Various methods for making material capable of forming structural composites are disclosed. For example, a particular method may include growing an amount of cyanotic organisms, separating cell walls of the cyanotic organisms from internal portions of the cyanotic organisms to form a purified algae extract, the purified algae extract being from the internal portions of the cyanotic organisms, and applying an effective amount of alkaline water to the purified algae extract to form a balanced algae extract having little or no chemical reactivity, wherein a pH of the alkaline water is a function of a pH of the purified algae extract.

Various methods for making material capable of forming structural composites are disclosed. For example, a particular method may include growing an amount of cyanotic organisms, separating cell walls of the cyanotic organisms from internal portions of the cyanotic organisms to form a purified algae extract, the purified algae extract being from the internal portions of the cyanotic organisms, and applying an effective amount of alkaline water to the purified algae extract to form a balanced algae extract having little or no chemical reactivity, wherein a pH of the alkaline water is a function of a pH of the purified algae extract.

Presented is a method of improving the incorporation of recycled bituminous products by using at least one surfactant as an alternative to the known rejuvenating oils, for the preparation of asphalt mixes containing recycled bituminous products. The use of such alternative surfactant(s) results in better mechanical properties of the asphalt mix, while using smaller amounts of fresh bitumen and greater amounts of recycled bituminous products.

A method and system for strengthening and hardening unpaved surfaces is presented wherein a triglyceride composition is applied to an unpaved area. The composition is comprised of a homogenized mixture of one or more triglycerides, water, one or more surfactants, and, optionally, a catalyst. The triglycerides used in the composition are generally commercially-available oils and greases, such as naturally-derived oils that contain mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acid triglycerides, such as those found in used cooking oil. The surfactant acts as a stabilizing agent and also aids in the saturation of the unpaved surface during application. The catalyst facilitates the drying and hardening process. The unpaved surface is compacted with a heavy roller and/or a vibratory compactor and then coated with an application of the triglyceride composition. In alternate embodiments, the triglyceride mixture is applied before the unpaved surface is compacted.

A method and system for strengthening and hardening unpaved surfaces is presented wherein a triglyceride composition is applied to an unpaved area. The composition is comprised of a homogenized mixture of one or more triglycerides, water, one or more surfactants, and, optionally, a catalyst. The triglycerides used in the composition are generally commercially-available oils and greases, such as naturally-derived oils that contain mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acid triglycerides, such as those found in used cooking oil. The surfactant acts as a stabilizing agent and also aids in the saturation of the unpaved surface during application. The catalyst facilitates the drying and hardening process. The unpaved surface is compacted with a heavy roller and/or a vibratory compactor and then coated with an application of the triglyceride composition. In alternate embodiments, the triglyceride mixture is applied before the unpaved surface is compacted.

A bio-composite plastering material and a method of making the same are provided. The bio-composite plastering material includes a mixture of sand-silica, Abelmoschus esculentus powder, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The bio-composite plastering material has increased compressive strength depending upon the concentration of Abelmoschus esculentus powder and multi-walled carbon nanotubes used. The method of making the bio-composite plastering material includes sieving the sand-silica to produce sand-silica of a uniform particle size, mixing powdered Abelmoschus esculentus powder with the sand-silica to produce a first mixture, mixing water with the first mixture to produce the bio-composite plastering material, and enhancing the bio-composite material by adding multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The bio-composite plastering material may then be plaster cast, such as by pressing the bio-composite plastering material in a hot press and drying the resulting bio-composite material in an oven.

The present invention relates to a method of improving the incorporation of recycled bituminous products by using at least one surfactant as an alternative to the known rejuvenating oils, for the preparation of asphalt mixes containing recycled bituminous products. The use of such alternative surfactant(s) results in better mechanical properties of the asphalt mix, while using smaller amounts of fresh bitumen and greater amounts of recycled bituminous products.

Crumb Rubber augmented masonry blocks including cement, aggregate, water, and crumb rubber. Crumb rubber is extracted from scrape tires after being processed and then mixed in specified percentages with aggregate, cement and water. In the present disclosure sand, which is used in the formation of conventional blocks, is replaced with crumb rubber to produce a sand-free masonry block containing crumb rubber. The developed crumb rubber masonry blocks satisfied the ASTM non-load bearing requirements in addition to satisfying the water absorption test.

A composition that may include a resin, plastic aggregate, plastic fines, and optionally fly ash. The plastic aggregates and plastic fines may be formed from recycled plastic. The composition may be utilized to repair damaged surfaces, including damages concrete surfaces. The composition may further be used in pre-formed structures. The pre-formed structures may include panels that are assembled to form an upright enclosure, such as a shelter.

Crumb Rubber augmented masonry blocks including cement, aggregate, water, and crumb rubber. Crumb rubber is extracted from scrape tires after being processed and then mixed in specified percentages with aggregate, cement and water. In the present disclosure sand, which is used in the formation of conventional blocks, is replaced with crumb rubber to produce a sand-free masonry block containing crumb rubber. The developed crumb rubber masonry blocks satisfied the ASTM non-load bearing requirements in addition to satisfying the water absorption test.