Provided herein are fiber reinforced cementitious materials and mixtures with increased crack resistance. The cementitious materials and mixtures include a cement and at least one carbon fiber. Also provide is a fiber reinforced cementitious mortar that includes the fiber reinforced cementitious material to which at least one of water, an aggregate material or a chemical admixture is added.

An admixture for making a high-strength concrete with any type of water, including potable water, freshwater, saltwater, brackish water, reclaimed water or any other non-potable water. The admixture consists of basalt fibers, graphene nanoplatelets, calcium sulfide, calcium chloride, magnesium oxide and nanoclays. The admixture can be added to the cement to supplement it to increase the overall compressive strength, or the amount of cement used can be reduced by the amount of admixture added to shorten cure times. A concrete mix can also be prepared by replacing the calcium chloride with silica fume, reducing the amount of cement used, and introducing locally sourced aggregates, coarse and fine, to yield Ultra High Performance Concrete. Products made from the concrete incorporating the admixture have increased compression strength, improved cure times, reduced water consumption and corrosion, increased durability and workability, drastically reduced freeze-thaw effects, and superior crack control.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a coating composition for use in investment casting. The coating composition embodiments provide a solidified coat that can be as a mold for casting castable materials and that is easily removed from the casted material using water. The coating composition embodiments disclosed herein are reusable and are non-toxic and exhibit high thermal stability.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for constructing a base course without rolling compaction, in which a compacting step by rolling compaction and further adjustment of the water content of the mixture to the optimum water content are not necessary, and to provide a mixture for base course, which enables the said method. The above object is attained by providing a method for constructing a base course without rolling compaction, which comprises a step of obtaining a mixture by mixing an aggregate, an asphalt emulsion, and a cement, wherein the mixture is in a high-water-content state in which a water content of the mixture is above an optimum water content of the aggregate, and a step of spreading the mixture; and which does not comprise a step of rolling compaction, and by providing a mixture for a base course, comprising an aggregate, an asphalt emulsion, and a cement, wherein the mixture is in a high-water-content state in which a water content of the mixture is above an optimum water content of the aggregate.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for constructing a base course without rolling compaction, in which a compacting step by rolling compaction and further adjustment of the water content of the mixture to the optimum water content are not necessary, and to provide a mixture for base course, which enables the said method. The above object is attained by providing a method for constructing a base course without rolling compaction, which comprises a step of obtaining a mixture by mixing an aggregate, an asphalt emulsion, and a cement, wherein the mixture is in a high-water-content state in which a water content of the mixture is above an optimum water content of the aggregate, and a step of spreading the mixture; and which does not comprise a step of rolling compaction, and by providing a mixture for a base course, comprising an aggregate, an asphalt emulsion, and a cement, wherein the mixture is in a high-water-content state in which a water content of the mixture is above an optimum water content of the aggregate.

A concrete product set by pouring a concrete slurry includes a concrete mixture, an aluminum-coated colloidal silica admixture, and optionally, at least one reinforcing fiber selected from the group of fibers. As the poured concrete slurry cures, the poured slurry hardens into a composite material product, and the concrete product defines capillary structures that at least in part fill with aluminum-coated silica and lime. Optional graphene oxide may be used in the concrete slurry, in which embodiment the surrounding aggregate and cement is embedded with graphene oxide flakes. A process for placing a jointless and/or fiberless slab made from the concrete product includes preparing a concrete slurry, pouring the concrete slurry onto substrate, and allowing the concrete slurry to cure.

Methods for the dispersion and synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotube-cement composites with high concentrations of multi-walled carbon nanotubes that do not require chemical dispersion aids or dispersion-enhancing chemical surface functionalization are provided. Also provided are multi-walled carbon nanotube-cement composites made using the methods. Methods for the dispersion and synthesis of carbon nanofiber-cement composites with high concentrations of carbon nanofibers that do not require chemical dispersion aids or dispersion-enhancing chemical surface functionalization are further provided. Also provided are carbon nanofiber-cement composites made using the methods.

Novel binder compositions have been discovered that offer an alternative to Portland Cement and reduced carbon dioxide footprint. The compositions typically include the reaction product of a mixture of fly ash, calcium oxide, nanosilica, water, and an effective amount of an activator. The 7, 14, and/or 28 day compressive strength may be at least about 15 MPa or more in some embodiments.

An appliance cabinet includes a structural envelope having an exterior surface and an interior surface that defines an insulating cavity, wherein the insulating cavity defines an at least partial vacuum. A plurality of silica-based agglomerates are disposed within the insulating cavity, wherein each agglomerate of the plurality of silica-based agglomerates includes silica-based powder insulation material that is water-densified and is at least substantially free of a material binder. A secondary insulation material is disposed within interstitial spaces defined between the plurality of silica-based agglomerates, wherein the plurality of silica-based agglomerates defines an interior structure that resists inward compressive forces exerted as a result of the at least partial vacuum defined within the insulating cavity.

An appliance cabinet includes a structural envelope having an exterior surface and an interior surface that defines an insulating cavity, wherein the insulating cavity defines an at least partial vacuum. A plurality of silica-based agglomerates are disposed within the insulating cavity, wherein each agglomerate of the plurality of silica-based agglomerates includes silica-based powder insulation material that is water-densified and is at least substantially free of a material binder. A secondary insulation material is disposed within interstitial spaces defined between the plurality of silica-based agglomerates, wherein the plurality of silica-based agglomerates defines an interior structure that resists inward compressive forces exerted as a result of the at least partial vacuum defined within the insulating cavity.