[Object] To provide a building material having excellent durability. [Solution] A building material has a convex part formed on a surface thereof, the convex part including a first lateral surface part and a second lateral surface part corresponding to the first lateral surface part. The building material is formed from a mixture containing a hydraulic material, an admixture, and a plant-based reinforcing material, and the plant-based reinforcing material at least in the convex part is distributed in the mixture with the hydraulic material and the admixture attached to the plant-based reinforcing material. A distribution of the plant-based reinforcing material in the first lateral surface part and a distribution of the plant-based reinforcing material in the second lateral surface part are substantially the same. Desirably, the convex part includes a first edge part that is an edge part of the first lateral surface part and a second edge part that is an edge part of the second lateral surface part and that corresponds to the first edge part, and a distribution of holes formed in the first edge part and a distribution of holes formed in the second edge part are substantially the same.

[Object] To provide a building material having excellent durability. [Solution] A building material has a convex part formed on a surface thereof, the convex part including a first lateral surface part and a second lateral surface part corresponding to the first lateral surface part. The building material is formed from a mixture containing a hydraulic material, an admixture, and a plant-based reinforcing material, and the plant-based reinforcing material at least in the convex part is distributed in the mixture with the hydraulic material and the admixture attached to the plant-based reinforcing material. A distribution of the plant-based reinforcing material in the first lateral surface part and a distribution of the plant-based reinforcing material in the second lateral surface part are substantially the same. Desirably, the convex part includes a first edge part that is an edge part of the first lateral surface part and a second edge part that is an edge part of the second lateral surface part and that corresponds to the first edge part, and a distribution of holes formed in the first edge part and a distribution of holes formed in the second edge part are substantially the same.

A method for recycling a used rotor blade of a wind turbine includes processing the used rotor blade into a plurality of material fragments. The method also includes treating the plurality of material fragments to remove at least a portion of the at least one composite material and expose the at least one fiber material of the used rotor blade. Further, the method includes mixing the treated plurality of material fragments with, at least, an alkali activator to form a usable geopolymer concrete.

A method for recycling a used rotor blade of a wind turbine includes processing the used rotor blade into a plurality of material fragments. The method also includes treating the plurality of material fragments to remove at least a portion of the at least one composite material and expose the at least one fiber material of the used rotor blade. Further, the method includes mixing the treated plurality of material fragments with, at least, an alkali activator to form a usable geopolymer concrete.

A concrete product set by pouring a concrete slurry includes a) a concrete mixture; b) a graphene admixture; c) a colloidal silica admixture; and d) 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 composite material defines capillary structures that at least in part fill with silica and lime, and the surrounding composite material is embedded with graphene. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is directed to a process for preparing a concrete product. The process comprises the steps of a) preparing a concrete slurry; b) pouring the concrete slurry; and c) allowing the concrete slurry to cure. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is directed to the product itself; namely, a concrete product with or without fibers, or to the admixture(s).

A concrete product set by pouring a concrete slurry includes a) a concrete mixture; b) a graphene admixture; c) a colloidal silica admixture; and d) 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 composite material defines capillary structures that at least in part fill with silica and lime, and the surrounding composite material is embedded with graphene. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is directed to a process for preparing a concrete product. The process comprises the steps of a) preparing a concrete slurry; b) pouring the concrete slurry; and c) allowing the concrete slurry to cure. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is directed to the product itself; namely, a concrete product with or without fibers, or to the admixture(s).

A concrete product set by pouring a concrete slurry includes a) a concrete mixture; b) a graphene admixture; and c) 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 composite material is embedded with graphene. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is directed to a process for preparing a concrete product. The process comprises the steps of a) preparing a concrete slurry with integral graphene; b) pouring the concrete slurry; c) allowing the concrete slurry to cure; and d) optionally spray-applying graphene and/or optional colloidal silica as a curing technique. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is directed to the product itself; namely, a concrete product with fibers and embedded graphene.

A concrete product set by pouring a concrete slurry includes a) a concrete mixture; b) a graphene admixture; and c) 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 composite material is embedded with graphene. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is directed to a process for preparing a concrete product. The process comprises the steps of a) preparing a concrete slurry with integral graphene; b) pouring the concrete slurry; c) allowing the concrete slurry to cure; and d) optionally spray-applying graphene and/or optional colloidal silica as a curing technique. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is directed to the product itself; namely, a concrete product with fibers and embedded graphene.

The present invention relates to fiber cement products comprising a first layer, which first layer is covered by at least one second layer, characterized in that said first layer is the top layer and the first layer material has a density of between about 0.4 and about 0.9 g/cm.sup.3 inclusive, and at least comprises cement and between 1 wt % and 70 wt % (relative to the total dry weight of said first layer material) of a lightweight filler, and said at least one second layer is the bottom layer and covers only one of the main surfaces of the first layer, thereby forming a bi-layered fiber cement product, wherein the second layer material has a density of between about 0.9 and about 1.4 g/cm.sup.3 inclusive, and at least comprises fibers and cement.

The present invention relates to fiber cement products comprising a first layer, which first layer is covered by at least one second layer, characterized in that said first layer is the top layer and the first layer material has a density of between about 0.4 and about 0.9 g/cm.sup.3 inclusive, and at least comprises cement and between 1 wt % and 70 wt % (relative to the total dry weight of said first layer material) of a lightweight filler, and said at least one second layer is the bottom layer and covers only one of the main surfaces of the first layer, thereby forming a bi-layered fiber cement product, wherein the second layer material has a density of between about 0.9 and about 1.4 g/cm.sup.3 inclusive, and at least comprises fibers and cement.