of the particles, and wherein the suspension comprising the particles having the at least partially hydrophobized surface is foamed. The at least one surfactant is selected from surfactants having a backbone chain comprising at least nine carbon atoms, the at least one surfactant preferably being an amphiphilic molecule consisting of a tail coupled to a head group, wherein the tail comprises the backbone chain comprising at least nine carbon atoms.

Described is a method of preparing foams, wherein a suspension comprising an aqueous liquid, particles and at least one surfactant is provided, wherein the at least one surfactant at least partially hydrophobizes a surface of the particles, and wherein the suspension comprising the particles having the at least partially hydrophobized surface is foamed. The at least one surfactant is selected from surfactants having a backbone chain comprising at least nine carbon atoms, the at least one surfactant preferably being an amphiphilic molecule consisting of a tail coupled to a head group, wherein the tail comprises the backbone chain comprising at least nine carbon atoms.

Methods, compositions, and systems for cementing are included. The method comprises providing a cement composition comprising calcium-aluminate cement, water, a cement set retarder, and a cement set activator. The method further comprises introducing the cement composition into a subterranean formation and allowing the cement composition to set in the subterranean formation. The cement composition has a thickening time of about two hours or longer.

Methods, compositions, and systems for cementing are included. The method comprises providing a cement composition comprising calcium-aluminate cement, water, a cement set retarder, and a cement set activator. The method further comprises introducing the cement composition into a subterranean formation and allowing the cement composition to set in the subterranean formation. The cement composition has a thickening time of about two hours or longer.

A hydrophobic admixture, for cementitious materials such as cement paste, mortar, and concrete, includes solid polymer particles with a coating of hydrophobic agent and surfactant. The solid polymer particles adhere to exterior surfaces of hydrated cement particles in the cement matrix. The solid polymer particles deliver the hydrophobic agent into the cement matrix which is hydrophilic. The hydrophobic agents are distributed uniformly throughout the cement matrix. The solid polymer particles can be crumb rubber particles derived from waste rubber tires, recycled plastics and similar solid materials. The hydrophobic liquid agent is derived from waste lubricant oil, spent motor oil, base oil, esters of fatty acids, vegetable oil and the like. Fine particles such as activated carbon, silica fume and spent catalyst can be employed to fill the large pores or cracks that develop in the cementitious matrix. The cured cementitious materials exhibit high contact angles and high compressive strengths.

A hydrophobic admixture, for cementitious materials such as cement paste, mortar, and concrete, includes solid polymer particles with a coating of hydrophobic agent and surfactant. The solid polymer particles adhere to exterior surfaces of hydrated cement particles in the cement matrix. The solid polymer particles deliver the hydrophobic agent into the cement matrix which is hydrophilic. The hydrophobic agents are distributed uniformly throughout the cement matrix. The solid polymer particles can be crumb rubber particles derived from waste rubber tires, recycled plastics and similar solid materials. The hydrophobic liquid agent is derived from waste lubricant oil, spent motor oil, base oil, esters of fatty acids, vegetable oil and the like. Fine particles such as activated carbon, silica fume and spent catalyst can be employed to fill the large pores or cracks that develop in the cementitious matrix. The cured cementitious materials exhibit high contact angles and high compressive strengths.

The invention relates to a method for producing thermal energy storage components comprising phase change material embedded into porous components, in particular for use in cement-based compositions. The method comprises: an impregnation step (10) comprising introducing phase change material into porous components inside a main vessel (102) by vacuum impregnation; an injection step (12) at a temperature within a melting temperature range of said phase change material and under an overpressure, in order vacuuming to force the phase change material into the porous components; and an entrapment step (14) comprising reducing the temperature inside the main vessel, while maintaining an the overpressure, in order to lower the viscosity of said phase change material.

The invention relates to a method for producing thermal energy storage components comprising phase change material embedded into porous components, in particular for use in cement-based compositions. The method comprises: an impregnation step (10) comprising introducing phase change material into porous components inside a main vessel (102) by vacuum impregnation; an injection step (12) at a temperature within a melting temperature range of said phase change material and under an overpressure, in order vacuuming to force the phase change material into the porous components; and an entrapment step (14) comprising reducing the temperature inside the main vessel, while maintaining an the overpressure, in order to lower the viscosity of said phase change material.

An erosion resistant composition includes a granular material and a wax including oil in which a weight percent of the oil in the wax is between 0.01-15%. The granular material includes a sand and has a first resistance to flow prior to being coated with the wax. The wax at least partially coats a portion of the granular material to form the erosion resistant composition which has a second resistance to flow after coating that is greater than the first resistance to flow prior to coating. The erosion resistant composition may be used, for example, in golf course bunkers or other landscaping applications. Related methods of making the erosion resistant composition are also described in which the granular material is dried, the wax is heated, and the granular material is blended with the melted wax.