A system and associated methods for processing unhardened concrete are disclosed. It at least one embodiment, the system for processing unhardened concrete includes a means to estimate a quantity of returned concrete; a foam adder to add foam to the quantity of returned concrete; a mixer to mix the added foam and returned concrete together to create treated concrete; a discharger to discharge the treated concrete; a discharge area configured in which to allow the treated concrete to set and harden; a converter to convert the hardened treated concrete into a particulate or aggregate form; and a user to determine the specific utilization of the particulate or aggregate form loose material.

The present invention is a system for repairing asphalt. The system includes a discrete quantity of an asphalt repair composition located within a container and an induction heater. The composition is a combination of an asphalt binder, aggregate particles, and induction particles. The average diameter of the induction particles ranges from approximately 10% above to approximately 10% below an average diameter of the aggregate particles used in the composition. The induction heater heats the composition within the container by generating a magnetic field that penetrates the container. The magnetic field creates eddy currents in the induction particles. These eddy currents in turn heat the composition. Because the induction particles are distributed throughout the composition, the composition heats rapidly.

The present invention is a system for repairing asphalt. The system includes a discrete quantity of an asphalt repair composition located within a container and an induction heater. The composition is a combination of an asphalt binder, aggregate particles, and induction particles. The average diameter of the induction particles ranges from approximately 10% above to approximately 10% below an average diameter of the aggregate particles used in the composition. The induction heater heats the composition within the container by generating a magnetic field that penetrates the container. The magnetic field creates eddy currents in the induction particles. These eddy currents in turn heat the composition. Because the induction particles are distributed throughout the composition, the composition heats rapidly.

The invention relates to a composition for forming a casting mold, the composition containing heat-resistant inorganic particles; a waterglass-based binder; a surfactant; a silicon-containing compound; activated carbon powder and grain; and water; and the silicon-containing compound contains at least one of metal silicon and ferrosilicon.

The invention relates to a composition for forming a casting mold, the composition containing heat-resistant inorganic particles; a waterglass-based binder; a surfactant; a silicon-containing compound; activated carbon powder and grain; and water; and the silicon-containing compound contains at least one of metal silicon and ferrosilicon.

The invention provides novel methods and novel additive compositions and use thereof in a wide range of concrete production for improving properties of concrete materials, such as durability and aestheticity. The methods and compositions of the invention may be applied in a variety of cement and concrete components in the infrastructure, construction, pavement and landscaping industries.

The invention provides novel methods and novel additive compositions and use thereof in a wide range of concrete production for improving properties of concrete materials, such as durability and aestheticity. The methods and compositions of the invention may be applied in a variety of cement and concrete components in the infrastructure, construction, pavement and landscaping industries.

A method of sealing propagating cracks in a sensor-laden cement sheath comprising the steps of monitoring an electrical resistivity of the sensor-laden cement sheath to produce a measured value, wherein the sensor-laden cement sheath comprises a conductive sensor, an on-demand expanding agent, and a cement, activating a heat source when the measured value of the electrical resistivity is greater than an activation threshold, increasing a temperature of the sensor-laden cement sheath with the heat source to an activation temperature, wherein the activation temperature is operable to initiate a reaction between the on-demand expanding agent and water, wherein the activation temperature is greater than a formation temperature, reacting the on-demand expanding agent with water to produce a swelled agent, wherein the swelled agent occupies a greater volume than the on-demand expanding agent, and sealing the propagating cracks in the sensor-laden cement sheath with the swelled agent.

A method of sealing propagating cracks in a sensor-laden cement sheath comprising the steps of monitoring an electrical resistivity of the sensor-laden cement sheath to produce a measured value, wherein the sensor-laden cement sheath comprises a conductive sensor, an on-demand expanding agent, and a cement, activating a heat source when the measured value of the electrical resistivity is greater than an activation threshold, increasing a temperature of the sensor-laden cement sheath with the heat source to an activation temperature, wherein the activation temperature is operable to initiate a reaction between the on-demand expanding agent and water, wherein the activation temperature is greater than a formation temperature, reacting the on-demand expanding agent with water to produce a swelled agent, wherein the swelled agent occupies a greater volume than the on-demand expanding agent, and sealing the propagating cracks in the sensor-laden cement sheath with the swelled agent.

The invention provides novel aerated composite materials made from a carbonatable calcium silicate composition, and formulations and methods of manufacture and use thereof, in particular, the use of novel additive mineral compositions in the form of magnesium, magnesium salts or magnesium oxides, to improve physical chemical properties of low density concrete materials. The low density, aerated material is comprised of calcium carbonate (CaCO.sub.3) and silica (SiO.sub.2), as cured products of carbonatable calcium silicate compositions.