Roofing granules comprising agglomerated inorganic material, and building materials, such as shingles, that include such roofing granules. By fabricating roofing granules from agglomerating inorganic material it is possible to tailor the particle size distribution so as to provide optimal shingle surface coverage, thus reducing shingle weight and usage of raw materials. Additionally, the use of agglomeration permits the utilization of by-products from conventional granule production processes.

Roofing granules comprising agglomerated inorganic material, and building materials, such as shingles, that include such roofing granules. By fabricating roofing granules from agglomerating inorganic material it is possible to tailor the particle size distribution so as to provide optimal shingle surface coverage, thus reducing shingle weight and usage of raw materials. Additionally, the use of agglomeration permits the utilization of by-products from conventional granule production processes.

The present invention relates to method for producing construction aggregate, comprising the steps of: (i) preparing materials, which comprises (% by weight): fly ash (80 to 99.75%); alkaline activator (0.25 to 20%); water (6 to 30% of total weight of fly ash and alkaline activator); (ii) mixing the alkaline activator with all the aforementioned water amount to create alkaline activator solution, after which will be mixed with fly ash to create geopolymer mortar; (iii) molding the geopolymer mortar with the compressive force of 2 MPa and more with desired dimension, wherein the molding is carried out with hydraulic pressing, extrusion, rolling or tablet lamination. (iv) solidifying; and (v) optionally, crushing the construction aggregate obtained above to a predefined dimension. Besides, the present invention relates to the construction aggregate from fly ash obtained by the above mentioned method.

The present invention relates to method for producing construction aggregate, comprising the steps of: (i) preparing materials, which comprises (% by weight): fly ash (80 to 99.75%); alkaline activator (0.25 to 20%); water (6 to 30% of total weight of fly ash and alkaline activator); (ii) mixing the alkaline activator with all the aforementioned water amount to create alkaline activator solution, after which will be mixed with fly ash to create geopolymer mortar; (iii) molding the geopolymer mortar with the compressive force of 2 MPa and more with desired dimension, wherein the molding is carried out with hydraulic pressing, extrusion, rolling or tablet lamination. (iv) solidifying; and (v) optionally, crushing the construction aggregate obtained above to a predefined dimension. Besides, the present invention relates to the construction aggregate from fly ash obtained by the above mentioned method.

Embodiments relate to use of graphite nanoplatelets (GnP) to enhance the mechanical and durability characteristics of cement that may be used as cement sheaths in wellbores of oil and gas wells. Generally, undesired permeability of cement is caused by diffusion of trapped oil and/or natural gas through the cementitious matrix of the cement, leading to material degradation of the cement. Methods disclosed involve using modified GnPs (having physically modified surfaces or chemically modified surfaces energies) to generate a cementitious nanocomposite with uniformly dispersed GnPs, which can effectively arrest the undesired diffusion mechanism. Modified GnPs can also increase the strength of interfacial adhesion (e.g., interfacial bonds and interfacial energies) between the GnP and the cement matrix (e.g., hydrations of the cement). Physical modification of GnP can involve non-covalent treatment techniques. Chemical modification of GnP can involve covalent treatment techniques.

Embodiments relate to use of graphite nanoplatelets (GnP) to enhance the mechanical and durability characteristics of cement that may be used as cement sheaths in wellbores of oil and gas wells. Generally, undesired permeability of cement is caused by diffusion of trapped oil and/or natural gas through the cementitious matrix of the cement, leading to material degradation of the cement. Methods disclosed involve using modified GnPs (having physically modified surfaces or chemically modified surfaces energies) to generate a cementitious nanocomposite with uniformly dispersed GnPs, which can effectively arrest the undesired diffusion mechanism. Modified GnPs can also increase the strength of interfacial adhesion (e.g., interfacial bonds and interfacial energies) between the GnP and the cement matrix (e.g., hydrations of the cement). Physical modification of GnP can involve non-covalent treatment techniques. Chemical modification of GnP can involve covalent treatment techniques.

Embodiments relate to use of graphite nanoplatelets (GnP) to enhance the mechanical and durability characteristics of cement that may be used as cement sheaths in wellbores of oil and gas wells. Generally, undesired permeability of cement is caused by diffusion of trapped oil and/or natural gas through the cementitious matrix of the cement, leading to material degradation of the cement. Methods disclosed involve using modified GnPs (having physically modified surfaces or chemically modified surfaces energies) to generate a cementitious nanocomposite with uniformly dispersed GnPs, which can effectively arrest the undesired diffusion mechanism. Modified GnPs can also increase the strength of interfacial adhesion (e.g., interfacial bonds and interfacial energies) between the GnP and the cement matrix (e.g., hydrations of the cement). Physical modification of GnP can involve non-covalent treatment techniques. Chemical modification of GnP can involve covalent treatment techniques.

Embodiments relate to use of graphite nanoplatelets (GnP) to enhance the mechanical and durability characteristics of cement that may be used as cement sheaths in wellbores of oil and gas wells. Generally, undesired permeability of cement is caused by diffusion of trapped oil and/or natural gas through the cementitious matrix of the cement, leading to material degradation of the cement. Methods disclosed involve using modified GnPs (having physically modified surfaces or chemically modified surfaces energies) to generate a cementitious nanocomposite with uniformly dispersed GnPs, which can effectively arrest the undesired diffusion mechanism. Modified GnPs can also increase the strength of interfacial adhesion (e.g., interfacial bonds and interfacial energies) between the GnP and the cement matrix (e.g., hydrations of the cement). Physical modification of GnP can involve non-covalent treatment techniques. Chemical modification of GnP can involve covalent treatment techniques.

Roofing granules comprising agglomerated inorganic material, and building materials, such as shingles, that include such roofing granules. By fabricating roofing granules from agglomerating inorganic material it is possible to tailor the particle size distribution so as to provide optimal shingle surface coverage, thus reducing shingle weight and usage of raw materials. Additionally, the use of agglomeration permits the utilization of by-products from conventional granule production processes.

Roofing granules comprising agglomerated inorganic material, and building materials, such as shingles, that include such roofing granules. By fabricating roofing granules from agglomerating inorganic material it is possible to tailor the particle size distribution so as to provide optimal shingle surface coverage, thus reducing shingle weight and usage of raw materials. Additionally, the use of agglomeration permits the utilization of by-products from conventional granule production processes.