Methods of obtaining aggregates and/or pulverulent mineral material from a starting material comprising hardened mineral binder and aggregates utilizing process auxiliaries selected from the group consisting of polycarboxylate ethers and/or esters (PCE), glycols, organic amines, especially alkanolamines, ammonium salts of organic amines with carboxylic acids, surfactants, especially nonionic surfactants, gemini surfactants, calcium stearate, alkoxylated phosphonic or phosphoric esters, propane-1,3-diol, carboxylic acids, sulfonated amino alcohols, boric acid, salts of boric acid, borax, salts of phosphoric acid, gluconate, iron sulfate, tin sulfate, antimony salts, alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts, lignosulfonates, glycerol, melamine, melamine sulfonates, water absorbents in the form of a superabsorbent polymer or in the form of a sheet silicate, anticaking agents, sugars, sugar acids, sugar alcohols, phosphates, phosphonates, and mixtures thereof.

Methods of obtaining aggregates and/or pulverulent mineral material from a starting material comprising hardened mineral binder and aggregates utilizing process auxiliaries selected from the group consisting of polycarboxylate ethers and/or esters (PCE), glycols, organic amines, especially alkanolamines, ammonium salts of organic amines with carboxylic acids, surfactants, especially nonionic surfactants, gemini surfactants, calcium stearate, alkoxylated phosphonic or phosphoric esters, propane-1,3-diol, carboxylic acids, sulfonated amino alcohols, boric acid, salts of boric acid, borax, salts of phosphoric acid, gluconate, iron sulfate, tin sulfate, antimony salts, alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts, lignosulfonates, glycerol, melamine, melamine sulfonates, water absorbents in the form of a superabsorbent polymer or in the form of a sheet silicate, anticaking agents, sugars, sugar acids, sugar alcohols, phosphates, phosphonates, and mixtures thereof.

A composition is provided. The composition consists essentially of (a) 1 to 30 wt. % of a hydrogen phosphate selected from the group consisting of mono and dihydrogen phosphates of sodium, potassium, ammonium, magnesium, calcium, aluminium, zinc, iron, cobalt, and copper; (b) 1 to 40 wt. % of a compound selected from the group consisting of oxides, hydroxides, and oxide hydrates of magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, and copper; (c) 40 to 95 wt. % of a particulate filler selected from the group consisting of glass; mono-, oligo- and poly-phosphates of magnesium, calcium, barium and aluminum; calcium sulfate; barium sulfate; simple and complex silicates; simple and complex aluminates; simple and complex titanates; simple and complex zirconates; zirconium dioxide; titanium dioxide; aluminum oxide; silicon dioxide; silicon carbide; aluminum nitride; boron nitride and silicon nitride; and (d) 0 to 25 wt. % of a constituent that differs from constituents (a) to (c).

A composition is provided. The composition consists essentially of (a) 1 to 30 wt. % of a hydrogen phosphate selected from the group consisting of mono and dihydrogen phosphates of sodium, potassium, ammonium, magnesium, calcium, aluminium, zinc, iron, cobalt, and copper; (b) 1 to 40 wt. % of a compound selected from the group consisting of oxides, hydroxides, and oxide hydrates of magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, and copper; (c) 40 to 95 wt. % of a particulate filler selected from the group consisting of glass; mono-, oligo- and poly-phosphates of magnesium, calcium, barium and aluminum; calcium sulfate; barium sulfate; simple and complex silicates; simple and complex aluminates; simple and complex titanates; simple and complex zirconates; zirconium dioxide; titanium dioxide; aluminum oxide; silicon dioxide; silicon carbide; aluminum nitride; boron nitride and silicon nitride; and (d) 0 to 25 wt. % of a constituent that differs from constituents (a) to (c).

A composition is provided. The composition consists essentially of (a) 1 to 30 wt. % of a hydrogen phosphate selected from the group consisting of mono and dihydrogen phosphates of sodium, potassium, ammonium, magnesium, calcium, aluminium, zinc, iron, cobalt, and copper; (b) 1 to 40 wt. % of a compound selected from the group consisting of oxides, hydroxides, and oxide hydrates of magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, and copper; (c) 40 to 95 wt. % of a particulate filler selected from the group consisting of glass; mono-, oligo- and poly-phosphates of magnesium, calcium, barium and aluminum; calcium sulfate; barium sulfate; simple and complex silicates; simple and complex aluminates; simple and complex titanates; simple and complex zirconates; zirconium dioxide; titanium dioxide; aluminum oxide; silicon dioxide; silicon carbide; aluminum nitride; boron nitride and silicon nitride; and (d) 0 to 25 wt. % of a constituent that differs from constituents (a) to (c).

Examples of new polymer-modified cement formulations with self-healing capability at ambient temperature are described. These polymer-modified cements can be readily mixed with typical fine and coarse aggregates to build new concrete structures. One example of such a formulation includes a concrete comprising a MBA-BDA polymer having bond forming chemical functionality configured to form a bonding matrix between the polymer and at least one component of the concrete at a temperature less than 50 degrees C. wherein the matrix obtains at least 70% recovery of compressive strength after a damage event.

Examples of new polymer-modified cement formulations with self-healing capability at ambient temperature are described. These polymer-modified cements can be readily mixed with typical fine and coarse aggregates to build new concrete structures. One example of such a formulation includes a concrete comprising a MBA-BDA polymer having bond forming chemical functionality configured to form a bonding matrix between the polymer and at least one component of the concrete at a temperature less than 50 degrees C. wherein the matrix obtains at least 70% recovery of compressive strength after a damage event.

A hydraulic binder including (in % by dry weight); A. at least 50 of at least one ground and granulated blast-furnace slag; B. more than 5 of at least one calcium aluminate cement and/or of at least one calcium sulfoaluminate cement; C. more than 5 of at least one source of sulfate ions; D. between 1 and 5 of Ca(OH).sub.2 and/or Portland cement; E. between 0.01 and 1 of at least one alkali metal carbonate; F. and at least one alkalifying reagent consisting of at least one alkali metal carbonate and/or bicarbonate, different from E; under the following conditions: (i) amount of C allows sulfate ions of C to react with B and A; (ii) the amount of F sufficiently causes a reaction with D in water resulting in a wet formulation with a pH not less than 12, for a water-to-mortar mixing rate between 10 and 35% by weight.

A hydraulic binder including (in % by dry weight); A. at least 50 of at least one ground and granulated blast-furnace slag; B. more than 5 of at least one calcium aluminate cement and/or of at least one calcium sulfoaluminate cement; C. more than 5 of at least one source of sulfate ions; D. between 1 and 5 of Ca(OH).sub.2 and/or Portland cement; E. between 0.01 and 1 of at least one alkali metal carbonate; F. and at least one alkalifying reagent consisting of at least one alkali metal carbonate and/or bicarbonate, different from E; under the following conditions: (i) amount of C allows sulfate ions of C to react with B and A; (ii) the amount of F sufficiently causes a reaction with D in water resulting in a wet formulation with a pH not less than 12, for a water-to-mortar mixing rate between 10 and 35% by weight.

In the field of decorative floor coverings, decorative panels are known having a MDF (Medium Density Board) or HDF (High Density Board) based core layer on top of which a decorative substrate is attached to provide the panels a desired appearance. The invention relates to a panel, in particular a decorative panel, a floor panel, a ceiling panel or a wall panel. The invention also relates to a floor covering consisting of a plurality of mutually coupled panels.