Process for preparing a composition comprising a sulfonated lignin, including: preparing a lignin-containing aqueous suspension having a solids content up to about 45 wt % and a pH greater than about 6, by mixing a lignin with water; heating the aqueous suspension between about 65° C. and 160° C.; sulfonating the lignin using a sulfonating agent generating a sulfite ion and/or bisulfite ion, at a temperature of from about 90° C. to 160° C., at a sulfonation pH of from about 6 to 11 and at a molar ratio of sulfonating agent to lignin between about 0.1:1 and 1.5:1 on a sulfite to monomeric lignin sub-unit basis; and cooling the sulfonated lignin-containing resulting mixture. The sulfonated lignin, in aqueous mixture or as a powder, can be used as a dispersant in several products including for instance concrete, grout, mortar, oil-well cement, cement board, gypsum wallboard, agricultural products, drilling fluids, coal slurries.

The present invention relates to an additive for hydraulically setting compositions comprising a colloidally disperse preparation comprising at least one salt of a polyvalent metal cation with at least one organic phosphonate and/or phosphate compound as anion and at least one polymeric dispersant comprising anionic and/or anionogenic groups and polyether side chains. The additive is especially suitable as slump retainer and for improving early strength.

The present invention relates to an additive for hydraulically setting compositions comprising a colloidally disperse preparation comprising at least one salt of a polyvalent metal cation with at least one organic phosphonate and/or phosphate compound as anion and at least one polymeric dispersant comprising anionic and/or anionogenic groups and polyether side chains. The additive is especially suitable as slump retainer and for improving early strength.

A shotcrete composition comprising a) a cementitious binder; b) an ettringite formation controller comprising (i) a glyoxylic acid condensate and/or a glyoxylic acid adduct; and c) an alkali-free, aluminum-based shotcrete accelerator. The invention further relates to a process comprising providing a cementitious composition comprising a) a cementitious binder, and b) an ettringite formation controller comprising (i) a glyoxylic acid condensate and/or a glyoxylic acid adduct; admixing an alkali-free, aluminum-based shotcrete accelerator to the cementitious composition to obtain a shotcrete composition; and applying the shotcrete composition onto a surface to obtain a shotcrete structure and allowing the shotcrete structure to harden. The invention also relates to a hardened shotcrete structure obtained by this process.

A slag-based binder has at least one slag, optionally at least one CO.sub.3-containing mineral powder, optionally at least one co-binder different from the slag and mineral powder, at least one activator of the water/slag reaction, optionally at least one co-activator different from the one activator, at least one chelatant and/or at least one source of chelatant, said chelatant being preferably a scale inhibitor, and, optionally, at least one superplasticizer different from the chelatant. A kit is provided to make the binder. The binder is combined with an aggregate to make a dry concrete or mortar. A method for the preparation of a wet formulation (binder/water or concrete-mortar/water) is disclosed as is method of manufacturing buildings or civil engineering works or elements thereof, coatings, fillers, screeds, tiles, adhesives and/or internal or external insulation systems from the wet formulation. The binder is a substitute to OPC-based compositions and is environmentally friendly.

The invention relates to a method (100) for selecting the composition of a construction material including an excavated clay soil, said construction material composition to include deflocculating agent and activating agent quantities adapted to the excavated clay soil, said method including a step of receiving (130) a measured value of at least one physicochemical property of an excavated clay soil, and a step of selecting (170) a deflocculating agent quantity and an activating agent quantity adapted to the excavated clay soil. In addition, the invention also relates to a method (200) for calibrating a calculation algorithm for determining the composition of a site construction material, to a construction material formed from an excavated clay soil, and to a system (400) for preparing a construction material including an excavated clay soil.

The invention relates to a method (100) for selecting the composition of a construction material including an excavated clay soil, said construction material composition to include deflocculating agent and activating agent quantities adapted to the excavated clay soil, said method including a step of receiving (130) a measured value of at least one physicochemical property of an excavated clay soil, and a step of selecting (170) a deflocculating agent quantity and an activating agent quantity adapted to the excavated clay soil. In addition, the invention also relates to a method (200) for calibrating a calculation algorithm for determining the composition of a site construction material, to a construction material formed from an excavated clay soil, and to a system (400) for preparing a construction material including an excavated clay soil.

Method of making foamed gypsum slurry having 15 to 90 volume percent gas bubbles including: passing first slurry including water and on dry basis 50 to 98 wt. % calcium sulfate hemihydrate, 1 to 50 wt. % calcium carbonate, and 0.1 to 10 wt. % cellulose thickener via a first hose to a Wye connector conduit first inlet opening at Rate C and passing alum solution via a second hose to a second inlet opening of the conduit at Rate D to create combined mixed stream passing from the conduit to a static mixer for mixing for Time 3 to activate at least a portion of the calcium carbonate and alum to generate CO.sub.2 and create the foamed gypsum slurry; transferring the slurry from the mixer to a cavity between two wall boards via a third hose. Allowing the slurry in the cavity to expand, harden and dry.

Method of making foamed gypsum slurry having 15 to 90 volume percent gas bubbles including: passing first slurry including water and on dry basis 50 to 98 wt. % calcium sulfate hemihydrate, 1 to 50 wt. % calcium carbonate, and 0.1 to 10 wt. % cellulose thickener via a first hose to a Wye connector conduit first inlet opening at Rate C and passing alum solution via a second hose to a second inlet opening of the conduit at Rate D to create combined mixed stream passing from the conduit to a static mixer for mixing for Time 3 to activate at least a portion of the calcium carbonate and alum to generate CO.sub.2 and create the foamed gypsum slurry; transferring the slurry from the mixer to a cavity between two wall boards via a third hose. Allowing the slurry in the cavity to expand, harden and dry.

A multi-component mortar system contains a curable aqueous-phase aluminous cement component A and an initiator component B in aqueous-phase for initiating the curing process. Component A further contains at least one plasticizer, water, and at least one blocking agent selected from phosphoric acid, metaphosphoric acid, phosphorous acid, and phosphonic acids. Component B contains an initiator, at least one retarder, at least one mineral filler, and water. A multi-component system is useful, which is ready-for-use, for chemical fastening of anchoring means, preferably of metal elements, in mineral surfaces, such as structures made of brickwork, concrete, pervious concrete or natural stone as well as its use for chemical fastening of anchoring means.