A method of designing a cement slurry may include: (a) selecting at least a cement and concentration thereof, water and concentration thereof, and, optionally, at least one supplementary cementitious material and a concentration thereof, such that a cement slurry comprising the cement, the water, and, if present, the at least one supplementary cementitious material, meet a density requirement; (b) calculating a thickening time of the cement slurry using a thickening time model; (c) comparing the thickening time of the cement slurry to a thickening time requirement, wherein steps (a)-(c) are repeated if the thickening time of the cement slurry does not meet or exceed the thickening time requirement, wherein the selecting comprises selecting different concentrations and/or different chemical identities for the cement and/or the supplementary cementitious material than previously selected, or step (d) is performed if the thickening time of the cement slurry meets or exceeds the thickening time requirement; and preparing the cement slurry.

A method of designing a cement slurry may include: (a) selecting at least a cement and concentration thereof, water and concentration thereof, and, optionally, at least one supplementary cementitious material and a concentration thereof, such that a cement slurry comprising the cement, the water, and, if present, the at least one supplementary cementitious material, meet a density requirement; (b) calculating a thickening time of the cement slurry using a thickening time model; (c) comparing the thickening time of the cement slurry to a thickening time requirement, wherein steps (a)-(c) are repeated if the thickening time of the cement slurry does not meet or exceed the thickening time requirement, wherein the selecting comprises selecting different concentrations and/or different chemical identities for the cement and/or the supplementary cementitious material than previously selected, or step (d) is performed if the thickening time of the cement slurry meets or exceeds the thickening time requirement; and preparing the cement slurry.

Embodiments of a dry mix for producing a concrete composition are provided. The dry mix includes aggregate, cement, and bed ash. The bed ash contains the combustion product of a fluidized bed coal combustion reaction. Additionally, embodiments of a method of preparing the dry mix and embodiments of a method of preparing a concrete composition are provided. The dry mix is also suitable for repairing soil slips, and embodiments of a method of repairing a soil slip are also provided.

Embodiments of a dry mix for producing a concrete composition are provided. The dry mix includes aggregate, cement, and bed ash. The bed ash contains the combustion product of a fluidized bed coal combustion reaction. Additionally, embodiments of a method of preparing the dry mix and embodiments of a method of preparing a concrete composition are provided. The dry mix is also suitable for repairing soil slips, and embodiments of a method of repairing a soil slip are also provided.

A hydraulic binder including (in % by dry weight); A. at least 50 of at least one ground and granulated blast-furnace slag; B. more than 5 of at least one calcium aluminate cement and/or of at least one calcium sulfoaluminate cement; C. more than 5 of at least one source of sulfate ions; D. between 1 and 5 of Ca(OH).sub.2 and/or Portland cement; E. between 0.01 and 1 of at least one alkali metal carbonate; F. and at least one alkalifying reagent consisting of at least one alkali metal carbonate and/or bicarbonate, different from E; under the following conditions: (i) amount of C allows sulfate ions of C to react with B and A; (ii) the amount of F sufficiently causes a reaction with D in water resulting in a wet formulation with a pH not less than 12, for a water-to-mortar mixing rate between 10 and 35% by weight.

A hydraulic binder including (in % by dry weight); A. at least 50 of at least one ground and granulated blast-furnace slag; B. more than 5 of at least one calcium aluminate cement and/or of at least one calcium sulfoaluminate cement; C. more than 5 of at least one source of sulfate ions; D. between 1 and 5 of Ca(OH).sub.2 and/or Portland cement; E. between 0.01 and 1 of at least one alkali metal carbonate; F. and at least one alkalifying reagent consisting of at least one alkali metal carbonate and/or bicarbonate, different from E; under the following conditions: (i) amount of C allows sulfate ions of C to react with B and A; (ii) the amount of F sufficiently causes a reaction with D in water resulting in a wet formulation with a pH not less than 12, for a water-to-mortar mixing rate between 10 and 35% by weight.

An improved oil or gas well cement for penetrating, sealing and plugging wells to be abandoned. The cement fill includes (a) a cement component including a calcium sulfoaluminate cement and a Portland cement having a ratio by weight of Portland cement to calcium sulfoaluminate cement ranging from 1/19 to ⅕ and (b) an aggregate component with gradation spanning 1,200 microns to 5 microns. Further an improved oil or gas well microcellular cement for penetrating sealing and completely filling wells to be abandoned that includes (a) a cement component including a calcium sulfoaluminate cement and a Portland cement having a ratio by weight of Portland cement to calcium sulfoaluminate cement ranging from 1/19 to ⅕ and (b) an aggregate component with gradation spanning 200 microns to 5 microns and (c) a foaming agent.

An apparatus for producing and analyzing sample materials may comprise a milling device for milling material components, a first metering device for metering a material component into the milling device, a second metering device for metering an activator liquid into the milled material component, a homogenization device for homogenizing the material components and the activator liquid to produce a sample material, a control device that is connected to the milling device and is configured to vary a parameter characteristic for milling intensity of the milling device so that particle size of the material components is altered, and a measuring device for determining a reactivity of the sample material. The present disclosure further concerns a process for producing and analyzing a plurality of sample materials. The process may involve varying at least one parameter characteristic for milling intensity for each sample material produced.

Aqueous compositions may be used preparing special concretes like aerated concrete or lightweight concrete. Such an aqueous composition for preparing such concretes, may combine water, a hydraulic binder, and an aggregate that is ground in the presence of a particular anionic polymer. The ground aggregate is selected from slag, fly ash, sand, and combinations thereof.

Provided are compositions and methods thereof that may include Portland cement, a melamine, and alumina. The compositions may further include silicon dioxide, supplementary cementitious material, polymer resin(s), hydrophobizers, preservatives, film-forming assistants, dispersants, foam stabilizers, defoamers, pigments, dyes, water, or combinations thereof. Typically, the compositions are coatings that may be applied to restore and preserve asphalt and cement road surfaces and pavements.