A molded three-dimensional insulator that is suitable for use in an end cone region of a pollution control device and a method of making the insulator are described. The insulator includes ceramic fibers that have a bulk shrinkage no greater than 10 weight percent. The ceramic fibers can contain alumina and silica and can be microcrystalline, crystalline, or a combination thereof.

The invention relates to granules composed of agglomerated reactive bulk material and a binder matrix, the binder matrix comprising as binder an organic or inorganic salt.

An asphalt composition comprising 0.1 to 10.0 wt.-% based on the total weight of the composition of a thermosetting reactive compound selected from the group consisting of polymeric MDI, epoxy resins and melamine formaldehyde resins, wherein at least 18% by weight based on the total weight of the composition are particles with a sedimentation coefficient above 5000 Sved in a white spirit solvent.

A process for manufacturing an inorganic foam includes (i) separately preparing an aqueous foam and a cement slurry, the cement slurry including water W, a cement C, a water-reducing agent, a water-soluble calcium salt, a water-soluble silicate salt, the calcium/silicon molar ratio being 0.7 to 1.7 and the W/C weight ratio being 0.25 to 0.40, and given that the calcium ion concentration is 0.03 to 0.97%, expressed as weight percent relative to the weight of the cement, and that the silicate ion concentration is 0.04 to 1.67%, expressed as weight percent relative to the weight of the cement; (ii) contacting the cement slurry obtained with the aqueous foam to obtain a foamed cement slurry; and (iii) shaping the foamed cement slurry obtained in step (ii) and allowing setting to occur.

The present invention primarily relates to the use of a mixture capable of biocementation as a means of preventing or reducing plant growth, preferably weed growth. The invention also relates to a method for preventing or reducing plant growth, preferably weed growth, on/in a substrate.

An insulation material formed of a composition, and a method of making an insulation material is provided. The composition forming the insulation material includes magnesium oxide; at least one of magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfate, and hydrates thereof; water; a foaming agent; a thickener; and a foam stabilizer. The composition is foamed to promote aeration of the composition to reduce density of the insulation material formed from the composition.

Portland cement clinker LCMs that include Portland cement clinker to mitigate or prevent lost circulation in a well are provided. A Portland cement clinker LCM may include Portland cement clinker, Portland cement, a carrier fluid, and an inorganic consolidation activator. Another Portland cement clinker LCM may include Portland cement clinker and a crosslinked fluid, such as a polyuronide crosslinked via calcium ions or a polysaccharide crosslinked via divinyl sulfone. Yet another Portland cement clinker LCM may include Portland cement clinker and polymer fibers or particulate glass. Methods of lost circulation control using a Portland cement clinker LCM are also provided.

Systems and methods that utilize radiation to set cementitious compositions can be used to set a pipe or casing in a wellbore. The systems and methods involve connecting a radiation tool to the top plug of a two-plug system used to place the cementitious composition in the annulus between the pipe and the wellbore. The systems and methods provide for radiating the cementitious composition as it is introduced into the wellbore and as the radiation tool is retrieved from the pipe.

Class C fly ash-based cementitious materials, concretes, and related techniques are disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments, an activated class C fly ash-based cementitious material may be produced by intergrinding class C fly ash (e.g., classified to remove quartz and/or other contaminants and, thus, increase the reactive materials present), an activator, sodium citrate, borax, and a polycarboxylate material. The class C fly ash may have an amorphous glass content of about 60 wt % or more, a calcium oxide (CaO.sub.2) content of about 20 wt % or more, and a quartz content of about 10 wt % or less. The activator may be a chemical which reacts with class C fly ash to form strtlingite structures therein when introduced with water. In some cases, the cementitious material may be provided as an all-in-one powder blend. In some cases, techniques disclosed herein may be utilized in providing a fast-setting flowable fill material.

The invention relates to a method for producing a solid construction material which is preferably substantially free of hydraulic binder, comprising the steps of: a. extracting a mineral fraction comprising argillaceous particles of a soil; b. optionally adjusting the particle size of the mineral fraction extracted, in particular in relation to its clay, sand, gravel or loam content, if necessary; c. preparing a first aqueous grout from at least one part of the mineral fraction extracted and optionally adjusted in terms of particle size; d. adding a dispersant that can disperse the argillaceous particles in the first grout in order to obtain a second aqueous grout, e. adding a coagulant that can promote the agglomeration of the argillaceous particles in the second grout in order to obtain an aqueous construction material grout; f introducing the construction material grout into a formwork; and g. allowing the evaporation of the water contained in the material grout in order to obtain a solid construction material.