A concrete composition and method include a portion of fine aggregate bearing a coating of a polymer, which may be a continuous coating layer or a layer of powdered, discrete particles embedded in a binder. The polymeric coating may be 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, which may be a continuous coating layer or a layer of powdered, discrete particles embedded in a binder. The polymeric coating may be 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 method of producing graphene sheets from coke or coal powder, comprising: (a) forming an intercalated coke or coal compound by electrochemical intercalation conducted in an intercalation reactor, which contains (i) a liquid solution electrolyte comprising an intercalating agent; (ii) a working electrode that contains the powder in ionic contact with the liquid electrolyte, wherein the coke or coal powder is selected from petroleum coke, coal-derived coke, meso-phase coke, synthetic coke, leonardite, lignite coal, or natural coal mineral powder; and (iii) a counter electrode in ionic contact with the electrolyte, and wherein a current is imposed upon the working electrode and the counter electrode for effecting electrochemical intercalation of the intercalating agent into the powder; and (b) exfoliating and separating graphene planes from the intercalated coke or coal compound using an ultrasonication, thermal shock exposure, mechanical shearing treatment, or a combination thereof to produce isolated graphene sheets.

A method of producing graphene sheets from coke or coal powder, comprising: (a) forming an intercalated coke or coal compound by electrochemical intercalation conducted in an intercalation reactor, which contains (i) a liquid solution electrolyte comprising an intercalating agent; (ii) a working electrode that contains the powder in ionic contact with the liquid electrolyte, wherein the coke or coal powder is selected from petroleum coke, coal-derived coke, meso-phase coke, synthetic coke, leonardite, lignite coal, or natural coal mineral powder; and (iii) a counter electrode in ionic contact with the electrolyte, and wherein a current is imposed upon the working electrode and the counter electrode for effecting electrochemical intercalation of the intercalating agent into the powder; and (b) exfoliating and separating graphene planes from the intercalated coke or coal compound using an ultrasonication, thermal shock exposure, mechanical shearing treatment, or a combination thereof to produce isolated graphene sheets.

Systems and methods for increasing fluidity of a shear-thinning material during transit using an energizer which is coupled to a conveyance and configured to impart energy to the shear-thinning material as it is transported by the conveyance, thereby increasing the fluidity of the Material source Conveyor Form material. The conveyance may comprise any of a wide variety of transport means, including pumps, hoses or other conduits, conveyor belts, bins or buckets, chutes, hoppers, or the like. The energizer may use elements that generate mechanical vibrations, electromagnetic waves, acoustic waves, or the like to transfer energy to the shear-thinning material. The energy-imparting elements may be at a localized portion of the conveyance, or at multiple locations along a transport path of the conveyance, and may be controlled by a controller based on such parameters as sensed characteristics of the shear-thinning material or environmental conditions.

Systems and methods for increasing fluidity of a shear-thinning material during transit using an energizer which is coupled to a conveyance and configured to impart energy to the shear-thinning material as it is transported by the conveyance, thereby increasing the fluidity of the Material source Conveyor Form material. The conveyance may comprise any of a wide variety of transport means, including pumps, hoses or other conduits, conveyor belts, bins or buckets, chutes, hoppers, or the like. The energizer may use elements that generate mechanical vibrations, electromagnetic waves, acoustic waves, or the like to transfer energy to the shear-thinning material. The energy-imparting elements may be at a localized portion of the conveyance, or at multiple locations along a transport path of the conveyance, and may be controlled by a controller based on such parameters as sensed characteristics of the shear-thinning material or environmental conditions.

Disclosed are product (e.g., panels), slurry, and methods relating to an uncooked starch having a mid-range peak viscosity (i.e., from about 120 Brabender Units to about 900 Brabender Units).

Disclosed are product (e.g., panels), slurry, and methods relating to an uncooked starch having a mid-range peak viscosity (i.e., from about 120 Brabender Units to about 900 Brabender Units).

Conventional shielding materials are based on single material either toxic lead or barium based compounds and any matrix made therefrom contains only single phased barium based compounds, thereby posing limited radiation shielding capacity. Since brine sludge, an industrial toxic waste product, generated in chloralkali industry contains multiple compounds; there is a need to provide a process which enables the preparation of multi-phase based radiation shielding materials. In view of the above, the present invention provides advanced non-toxic radiation shielding materials utilizing tailored brine sludge and a process that enables conversion of toxic elements like chromium, zinc, copper and vanadium present in brine sludge into non-toxic shielding phases, thereby enabling to convert a toxic waste material into highly value added advanced radiation shielding materials possessing homogeneous radiation shielding matrix.

Fresh concrete is treated with carbon dioxide prior to delivery to a product mold for forming concrete products. Carbon dioxide gas is directed through a manifold, which may be coupled to a feedbox or a hopper, upstream from the product mold. Treating the fresh concrete with the carbon dioxide gas while it is in a loose state prior to placement in the product mold may generally promote uniform and enhanced carbon dioxide uptake.