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.

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.

A dispersant composition includes a) at least one polymer constituted of monomers having naphthalene ring and/or melamine; b). at least one polymer having carboxylic acid and/or phosphoric acid group and/or any group that is hydrolyzed into carboxylic or phosphoric; and c). at least one polymer having a structure of Formula I: ##STR00001##
R.sup.1 is hydrogen or alky group having carbon number not less than 1, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl group having carbon number not less than 3, alkenyl group having carbon number not less than 2, aryl group having carbon number not less than 6; R.sup.2 is hydrogen or alky group having carbon number from 1 to 3; A is alkylene group having carbon number from 3 or 4; m and n are positive numbers wherein m is more than n and the sum of m and n is more than 9 and less than 12. Also provided is a method of using the dispersant composition in a mortar or concrete, and the weight percentage of the dispersant composition is from 0.01% to 2.5% based on the weight of cement in mortar. Further provided is an aqueous composition including the dispersant composition.

A dispersant composition includes a) at least one polymer constituted of monomers having naphthalene ring and/or melamine; b). at least one polymer having carboxylic acid and/or phosphoric acid group and/or any group that is hydrolyzed into carboxylic or phosphoric; and c). at least one polymer having a structure of Formula I: ##STR00001##
R.sup.1 is hydrogen or alky group having carbon number not less than 1, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl group having carbon number not less than 3, alkenyl group having carbon number not less than 2, aryl group having carbon number not less than 6; R.sup.2 is hydrogen or alky group having carbon number from 1 to 3; A is alkylene group having carbon number from 3 or 4; m and n are positive numbers wherein m is more than n and the sum of m and n is more than 9 and less than 12. Also provided is a method of using the dispersant composition in a mortar or concrete, and the weight percentage of the dispersant composition is from 0.01% to 2.5% based on the weight of cement in mortar. Further provided is an aqueous composition including the dispersant composition.

Portland cement has high embodied energy and embodied carbon associated with its manufacture. In many construction applications, the need for concrete and mortar abrasion resistance requires the consumption of significantly higher amounts of Portland cement for higher concrete and mortar compressive strength. The invention comprises a new method for producing a chemically inert, low embodied energy and carbon mineral additive, with specific hardness and particle size, during Portland cement manufacturing that replaces a significant portion of the Portland cement by mass in the final composition. Alternatively, the mineral additive is produced separately and combined with Portland cement. The resulting mineral additive Portland cement composition has significantly lower embodied energy and carbon and imparts significantly higher abrasion resistance to concrete and mortar.

Portland cement has high embodied energy and embodied carbon associated with its manufacture. In many construction applications, the need for concrete and mortar abrasion resistance requires the consumption of significantly higher amounts of Portland cement for higher concrete and mortar compressive strength. The invention comprises a new method for producing a chemically inert, low embodied energy and carbon mineral additive, with specific hardness and particle size, during Portland cement manufacturing that replaces a significant portion of the Portland cement by mass in the final composition. Alternatively, the mineral additive is produced separately and combined with Portland cement. The resulting mineral additive Portland cement composition has significantly lower embodied energy and carbon and imparts significantly higher abrasion resistance to concrete and mortar.

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.

An accelerator powder for cement and also rapid-setting binder compositions which contain the accelerator powder and the use in mortar or concrete. The accelerator powder includes from 10 to 99.7% by weight of a water-insoluble mineral powder P and from 0.3 to 90% by weight of at least one compound V selected from the group consisting of alkali metal halides and alkaline earth metal halides, alkali metal nitrates and alkaline earth metal nitrates, alkali metal nitrites and alkaline earth metal nitrites, alkali metal thiocyanates and alkaline earth metal thiocyanates and hydroxyalkylamines or salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.