The invention relates to a composition for inorganic binders, comprising at least one ketone-formaldehyde condensation product on the basis of a cyclic ketone and at least one anionic or nonionic surfactant and/or a thickener, and also to building material mixtures which comprise this composition, and to the use of the composition. The compositions improve the applications properties of the binder formulations.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for modified cement material, methods of reducing or stopping cement shrinkage, methods of making modified cement material, and the like.

Cement slurries are prepared that comprise water, a hydraulic cement and particles of an oil-absorbent material. The particles are present in an amount sufficient to alter a property of a non-aqueous drilling fluid. The cement slurry is placed in a subterranean well, whereupon the slurry contacts residual drilling fluid on casing and formation surfaces. The oil-absorbent material in the cement slurry may reduce the mobility of the drilling fluid, thereby improving zonal isolation. The oil-absorbent material may be a polyolefin block copolymer.

Methods for using a copolymer, especially as a dispersant for solid particles, in particular as a dispersant for mineral binder compositions, where the copolymer is obtained from ionizable monomers m1 and side chain-bearing monomers m2 that are polymerized by nitroxide-mediated solution polymerization to give the copolymer, wherein the polymerization is conducted in the presence of an agent including a carboxyl group-bearing and phosphated alkoxy amine.

The present invention provides substantially nonionic brush polymers having pendant polyether groups, preferably poly(alkylene glycol) groups, which polymers are useful as synthetic polymer substitutes for cellulose ethers in mortars and hydraulic binders. The brush polymers are preferably crosslinked, such as with ethylene glycol di(meth)acrylates.

A cement for use in wells in which hydrogen sulfide is present, comprises polymer particles. In the event of cement-matrix failure, or bonding failure between the cement/casing interface or the cement/borehole-wall interface, the polymer particles swell when contacted by hydrogen sulfide. The swelling seals voids in the cement matrix, or along the bonding interfaces, thereby restoring zonal isolation.

A dry mix of a thermally insulating fill material for backfilling and/or filling. The fill material includes a cement-based binder and a thermally insulating material, and the thermally insulating material is newly foamed monograin polystyrene beads.