Optical analysis systems and methods may be used for analyzing the characteristics, including compositions, of cement additives, which may be used in formulating a cement slurry. For example, a cement additive may be optically interacting with an integrated computational element (ICE) configured to detect a characteristic of the cement additive. An output signal may then be generated corresponding to the characteristic of the cement additive detected by the ICE, which may be received and processed with a signal processor to yield a value for the characteristic of the cement additive. The value of the characteristic of the cement additive may then be used to determine an amount of the cement additive for use in producing a cement slurry.

Concrete can be one of the most durable building materials where consumption is projected to reach approximately 40 billion tons in 2017 alone. Despite this the testing of concrete at all stages of its life cycle is still in its infancy although testing for corrosion is well established. Further many of the tests today are time consuming, expensive, and provide results only after it has been poured and set. Accordingly, by exploiting self-contained wireless sensor devices, which are deployed with the wet concrete, the in-situ curing and maturity measurement data can be established and employed together with batch specific concrete data to provide rapid initial tests and evolving performance data regarding the concrete cure, performance, corrosion of concrete at different points in its life cycle. Such sensors remove subjectivity, allow for rapid assessment, are integrable to the construction process, and provided full life cycle assessment.

The present invention relates, inter alia, to method of assessing the reactivity of a polymerizable material (especially an aluminosilicate) in forming a geopolymer. The present invention also relates to methods of forming a geopolymer, and to geopolymers formed by the method. The method of assessing the reactivity of the polymerizable material may include first assessing whether the polymerizable material is layered or particulate. Next, if the polymerizable material is layered, the method may include measuring the moles of polymerization network forming elements in an amount of polymerizable material, whereby the moles of polymerization network forming elements is indicative of the reactivity of the polymerizable material in forming a geopolymer. Alternatively, if the polymerizable material is particulate, the method may include measuring the molar charge of polymerization network modifiers in an amount of polymerizable material, whereby the molar charge of polymerization network modifiers is indicative of the reactivity of the polymerizable material in forming a geopolymer.

The present invention relates, inter alia, to method of assessing the reactivity of a polymerizable material (especially an aluminosilicate) in forming a geopolymer. The present invention also relates to methods of forming a geopolymer, and to geopolymers formed by the method. The method of assessing the reactivity of the polymerizable material may include first assessing whether the polymerizable material is layered or particulate. Next, if the polymerizable material is layered, the method may include measuring the moles of polymerization network forming elements in an amount of polymerizable material, whereby the moles of polymerization network forming elements is indicative of the reactivity of the polymerizable material in forming a geopolymer. Alternatively, if the polymerizable material is particulate, the method may include measuring the molar charge of polymerization network modifiers in an amount of polymerizable material, whereby the molar charge of polymerization network modifiers is indicative of the reactivity of the polymerizable material in forming a geopolymer.

A wall compound for use in all applications and particularly well-suited indicating dryness with a durable, visible change in color.

A method of monitoring conditions in a wellbore by disposing capsules with a signaling agent downhole, and monitoring the presence of the signaling agent released from the capsules that escape the wellbore. The capsules are formed by combining immiscible liquids, where one of the liquids contains the signaling substance, and each of the liquids contains a reagent. When combined, the liquids segregate into a dispersed phase and a continuous phase, with the dispersed phase having the signaling agent. The reagents react at the interfaces between dispersed and continuous phases and form polymer layers encapsulating the signaling agent to form the capsules. When disposed downhole, such as in casing cement, the capsule membranes can burst under pressure or temperature to release the signaling agent. Adjusting relative concentrations of the reagents varies membrane strength and permeability.

A method of monitoring conditions in a wellbore by disposing capsules with a signaling agent downhole, and monitoring the presence of the signaling agent released from the capsules that escape the wellbore. The capsules are formed by combining immiscible liquids, where one of the liquids contains the signaling substance, and each of the liquids contains a reagent. When combined, the liquids segregate into a dispersed phase and a continuous phase, with the dispersed phase having the signaling agent. The reagents react at the interfaces between dispersed and continuous phases and form polymer layers encapsulating the signaling agent to form the capsules. When disposed downhole, such as in casing cement, the capsule membranes can burst under pressure or temperature to release the signaling agent. Adjusting relative concentrations of the reagents varies membrane strength and permeability.

Optical analysis devices may be configured for optically interacting a material of interest with a chemical filter and a detector that together are configured to detect a characteristic of the material of interest, wherein optically interacting the material of interest with the chemical filter comprises absorbing, by the chemical filter, at least a portion of an electromagnetic radiation having optically interacted with the material of interest. Relative to dry cements, such optical analysis devices may be useful in classifying and/or grading dry cements and determining the composition and/or concentration of cement slurry additives to enhance the implementation efficacy of the dry cement.

Optical analysis devices may be configured for optically interacting a material of interest with a chemical filter and a detector that together are configured to detect a characteristic of the material of interest, wherein optically interacting the material of interest with the chemical filter comprises absorbing, by the chemical filter, at least a portion of an electromagnetic radiation having optically interacted with the material of interest. Relative to dry cements, such optical analysis devices may be useful in classifying and/or grading dry cements and determining the composition and/or concentration of cement slurry additives to enhance the implementation efficacy of the dry cement.

A method of making an identifiable gypsum-based building product, includes incorporating a suitable amount of an optically identifiable marker into the product to be sensed by a conventional detecting device; applying the product with the marker in a conventional manner in the course of building construction, creating a finished building product; and analyzing the finished building product and optically detecting the presence of the marker in real time onsite.