A concrete composition and method include a portion of fine aggregate bearing a coating of a polymer or an admixture, which may be a continuous coating layer or a layer of powdered, discrete particles embedded in a binder. The polymeric coating may be an admixture in powdered form, 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 process for producing cement includes combining a cement precursor and a wax, wherein the wax includes alkyl ketene dimer wax and/or alkenyl ketene dimer wax, grinding the cement precursor and the wax to yield cement grains coated with the wax. A cement includes cement powder grains and a coating of wax on the Portland cement powder grains, wherein the wax includes alkyl ketene dimer wax and/or alkenyl ketene dimer wax. A process for making cementitious material includes combining a cement with water to yield a slurry, wherein the cement includes cement powder grains and a coating of wax on the cement powder grains, wherein the wax includes alkyl ketene dimer wax and/or alkenyl ketene dimer wax, and allowing the slurry to set.

A process for producing cement includes combining a cement precursor and a wax, wherein the wax includes alkyl ketene dimer wax and/or alkenyl ketene dimer wax, grinding the cement precursor and the wax to yield cement grains coated with the wax. A cement includes cement powder grains and a coating of wax on the Portland cement powder grains, wherein the wax includes alkyl ketene dimer wax and/or alkenyl ketene dimer wax. A process for making cementitious material includes combining a cement with water to yield a slurry, wherein the cement includes cement powder grains and a coating of wax on the cement powder grains, wherein the wax includes alkyl ketene dimer wax and/or alkenyl ketene dimer wax, and allowing the slurry to set.

This disclosure provides electron beam irradiated products and methods thereof. In particular, the invention is directed to a products and methods that comprise an electron beam irradiated component and a second component. The electron beam irradiated component may be plastic. The second component may be a building material or construction material. The invention is also directed to methods of manufacturing a modified polymer material with an electron-beam. Methods comprise irradiating the polymer particles of the material by dosing with electron beam radiation to produce a modified polymer material comprising irradiated polymer particles.

This disclosure provides electron beam irradiated products and methods thereof. In particular, the invention is directed to a products and methods that comprise an electron beam irradiated component and a second component. The electron beam irradiated component may be plastic. The second component may be a building material or construction material. The invention is also directed to methods of manufacturing a modified polymer material with an electron-beam. Methods comprise irradiating the polymer particles of the material by dosing with electron beam radiation to produce a modified polymer material comprising irradiated polymer particles.

The present disclosure provides methods, compositions, and systems embodying cement compositions and the synergistic effect of lost circulation materials (LCMs) and fluid loss control additives (FLCAs) thereupon for cementing subterranean zones. A method of subterranean well cementing, comprising providing a cement composition comprising a hydraulic cement, a first FLCA, an LCM, and water, wherein the first FLCA comprises a water-soluble polymer with repeating units comprising a 5- to 6-membered cyclic amide; introducing the cement composition into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, wherein inclusion of the first FLCA and the LCM in the cement composition fluid reduces fluid loss into the subterranean formation, wherein the subterranean formation has fractures with a width of from about 1 micron to about 800 microns, and wherein the subterranean formation has a permeability of about 1 milliDarcy to about 300 Darcy; and allowing the cement composition to set in the subterranean formation.

The present disclosure provides methods, compositions, and systems embodying cement compositions and the synergistic effect of lost circulation materials (LCMs) and fluid loss control additives (FLCAs) thereupon for cementing subterranean zones. A method of subterranean well cementing, comprising providing a cement composition comprising a hydraulic cement, a first FLCA, an LCM, and water, wherein the first FLCA comprises a water-soluble polymer with repeating units comprising a 5- to 6-membered cyclic amide; introducing the cement composition into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, wherein inclusion of the first FLCA and the LCM in the cement composition fluid reduces fluid loss into the subterranean formation, wherein the subterranean formation has fractures with a width of from about 1 micron to about 800 microns, and wherein the subterranean formation has a permeability of about 1 milliDarcy to about 300 Darcy; and allowing the cement composition to set in the subterranean formation.

A method of preparing a gypsum-based product comprises the steps of mixing calcined gypsum with polymer particles and water to provide a slurry. The polymer particles comprise principally polyvinyl acetate, and have a particle size distribution, measured using laser diffractometry, such that particles having a diameter of 4.5 μm or less provide at least 90% of the total particle volume.

A method of preparing a gypsum-based product comprises the steps of mixing calcined gypsum with polymer particles and water to provide a slurry. The polymer particles comprise principally polyvinyl acetate, and have a particle size distribution, measured using laser diffractometry, such that particles having a diameter of 4.5 μm or less provide at least 90% of the total particle volume.

A method of preparing a gypsum-based product comprises the steps of mixing calcined gypsum with polymer particles and water to provide a slurry. The polymer particles comprise principally polyvinyl acetate, and have a particle size distribution, measured using laser diffractometry, such that particles having a diameter of 4.5 μm or less provide at least 90% of the total particle volume.