Hydrocarbon swelling particles for wellbore cementing include a crosslinked polymer comprising vinyl aromatic monomer and/or (meth)acrylic monomer.

A visible-light-photocatalyzed composite light-transmitting concrete contains several bundles of optical fibers, the optical fibers are coated with a protective layer on their outer surface, the protective layer contains a visible light photocatalyst, and the concrete has several gas-permeable pores. Such concrete is prepared by mixing a visible light photocatalyst and a light-transmitting glue, applying the mixture to the surface of optical fibers to form a protective layer, and using optical fibers in the concrete. The resulting concrete has dual properties of light transmittance and photocatalytic oxidation of gas-phase pollutants under visible light irradiation. The visible-light-photocatalyzed composite light-transmitting concrete significantly breaks through the limitation of photocatalytic concrete to light sources, so that gas-phase pollutants can be removed under visible light irradiation through photocatalysis of light-transmitting concrete. It also has good mechanical properties, decorativeness, and functional practicability due to coated optical fibers.

A visible-light-photocatalyzed composite light-transmitting concrete contains several bundles of optical fibers, the optical fibers are coated with a protective layer on their outer surface, the protective layer contains a visible light photocatalyst, and the concrete has several gas-permeable pores. Such concrete is prepared by mixing a visible light photocatalyst and a light-transmitting glue, applying the mixture to the surface of optical fibers to form a protective layer, and using optical fibers in the concrete. The resulting concrete has dual properties of light transmittance and photocatalytic oxidation of gas-phase pollutants under visible light irradiation. The visible-light-photocatalyzed composite light-transmitting concrete significantly breaks through the limitation of photocatalytic concrete to light sources, so that gas-phase pollutants can be removed under visible light irradiation through photocatalysis of light-transmitting concrete. It also has good mechanical properties, decorativeness, and functional practicability due to coated optical fibers.

In general, the present invention is directed to the use of particular phosphorus containing compounds for making a gypsum board. The phosphorus containing compound may be a phosphite or a phosphate having a certain formula. In this regard, the present invention is directed to a slurry for making a gypsum board wherein the slurry includes such phosphorus containing compound. The present invention is also directed to a method of making a gypsum board from the slurry as well as a resulting gypsum board.

In general, the present invention is directed to the use of particular phosphorus containing compounds for making a gypsum board. The phosphorus containing compound may be a phosphite or a phosphate having a certain formula. In this regard, the present invention is directed to a slurry for making a gypsum board wherein the slurry includes such phosphorus containing compound. The present invention is also directed to a method of making a gypsum board from the slurry as well as a resulting gypsum board.

The use of branched copolymers of the general structure (I) as additives for increasing the flow rate and for reducing the viscosity of mineral binder compositions. Further, mineral binder compositions including at least one branched copolymer of the general structure (I):

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The use of branched copolymers of the general structure (I) as additives for increasing the flow rate and for reducing the viscosity of mineral binder compositions. Further, mineral binder compositions including at least one branched copolymer of the general structure (I):

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The present invention provides exemplary additive compositions and methods whereby hydratable cementitious compositions, such as concrete, can be modified using polycarboxylate type ether or ester cement dispersant polymers of a small size, in combination with at least one alkyl alkoxylate type surface active agent which typically hitherto is considered detergent-like in generating air bubbles (heads of foam) in aqueous environments. The present inventors discovered surprisingly that such agents could be used to control air content in plastic concrete mixes in combination with the polycarboxylate type ether or ester cement dispersant polymer.

The present invention provides exemplary additive compositions and methods whereby hydratable cementitious compositions, such as concrete, can be modified using polycarboxylate type ether or ester cement dispersant polymers of a small size, in combination with at least one alkyl alkoxylate type surface active agent which typically hitherto is considered detergent-like in generating air bubbles (heads of foam) in aqueous environments. The present inventors discovered surprisingly that such agents could be used to control air content in plastic concrete mixes in combination with the polycarboxylate type ether or ester cement dispersant polymer.

A method includes adding (i) a comb polymer and (ii) a plasticizer to a mineral binder composition comprising swellable clays. 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, wherein a molar ratio of the cationic monomer units to the side chain-bearing monomer units is equal to or less than 10, a molar ratio of the anionic monomer units to the side chain-bearing monomer units is less than 1, and a molar ratio of the non-ionic monomer units to the side chain-bearing monomer units is less than 5.