An activating composition, in particular for concrete or industrial mortars containing hydraulic binder and/or pozzolanic material, comprises at least 40% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight of calcium carbonate and/or magnesium carbonate particles having a d80 less than or equal to 15 .Math.m, and a d50 less than or equal to 4 .Math.m, and at least 1.5% by weight and up to 60% by weight of at least one alkaline metal salt. A binder composition is also provided, the binder composition comprising the activating composition and a component C comprising at least one hydraulic binder. The binder composition and at least one aggregate are combined to form a dry concrete or industrial mortar composition. Also provided is a process for preparing wet concrete or mortar compositions and hardened concrete or industrial mortar compositions obtained therefrom.

A method for the continuous production of a mineral foam of which the density in the dry state (d) is from 40 to 600 kg/m.sup.3, includes (i) mixing cement; a water reducing agent; 0.5 to 10%, % by weight with respect to the total weight of cement, of ultrafine particles having a liquid-solid contact angle comprised from 30° to 140°, and of which the D50 is from 10 to 600 nm; water, with a water/cement weight ratio from 0.3 to 2.5; (ii) adding to the mixture from 0.5 to 10% of a pore-forming agent, % by weight with respect to the weight of cement; (iii) applying the mixture obtained at step (ii) on a support; (iv) leaving the mixture to expand on the support.

A free-flowing powder composition includes at least one substrate having pores and an external surface between said pores, said surface functionalized with at least one accelerator for a hydraulic setting composition, said accelerator being liquid, hygroscopic, or deliquescent, and wherein after 15 minutes of immersion of free-flowing powder composition in water at 20° C. at least 80% in weight of said accelerator is solubilized, said free-flowing powder composition being immersed in an amount of water sufficient so that the saturation concentration of said accelerator cannot be reached. There is also a method for preparing said free-flowing powder composition. The use of said free-flowing powder composition as an additive for mortar or concrete composition provides an accelerating effect, an anti-ageing effect and an anti-dusting effect. A dry mortar or concrete composition includes a hydraulic binder, said free-flowing powder composition and a granulate, wet mortar or concrete composition and hardened body obtained therefrom.

Fast-setting Portland cement compositions for filling voids, such as mine shafts and excavated utility trenches, are described. The Portland cement compositions set quickly and are useful when traditional slow setting compositions are less desirable. The acceleration of the set time results from the addition of dry calcium chloride to the Portland cement composition. The compositions consist of Portland cement, dry calcium chloride, water and sometimes preformed cellular foam. Some compositions can include also include fly ash. The compositions may have a compressive strength of between 0 psi and 30 psi after 4 hours, a compressive strength of between 30 psi and 120 psi after 24 hours, a compressive strength of between 200 psi and 500 psi after 28 days, a penetration resistance of between 0.1 tsf and 5 tsf after 10 hours, a penetration resistance of between 0.8 tsf and 10 tsf after 24 hours, and a removability modulus of between 0.2 and 1.0 after 28 days. Also disclosed are methods of filling a void with fast-setting Portland cement.

Corrosion-resistant refractory binder compositions may be formed with a calcium ion source, high-alumina refractory aluminosilicate pozzolan, and water. Any one or more of such components may individually be non-cementitious. Examples of high-alumina refractory aluminosilicate pozzolan include crushed firebrick; firebrick grog; and mixtures of silicate and any one or more of corundum, high-alumina ceramic, and bauxite; refractory mortar; fire clay; mullite; fused mullite; and combinations thereof, among others. A binder composition may be mixed with sufficient amount of water to form a slurry, which slurry may be introduced into a subterranean formation (e.g., via a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation). A plurality of the non-cementitious components may react in the presence of water when exposed to suitable conditions so as to enable the binder composition to set. Such compositions, once set, may exhibit enhanced corrosion and/or heat resistance as compared to other binder compositions.

Corrosion-resistant refractory binder compositions may be formed with a calcium ion source, high-alumina refractory aluminosilicate pozzolan, and water. Any one or more of such components may individually be non-cementitious. Examples of high-alumina refractory aluminosilicate pozzolan include crushed firebrick; firebrick grog; and mixtures of silicate and any one or more of corundum, high-alumina ceramic, and bauxite; refractory mortar; fire clay; mullite; fused mullite; and combinations thereof, among others. A binder composition may be mixed with sufficient amount of water to form a slurry, which slurry may be introduced into a subterranean formation (e.g., via a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation). A plurality of the non-cementitious components may react in the presence of water when exposed to suitable conditions so as to enable the binder composition to set. Such compositions, once set, may exhibit enhanced corrosion and/or heat resistance as compared to other binder compositions.

Calcium silicate-based cements and concretes are disclosed, which result in concrete compositions that have an improved strength development. A cement product includes a plurality of particles of a carbonatable calcium silicate cement and a first additive; wherein, the first additive is an organic molecule with at least one primary, secondary or tertiary amine group.

Provided herein are compositions, methods, and systems comprising vaterite and magnesium oxide.

Mineral particles may provide for wellbore fluids with tailorable properties and capabilities. In some instances, a dry wellbore additive may comprise a plurality of first mineral particles having a specific gravity of about 2.6 to about 20; a plurality of second mineral particles having a specific gravity of about 5.5 to about 20; a plurality of lubricant particles having a specific gravity of about 2.6 to about 20; wherein the first mineral particles, the second mineral particles, and the lubricant particles are different; and wherein the first mineral particles, the second mineral particles, and the lubricant particles have a multiparticle specific gravity of about 3 to about 20.

Mineral particles may provide for wellbore fluids with tailorable properties and capabilities. In some instances, a dry wellbore additive may comprise a plurality of first mineral particles having a specific gravity of about 2.6 to about 20; a plurality of second mineral particles having a specific gravity of about 5.5 to about 20; a plurality of lubricant particles having a specific gravity of about 2.6 to about 20; wherein the first mineral particles, the second mineral particles, and the lubricant particles are different; and wherein the first mineral particles, the second mineral particles, and the lubricant particles have a multiparticle specific gravity of about 3 to about 20.