Cured cements, cement slurries, and methods of making cured cement and methods of using cement slurries are provided. The method of making a modified cement slurry includes adding particles comprising carbon nanotube sponges disposed on sacrificial templates to a cement slurry to form the modified cement slurry and allowing the sacrificial templates to disintegrate, thereby leaving the carbon nanotube sponges dispersed throughout the modified cement slurry.

A solution for forming an insulation coating of grain-oriented electrical steel sheet includes an aqueous solution prepared by mixing a phosphate solution and colloidal silica. Chromium is not added to the aqueous solution. The colloidal silica includes silica particles surface-modified by an aluminate or is prepared by adding an aluminate to colloidal silica such as conventional colloidal silica.

A solution for forming an insulation coating of grain-oriented electrical steel sheet includes an aqueous solution prepared by mixing a phosphate solution and colloidal silica. Chromium is not added to the aqueous solution. The colloidal silica includes silica particles surface-modified by an aluminate or is prepared by adding an aluminate to colloidal silica such as conventional colloidal silica.

A fire-proof insulation material, in particular a fire-proof insulation material, which is composed of a harden-able compound which contains 19 to 40 wt % of porous glass balls, 60 to 81 wt % of an aqueous solution of sodium silicate having a density in the range of 1370 to 1400 kg/m.sup.3 and a molar ratio of SiO.sub.2 to Na.sub.2O in the range of 3.2 to 3.4, and 0.1 to 1 wt % water glass binder stabiliser, while further containing 2 to 10 wt % of chopped basalt fibre, and the surface of the porous glass balls having a diameter of 0.3 to 1 mm is provided with carbon black, the carbon black constituting 0.1 to 0.9 wt % of total weight. A method for producing a fire-proof insulating material, in particular a method for producing a fire-proof insulation material, according to which firstly the porous glass balls are mixed with an aqueous carbon black solution so that their entire surface is coated with carbon black, then the porous balls with carbon black are mixed with chopped basalt fibre and mixed to form an insulation compound, and a water glass stabiliser is added to the aqueous sodium silicate solution and then a hardener is added to this solution, then the solution is stirred for 1 to 10 minutes to form a binder solution, and then the thermal insulation compound is poured into the binder solution while constantly stirring, and the whole is mixed, and then the resulting mixture is poured into the application site.

Disclosed are a three-dimensional porous structure, a method of preparing the same, and applications thereof. The method includes coating a coating material including coal ash on a surface of a combustible organic particle to form a core-shell particle, wherein the core-shell particle includes a combustible organic particle core, and a coating shell covering at least a portion of the combustible organic particle surface; mixing a plurality of the core-shell particles with an organic or inorganic binder to form a three-dimensional structure in which the core-shell particles are bonded to each other; and performing thermal treatment of the three-dimensional structure, wherein in the thermal treatment of the three-dimensional structure, at least portion of the combustible organic particle in the core-shell particle is removed away, thereby forming a hollow inside the particle core, and forming a number of fine pores in the coating shell.

Disclosed are a three-dimensional porous structure, a method of preparing the same, and applications thereof. The method includes coating a coating material including coal ash on a surface of a combustible organic particle to form a core-shell particle, wherein the core-shell particle includes a combustible organic particle core, and a coating shell covering at least a portion of the combustible organic particle surface; mixing a plurality of the core-shell particles with an organic or inorganic binder to form a three-dimensional structure in which the core-shell particles are bonded to each other; and performing thermal treatment of the three-dimensional structure, wherein in the thermal treatment of the three-dimensional structure, at least portion of the combustible organic particle in the core-shell particle is removed away, thereby forming a hollow inside the particle core, and forming a number of fine pores in the coating shell.

An uncalcined geopolymer-based refractory material is provided, comprising a matrix of a geopolymer obtainable by polymerization of a mixture consisting of mineral powder, fly ash, and metakaolin; and SiC whiskers embedded in the geopolymer matrix. The material has excellent mechanical properties and high resistance to high temperatures and exhibits a ductile fracture mechanism instead of a brittle fracture mechanism.

An uncalcined geopolymer-based refractory material is provided, comprising a matrix of a geopolymer obtainable by polymerization of a mixture consisting of mineral powder, fly ash, and metakaolin; and SiC whiskers embedded in the geopolymer matrix. The material has excellent mechanical properties and high resistance to high temperatures and exhibits a ductile fracture mechanism instead of a brittle fracture mechanism.

A hybrid additive for use in construction materials such as asphalt and concrete is disclosed. The additive includes pellets formed of a plastic or polymer material, and one or more of fibers, pozzolans, nano-carbon tubes, glass, recycled asphalt shingles (RAS), liquid anti-strip, hydrated lime, rejuvenators, cementitious material, and ground tire rubber. Also disclosed are hybrid composite materials useful as paving and building materials, and methods of making the same. The hybrid additives were found to maintain the positive performance aspects of typical asphalt and concrete mixtures, while improving the performance of the mixtures by increasing bonding and strength within the mixture—and therefore increasing useable life and lowering costs.

A hybrid additive for use in construction materials such as asphalt and concrete is disclosed. The additive includes pellets formed of a plastic or polymer material, and one or more of fibers, pozzolans, nano-carbon tubes, glass, recycled asphalt shingles (RAS), liquid anti-strip, hydrated lime, rejuvenators, cementitious material, and ground tire rubber. Also disclosed are hybrid composite materials useful as paving and building materials, and methods of making the same. The hybrid additives were found to maintain the positive performance aspects of typical asphalt and concrete mixtures, while improving the performance of the mixtures by increasing bonding and strength within the mixture—and therefore increasing useable life and lowering costs.