A retarder mixture for oil and gas well cementing includes a lignosulfonate compound and at least one hydrolyzed carbohydrate. A method includes blending the retarder mixture and a cement precursor to form a cement precursor mixture and introducing water into the cement precursor mixture to form a cement mixture. The cement mixture is pumped down a well and cures to form a cement sheath containing the cement precursor and the retarder mixture.

Process for preparing a composition comprising a sulfonated lignin, including: preparing a lignin-containing aqueous suspension having a solids content up to about 45 wt % and a pH greater than about 6, by mixing a lignin with water; heating the aqueous suspension between about 65° C. and 160° C.; sulfonating the lignin using a sulfonating agent generating a sulfite ion and/or bisulfite ion, at a temperature of from about 90° C. to 160° C., at a sulfonation pH of from about 6 to 11 and at a molar ratio of sulfonating agent to lignin between about 0.1:1 and 1.5:1 on a sulfite to monomeric lignin sub-unit basis; and cooling the sulfonated lignin-containing resulting mixture. The sulfonated lignin, in aqueous mixture or as a powder, can be used as a dispersant in several products including for instance concrete, grout, mortar, oil-well cement, cement board, gypsum wallboard, agricultural products, drilling fluids, coal slurries.

Process for preparing a composition comprising a sulfonated lignin, including: preparing a lignin-containing aqueous suspension having a solids content up to about 45 wt % and a pH greater than about 6, by mixing a lignin with water; heating the aqueous suspension between about 65° C. and 160° C.; sulfonating the lignin using a sulfonating agent generating a sulfite ion and/or bisulfite ion, at a temperature of from about 90° C. to 160° C., at a sulfonation pH of from about 6 to 11 and at a molar ratio of sulfonating agent to lignin between about 0.1:1 and 1.5:1 on a sulfite to monomeric lignin sub-unit basis; and cooling the sulfonated lignin-containing resulting mixture. The sulfonated lignin, in aqueous mixture or as a powder, can be used as a dispersant in several products including for instance concrete, grout, mortar, oil-well cement, cement board, gypsum wallboard, agricultural products, drilling fluids, coal slurries.

Process for preparing a composition comprising a sulfonated lignin, including: preparing a lignin-containing aqueous suspension having a solids content up to about 45 wt % and a pH greater than about 6, by mixing a lignin with water; heating the aqueous suspension between about 65° C. and 160° C.; sulfonating the lignin using a sulfonating agent generating a sulfite ion and/or bisulfite ion, at a temperature of from about 90° C. to 160° C., at a sulfonation pH of from about 6 to 11 and at a molar ratio of sulfonating agent to lignin between about 0.1:1 and 1.5:1 on a sulfite to monomeric lignin sub-unit basis; and cooling the sulfonated lignin-containing resulting mixture. The sulfonated lignin, in aqueous mixture or as a powder, can be used as a dispersant in several products including for instance concrete, grout, mortar, oil-well cement, cement board, gypsum wallboard, agricultural products, drilling fluids, coal slurries.

The invention relates to a method (100) for selecting the composition of a construction material including an excavated clay soil, said construction material composition to include deflocculating agent and activating agent quantities adapted to the excavated clay soil, said method including a step of receiving (130) a measured value of at least one physicochemical property of an excavated clay soil, and a step of selecting (170) a deflocculating agent quantity and an activating agent quantity adapted to the excavated clay soil. In addition, the invention also relates to a method (200) for calibrating a calculation algorithm for determining the composition of a site construction material, to a construction material formed from an excavated clay soil, and to a system (400) for preparing a construction material including an excavated clay soil.

The invention relates to a method (100) for selecting the composition of a construction material including an excavated clay soil, said construction material composition to include deflocculating agent and activating agent quantities adapted to the excavated clay soil, said method including a step of receiving (130) a measured value of at least one physicochemical property of an excavated clay soil, and a step of selecting (170) a deflocculating agent quantity and an activating agent quantity adapted to the excavated clay soil. In addition, the invention also relates to a method (200) for calibrating a calculation algorithm for determining the composition of a site construction material, to a construction material formed from an excavated clay soil, and to a system (400) for preparing a construction material including an excavated clay soil.

In a process for manufacturing a component for an emissions treatment unit, green ceramic product is extruded through a die to form an extrusion having a honeycomb substrate structure with an array of parallel, linear tubular cells extending along its length, the cells bounded by walls dividing adjacent cells from one another. A ceramic unit is obtained by cutting off, curing and firing a length of the extrusion a length of the extrusion. Following the firing, a mixture of a flowable, uncured curable material and a particulate metal component is injected from an end of the ceramic unit into selected ones of the cells so as to block the selected cells over at least a part of their lengths while maintaining all of the walls of the ceramic unit. The injected mixture is then cured to render it solid.

In a process for manufacturing a component for an emissions treatment unit, green ceramic product is extruded through a die to form an extrusion having a honeycomb substrate structure with an array of parallel, linear tubular cells extending along its length, the cells bounded by walls dividing adjacent cells from one another. A ceramic unit is obtained by cutting off, curing and firing a length of the extrusion a length of the extrusion. Following the firing, a mixture of a flowable, uncured curable material and a particulate metal component is injected from an end of the ceramic unit into selected ones of the cells so as to block the selected cells over at least a part of their lengths while maintaining all of the walls of the ceramic unit. The injected mixture is then cured to render it solid.

A set control composition for cementitious systems comprises (a) an amine-glyoxylic acid condensate, and (b) at least one of (i) a borate source and (ii) a carbonate source. The carbonate source is selected from inorganic carbonates having an aqueous solubility of 0.1 gL.sup.−1 or more, and organic carbonates. The set control composition improves workability of cementitious systems for prolonged periods of time without compromising early compressive strength. Due to the retarding action of the set control composition, the dosage of dispersant(s) necessary to obtain a desired flowability of the cementitious system can be reduced.

A set control composition for cementitious systems comprises (a) an amine-glyoxylic acid condensate, and (b) at least one of (i) a borate source and (ii) a carbonate source. The carbonate source is selected from inorganic carbonates having an aqueous solubility of 0.1 gL.sup.−1 or more, and organic carbonates. The set control composition improves workability of cementitious systems for prolonged periods of time without compromising early compressive strength. Due to the retarding action of the set control composition, the dosage of dispersant(s) necessary to obtain a desired flowability of the cementitious system can be reduced.