Methods of forming synthetic aluminosilicate material are disclosed. Exemplary methods include forming a polymer solution, adding an aluminum precursor to the polymer solution, adding a silicon precursor to the polymer solution, forming a gel from the polymer solution, calcining the gel to form an aluminosilicate powder, and grinding the aluminosilicate powder to form ground aluminosilicate material. The synthetic aluminosilicate material can be used in the formation of cement and concrete.

Concrete made using the protocol described herein converts more of the available calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH).sub.2) into calcium carbonate (CaCO.sub.3) and distributes it more thoroughly throughout the concrete mixture by converting it into calcium bicarbonate (Ca(HCO.sub.3).sub.2) by adjusting the pH of the hydrating liquid and then deliberately adjusting the pH of the hydrating liquid again when precipitation of the CaCO.sub.3 from the hydration liquid is desired to more uniformly coat the materials used in a concrete mix. This process creates more CaCO.sub.3 in concrete than current methods on the market and that has been demonstrated to increase the structural and chemical properties of the concrete.

Concrete made using the protocol described herein converts more of the available calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH).sub.2) into calcium carbonate (CaCO.sub.3) and distributes it more thoroughly throughout the concrete mixture by converting it into calcium bicarbonate (Ca(HCO.sub.3).sub.2) by adjusting the pH of the hydrating liquid and then deliberately adjusting the pH of the hydrating liquid again when precipitation of the CaCO.sub.3 from the hydration liquid is desired to more uniformly coat the materials used in a concrete mix. This process creates more CaCO.sub.3 in concrete than current methods on the market and that has been demonstrated to increase the structural and chemical properties of the concrete.

The invention relates to radiation-treated reinforcement fibers, reinforced asphalt and portland cement concrete, and grout, methods for producing the same and application for their use. The radiation treatment includes exposing reinforcement fibers to electromagnetic energy, e.g., gamma rays, and/or electron-beam (E-beam) radiation. As a result of the treatment, the radiation-treated reinforcement fibers have a modified or deformed surface, e.g., an abraded and/or porous surface, as compared to reinforcement fibers without a radiation treatment.

The invention relates to radiation-treated reinforcement fibers, reinforced asphalt and portland cement concrete, and grout, methods for producing the same and application for their use. The radiation treatment includes exposing reinforcement fibers to electromagnetic energy, e.g., gamma rays, and/or electron-beam (E-beam) radiation. As a result of the treatment, the radiation-treated reinforcement fibers have a modified or deformed surface, e.g., an abraded and/or porous surface, as compared to reinforcement fibers without a radiation treatment.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for processing recycled concrete aggregate (RCA). One of the methods includes obtaining first optical measurements of RCA particles as the RCA particles are conveyed past the first optical sensors; determining, based on the first measurements, an initial characterization of the RCA particles; iteratively performing a carbonation process on the RCA particles, obtaining second optical measurements of the RCA particles, and determining, from the second measurements, a second characterization of the RCA particles, wherein conditions of the carbonation process are initially set based on the initial characterization, and the conditions of the carbonation process are adjusted based on the second characterization; ceasing the iterative performance of the carbonation process in response to the second characterization meeting target carbonation characteristics; iteratively performing a densification process on the RCA particles, obtaining third optical measurements of the RCA particles, and determining, from the third measurements, a third characterization of the RCA particles, wherein conditions of the densification process are initially set based on the initial characterization or the second characterization, and the conditions of the densification process are adjusted based on the third characterization; and ceasing the iterative performance of the densification process in response to the third characterization meeting target densification characteristics.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for processing recycled concrete aggregate (RCA). One of the methods includes obtaining first optical measurements of RCA particles as the RCA particles are conveyed past the first optical sensors; determining, based on the first measurements, an initial characterization of the RCA particles; iteratively performing a carbonation process on the RCA particles, obtaining second optical measurements of the RCA particles, and determining, from the second measurements, a second characterization of the RCA particles, wherein conditions of the carbonation process are initially set based on the initial characterization, and the conditions of the carbonation process are adjusted based on the second characterization; ceasing the iterative performance of the carbonation process in response to the second characterization meeting target carbonation characteristics; iteratively performing a densification process on the RCA particles, obtaining third optical measurements of the RCA particles, and determining, from the third measurements, a third characterization of the RCA particles, wherein conditions of the densification process are initially set based on the initial characterization or the second characterization, and the conditions of the densification process are adjusted based on the third characterization; and ceasing the iterative performance of the densification process in response to the third characterization meeting target densification characteristics.

A method for manufacturing hydraulically hardening building materials, includes the steps of: providing concrete demolition waste with a maximum particle size of up to 150 mm as a starting material, mixing the starting material with water to form a feedstock slurry, introducing carbon dioxide or a precursor thereof into the feedstock slurry to form carbonated concrete fines in an amount from 1 to 100 wt.-% of the hardened binder contained in the starting material and to detach the concrete fines from the aggregate contained in the starting material to form a product slurry, and mixing the product slurry with a cement forming the building material, and use of the obtainable building material for manufacturing building structures as well as method for manufacturing a supplementary cementitious material slurry.

A method for manufacturing hydraulically hardening building materials, includes the steps of: providing concrete demolition waste with a maximum particle size of up to 150 mm as a starting material, mixing the starting material with water to form a feedstock slurry, introducing carbon dioxide or a precursor thereof into the feedstock slurry to form carbonated concrete fines in an amount from 1 to 100 wt.-% of the hardened binder contained in the starting material and to detach the concrete fines from the aggregate contained in the starting material to form a product slurry, and mixing the product slurry with a cement forming the building material, and use of the obtainable building material for manufacturing building structures as well as method for manufacturing a supplementary cementitious material slurry.

Various aspects relate to binder compositions including a bio-based component and pre-blends for forming the same. A binder composition includes an oligomerized biorenewable oil that is at least 10 wt % of the binder composition. The binder composition also includes an Asphaltene Additive comprising at least 20 wt % to 100 wt % asphaltenes, wherein the Asphaltene Additive is at least 8 wt % of the binder composition.