Disclosed are a crack self-healing agent for cement-based materials capable of binding corrosive ions in seawater, and a preparation method thereof. A core material of the agent is an active inorganic composite component capable of chemically binding Cl, Mg, and S, a wall layer is polymethyl methacrylate, and an interface improvement layer is a cement layer. A preparation method includes: (1) thoroughly mixing active components capable of binding corrosive ions, and filling a resulting mixture into a direct compression mold; (2) applying a pressure to the direct compression mold and holding the pressure on using a pressing machine, and demolding to obtain a core material body; (3) placing the core material body obtained in a solution of PMMA in acetone for coating, and taking out the core material body and drying; (4) coating a layer of cement before the acetone is completely volatilized to obtain the crack self-healing agent.

A concrete composition and method include a portion of fine aggregate bearing a coating of a polymer or an admixture, which may be a continuous coating layer or a layer of powdered, discrete particles embedded in a binder. The polymeric coating may be an admixture in powdered form, a super absorbent polymer (insoluble in water, but absorbing water), or another polymer such as the acrylamides, co-polymers thereof, polyacrylamides, or the like (soluble in water). The coating absorbs water, but particles are too small to form significant voids. Water is absorbed into the concrete mix in far greater proportions (e.g. w/c ratio over 0.5) improving workability, doubling workability time, and improving ultimate compressive stress (strength).

A concrete composition and method include a portion of fine aggregate bearing a coating of a polymer or an admixture, which may be a continuous coating layer or a layer of powdered, discrete particles embedded in a binder. The polymeric coating may be an admixture in powdered form, a super absorbent polymer (insoluble in water, but absorbing water), or another polymer such as the acrylamides, co-polymers thereof, polyacrylamides, or the like (soluble in water). The coating absorbs water, but particles are too small to form significant voids. Water is absorbed into the concrete mix in far greater proportions (e.g. w/c ratio over 0.5) improving workability, doubling workability time, and improving ultimate compressive stress (strength).

An insulation medium invention includes a plurality of microspheres. Each microsphere comprises a porous core comprising a porous core material and having an exterior surface, a gas within the porous core, and a coating layer coating all of the exterior surface of the porous core. The coating layer comprises a coating material which transitions from a first state to a second state. In the first state, the coating material is permeable to the gas. In the second state the material is impermeable to the gas. The coating material in the second state is configured to encapsulate and maintain partial vacuum of the gas inside the porous core. In one embodiment, in the second state the coating is impermeable to air. Insulated structures, a method of making an insulation medium, a fluid storage media, and a method of delivering a fluid are also disclosed.

An insulation medium invention includes a plurality of microspheres. Each microsphere comprises a porous core comprising a porous core material and having an exterior surface, a gas within the porous core, and a coating layer coating all of the exterior surface of the porous core. The coating layer comprises a coating material which transitions from a first state to a second state. In the first state, the coating material is permeable to the gas. In the second state the material is impermeable to the gas. The coating material in the second state is configured to encapsulate and maintain partial vacuum of the gas inside the porous core. In one embodiment, in the second state the coating is impermeable to air. Insulated structures, a method of making an insulation medium, a fluid storage media, and a method of delivering a fluid are also disclosed.

Described are a self-healing composition, and a preparation method for and an application of the composition. The composition is of a core-shell structure; the core contains a hydrogenated styrenic thermoplastic elastomer polymer and an inorganic filler; the shell contains a hydrophilic polymer; the composition has a density of 1.2-2 g/cm.sup.3, a water contact angle of no more than 90°, and a diesel oil and/or natural gas absorption expansion ratio of 5-15 times. By coating the hydrogenated styrenic thermoplastic elastomer and the inorganic filler with the hydrophilic (surface polarized) polymer, a core-shell structure is formed. When the composition is used for well cementing in an oil/gas field, the composition has a density and compatibility matching cement mortar and thus can form a uniform and stable cement slurry for well cementing in the oil/gas field, and has excellent oil/gas absorption expansion performance and thus can expand after absorbing oil/gas to perform self-healing.

Described are a self-healing composition, and a preparation method for and an application of the composition. The composition is of a core-shell structure; the core contains a hydrogenated styrenic thermoplastic elastomer polymer and an inorganic filler; the shell contains a hydrophilic polymer; the composition has a density of 1.2-2 g/cm.sup.3, a water contact angle of no more than 90°, and a diesel oil and/or natural gas absorption expansion ratio of 5-15 times. By coating the hydrogenated styrenic thermoplastic elastomer and the inorganic filler with the hydrophilic (surface polarized) polymer, a core-shell structure is formed. When the composition is used for well cementing in an oil/gas field, the composition has a density and compatibility matching cement mortar and thus can form a uniform and stable cement slurry for well cementing in the oil/gas field, and has excellent oil/gas absorption expansion performance and thus can expand after absorbing oil/gas to perform self-healing.

A method of preparing a gypsum-based product comprises the steps of mixing calcined gypsum with polymer particles and water to provide a slurry. The polymer particles comprise principally polyvinyl acetate, and have a particle size distribution, measured using laser diffractometry, such that particles having a diameter of 4.5 μm or less provide at least 90% of the total particle volume.

A method of preparing a gypsum-based product comprises the steps of mixing calcined gypsum with polymer particles and water to provide a slurry. The polymer particles comprise principally polyvinyl acetate, and have a particle size distribution, measured using laser diffractometry, such that particles having a diameter of 4.5 μm or less provide at least 90% of the total particle volume.

Methods, compositions, and apparatuses are provided herein that utilize polystyrene from recycled products to make a high strength composite concrete that can be used for subgrade utility vaults, utility trenches, etc. Polystyrene is a widely-used plastic that can be collected and then densified at particular parameters including temperature to transform the polystyrene to a usable form. Then, the densified polystyrene is combined with other resin materials and dry materials to form a high-strength concrete material. The amount of densified polystyrene that is combined with the other materials is critical to control shrinkage and expansion of the concrete material during manufacturing.