A method for the production of a cavity filled with a low-density mineral foam includes (i) preparing a cement slurry including Portland cement; ultrafine particles of which the D50 is from 10 to 600 nm; a water reducing agent; a manganese salt; and water; wherein the mass ratio of manganese salts/Portland cement is below 0.014; (ii) adding to the cement slurry obtained after (i) a gas-forming liquid including a gas-forming agent; and a viscosity-modifying agent which is a polymer chosen among anionic bio-based polymer, amphiphilic bio-based polymer, alkali swellable acrylic polymer and mixture thereof; to obtain a foaming slurry; (iii) filling the cavity with the foaming slurry obtained at (ii); (iv) leaving the foaming slurry to expand within the cavity.

The present disclosure provides a modified montmorillonite self-repairing agent and a preparation method and use thereof, and belongs to the technical field of cement repairing materials. Montmorillonite is mixed with water, such that water is fully adsorbed between montmorillonite layers. The structure of montmorillonite is modified by supercritical CO.sub.2 treatment at a temperature of 50-60° C. and a pressure of 8-12 MPa, and the self-repairing efficiency of cement is improved by adding the modified montmorillonite into cement. Supercritical CO.sub.2 is adsorbed by montmorillonite, such that the montmorillonite is activated and an interlayer distance is increased to improve the repairing efficiency. When a crack is formed in cement, the adsorbed supercritical CO.sub.2 in montmorillonite is released into the crack and combined with positive ions to generate carbonate deposition, such that the crack is sealed and the self-repairing activity of the cement is improved. Results of examples show that carbonate microcrystals are generated in the modified montmorillonite self-repairing agent provided by the present disclosure. The generated carbonate microcrystals serve as “active sites” that induce additional carbonate precipitation, which is beneficial for crack sealing.

The present invention relates to an inorganic binder system comprising blast furnace slag, and at least one solid alkali metal silicate, wherein the inorganic binder system is obtainable by co-grinding a mixture comprising the blast furnace slag and the at least one solid alkali metal silicate.

Building construction materials containing inorganic hydraulically settable binder(s) and at least one protective colloid-stabilized polyvinyl acetate copolymer having specific ranges of vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, and ethylene show improved adhesion under widely varying conditions when used in hydraulically setting construction materials, especially after thermal storage conditions.

Disclosed herein are concrete and asphalt crack filler compounds and methods for utilizing them. According to some embodiments, the crack filler compounds can include (1) silica sand, (2) ethylene vinyl acetate, (3) and cement, and/or (4) color additives. According to some embodiments, a method of utilizing one of the compounds can include the steps of (1) obtaining a surface crack filler compound, (2) depositing the surface crack filler compound into a surface crack (e.g., concrete, asphalt, etc.), and (3) depositing water onto the surface crack filler compound to cause the surface crack filler compound to solidify and fill the surface crack. Additionally, and according to some embodiments, the method can further include, prior to depositing the surface crack filler compound into the surface crack: removing debris from the surface crack using at least one of a brush, pressurized air, or pressurized water.

The present invention is a system for repairing asphalt. The system includes a discrete quantity of an asphalt repair composition located within a container and an induction heater. The composition is a combination of an asphalt binder, aggregate particles, and induction particles. The average diameter of the induction particles ranges from approximately 10% above to approximately 10% below an average diameter of the aggregate particles used in the composition. The induction heater heats the composition within the container by generating a magnetic field that penetrates the container. The magnetic field creates eddy currents in the induction particles. These eddy currents in turn heat the composition. Because the induction particles are distributed throughout the composition, the composition heats rapidly.

A method for reinforcing a structure comprising the following steps: preparation of UHPFRC comprising a cement precursor mix, of water, a fluidizing agent and metal fibers, transporting the UHPFRC by pumping to a suitable spray nozzle, spraying the mix onto a surface of the structure by the addition of a compressed air stream in the spray nozzle.

A cementitious composition with accelerated curing at low temperatures particularly at temperatures <5° C., especially at temperatures <0° C. The cementitious composition consists of 2 components with a first component A including at least one ordinary Portland cement, at least one cement selected from calcium aluminate cement and/or calcium sulfoaluminate cement, a powder P, selected from the group consisting of carbonates or hydrogen carbonates of alkali and/or alkaline earth metals, optionally aggregates, optionally other additives and a second component B comprising at least one accelerator, an anti-freeze agent, water, and optionally other additives. The composition shows increased development of compressive strength, maintain good workability, and have particularly low shrinkage, also when cured at temperatures <5° C., especially <0° C., and as low as −10° C.

A composition comprising thermoset polymer, shape memory polymer to facilitate macro scale damage closure, and methods for molecular scale healing are provided. The composition can resolve structural defects by a bio-mimetic close-then heal process. In use, the shape memory polymer can provide molecular scale healing in a structural defect. The methods for molecular scale healing can include heating a composition including a thermoplastic such as fibers, particles or spheres to a level at or above the thermoplastic's melting point, then cooling of the composition below the melting temperature of the thermoplastic. The compositions have the ability to close macroscopic defects repeatedly even if another wound/damage occurs in a previously healed/repaired area.

An improved terrazzo process for applying terrazzo to an existing concrete surface comprising preparing the concrete surface, applying two layers of a primer agent, applying a terrazzo layer comprising calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement, white milk glass, and one or more of broken mirrored glass and colored glass, cutting the terrazzo layer, applying a concrete densifier such that the concrete densifier penetrates into at least a portion of the concrete substrate, and grinding and polishing the densified terrazzo layer.