A cementitious nano-engineered method and resultant composite includes a modified aggregate material configured from a plurality of fine aggregate particles (FAg) particles pretreated with a graphene oxide (GO), wherein the graphene oxide (GO) is further arranged as a plurality of crosslinked structures that arranges for a refined interfacial zone (ITZ) with a thickness of 3 ?m to 10 ?m; and a water/cement (w/c) ratio content configured with the modified aggregate material. The interface of modified aggregate and a cementitious phase largely determines the mechanical properties and durability performances of cement mortar and concrete. Moreover, the methods and composites also provide for a targeted and more efficient approach to develop smart cement composites through nanoengineering of the interfacial transition zone.

Hydrophobic aggregates for use in refractory castables and gunning mixtures and methods of their preparation. The aggregates here are formed by crushing insulating fire brick and coating the resulting particles with a hydrophobic component. The hydrophobic component may be a polydimethylsiloxane having a terminal silanol group. As a result of the coating process, the coated aggregate has very low levels of alkalis. The aggregates may be used to form refractory castables that do not undergo substantial alkaline hydrolysis due to the reduced levels of alkalis. The castables made from these aggregates display superior physical properties, including lower water content, lower permanent linear change, high strength, and superior thermal conductivity/insulation properties, while at the same time possessing lower density and requiring less water to be used during castable formation. These improved properties also are observed in gunning mixtures formed from these aggregates.

Hydrophobic aggregates for use in refractory castables and gunning mixtures and methods of their preparation. The aggregates here are formed by crushing insulating fire brick and coating the resulting particles with a hydrophobic component. The hydrophobic component may be a polydimethylsiloxane having a terminal silanol group. As a result of the coating process, the coated aggregate has very low levels of alkalis. The aggregates may be used to form refractory castables that do not undergo substantial alkaline hydrolysis due to the reduced levels of alkalis. The castables made from these aggregates display superior physical properties, including lower water content, lower permanent linear change, high strength, and superior thermal conductivity/insulation properties, while at the same time possessing lower density and requiring less water to be used during castable formation. These improved properties also are observed in gunning mixtures formed from these aggregates.

The invention relates to a composition which contains modified chromate-deficient red mud, comprising a mineral composition of10 to 50 wt. % of iron compounds,12 to 35 wt. % of aluminum compounds,5 to 17 wt. % of silicon compounds,2 to 10 wt. % of titanium dioxide,0.5 to 6 wt. % of calcium compounds,0 to 1 ppm of chromium (VI) compounds, andoptionally additional unavoidable impurities. The composition, in particular the modified chromate-deficient red mud, contains a poorly soluble reducing agent for Cr(VI). In this manner, an inexpensive chemical composition is provided in particular as an iteratively functioning long-term adsorbent for pollutants in liquid, gaseous, and solid milieu. The invention further relates to a method for producing same and to uses thereof.

The invention relates to a composition which contains modified chromate-deficient red mud, comprising a mineral composition of10 to 50 wt. % of iron compounds,12 to 35 wt. % of aluminum compounds,5 to 17 wt. % of silicon compounds,2 to 10 wt. % of titanium dioxide,0.5 to 6 wt. % of calcium compounds,0 to 1 ppm of chromium (VI) compounds, andoptionally additional unavoidable impurities. The composition, in particular the modified chromate-deficient red mud, contains a poorly soluble reducing agent for Cr(VI). In this manner, an inexpensive chemical composition is provided in particular as an iteratively functioning long-term adsorbent for pollutants in liquid, gaseous, and solid milieu. The invention further relates to a method for producing same and to uses thereof.

A system and a method for generating carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced cementitious materials are provided. An exemplary method includes capturing carbon dioxide formed in while calcining cementitious precursors, converting the carbon dioxide to hydrocarbons, producing CNTs on the calcined cementitious precursors from the hydrocarbons, and forming CNT-reinforced, cementitious materials from the calcined cementitious precursors comprising the CNTs.

The present disclosure concerns expandable silica particles having a coating comprising talc powder and kaolin powder provided on the outer surface of the expandable silica particle and expandable and expanded silica particles comprising silica fume and/or ultrafine quartz silica sand beneath the surface of the particles. Methods for producing expandable and expanded silica particles are disclosed, including a method using a vibration plate and a furnace having a vibration plate for carrying out that method. The expanded silica particles have high compressive strength, substantially uniform cell size and distribution, low water absorption, and low porosity on the outer surface. They are useful as a filler in matrix materials, like concrete or epoxy, as insulation material with various binder materials, and as water filtration medium.

The present disclosure concerns expandable silica particles having a coating comprising talc powder and kaolin powder provided on the outer surface of the expandable silica particle and expandable and expanded silica particles comprising silica fume and/or ultrafine quartz silica sand beneath the surface of the particles. Methods for producing expandable and expanded silica particles are disclosed, including a method using a vibration plate and a furnace having a vibration plate for carrying out that method. The expanded silica particles have high compressive strength, substantially uniform cell size and distribution, low water absorption, and low porosity on the outer surface. They are useful as a filler in matrix materials, like concrete or epoxy, as insulation material with various binder materials, and as water filtration medium.

Fibers with crystallization seeds attached to its surface, method of making such composite fibers by surface treatment of fibers followed by either treating such fibers with premade crystallization seeds or by precipitation and direct crystallization of seeds onto pretreated fibers. Controlling and tuning the properties of inorganic binder compositions with fiber-bound crystallization seeds and thereby generating inorganic binder compositions with tailor-made characteristics.

Fibers with crystallization seeds attached to its surface, method of making such composite fibers by surface treatment of fibers followed by either treating such fibers with premade crystallization seeds or by precipitation and direct crystallization of seeds onto pretreated fibers. Controlling and tuning the properties of inorganic binder compositions with fiber-bound crystallization seeds and thereby generating inorganic binder compositions with tailor-made characteristics.