A plurality of granules comprising particulate silicate material bonded together with an inorganic binder, the inorganic binder comprising reaction product of at least alkali silicate and hardener, wherein the hardener is at least one of aluminum phosphate, amorphous aluminosilicate, fluorosilicate, Portland cement, or a calcium silicate, wherein the particulate silicate material is present as at least 50 percent by weight of each granule, based on the total weight of the respective granule, wherein each granule has a total porosity in a range from greater than 0 to 50 percent by volume, based on the total volume of the respective granule, and wherein the granules have Tumble Toughness Value of at least 70 before immersion in water and at least 40 after immersion in water at 20° C.±2° C. for two months. The granules are useful, for example, as roofing granules.

A joint compound formulation is a mixture of a clay, cellulose ethers, expanded perlite, an adhesive, limestone, water, and a surfactant. The surfactant includes an alkyl trisiloxane. In addition a foam stabilizer, sodium dodecyl diphenyl ether disulfonate, may be added to the formulation.

A joint compound formulation is a mixture of a clay, cellulose ethers, expanded perlite, an adhesive, limestone, water, and a surfactant. The surfactant includes an alkyl trisiloxane. In addition a foam stabilizer, sodium dodecyl diphenyl ether disulfonate, may be added to the formulation.

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.

Cement slurries are prepared that comprise water, a hydraulic cement, particles of an oil-absorbent particles and non-swellable hydrophobic particles. The particles are present in an amount sufficient to alter a property of a non-aqueous drilling fluid. The cement slurry is placed in a subterranean well, whereupon the slurry contacts residual drilling fluid on casing and formation surfaces. The oil-absorbent particles and hydrophobic particles in the cement slurry may reduce the mobility of the drilling fluid, thereby improving zonal isolation.

Cement slurries are prepared that comprise water, a hydraulic cement, particles of an oil-absorbent particles and non-swellable hydrophobic particles. The particles are present in an amount sufficient to alter a property of a non-aqueous drilling fluid. The cement slurry is placed in a subterranean well, whereupon the slurry contacts residual drilling fluid on casing and formation surfaces. The oil-absorbent particles and hydrophobic particles in the cement slurry may reduce the mobility of the drilling fluid, thereby improving zonal isolation.

A fluidizing composition in the form of a liquid or in the form of a powder including at least one superplasticizer chosen from polycarboxylate ethers, characterized in that it includes from 1 to 20 parts by weight of at least one aromatic hydrocarbon sulfonic acid or one of its salts chosen from alkali salts, alkaline-earth salts or one of their mixtures, for 100 parts by weight of the superplasticizer. A method for preparing such fluidizing composition, a dry mortar incorporating the fluidizing composition, as well as plasters prepared from the dry mortar are also described.

A fluidizing composition in the form of a liquid or in the form of a powder including at least one superplasticizer chosen from polycarboxylate ethers, characterized in that it includes from 1 to 20 parts by weight of at least one aromatic hydrocarbon sulfonic acid or one of its salts chosen from alkali salts, alkaline-earth salts or one of their mixtures, for 100 parts by weight of the superplasticizer. A method for preparing such fluidizing composition, a dry mortar incorporating the fluidizing composition, as well as plasters prepared from the dry mortar are also described.

The present invention provides compositions useful as a replacement for cellulose ether in cement, plaster or mortar compositions comprising i) nonionic or substantially nonionic vinyl or acrylic brush polymers having pendant or side chain polyether groups, and having a relative weight average molecular weight of from 140,000 to 50,000,000 g/mole, and ii) aromatic cofactors containing one or more phenolic groups, such as catechol tannins, phenolic resins, polyphenolics, and napthhols or, in combination, one or more aromatic groups with at least one sulfur acid group, such as naphthalene sulfonate aldehyde condensate polymers, poly(styrene-co-styrene sulfonate) copolymers, and lignin sulfonates, preferably branched cofactors, including phenolic resins, aldehyde condensate polymers and lignin sulfonates. The compositions may comprise a dry powder blend of i) and ii), one dry powder of both i) and ii), or an aqueous mixture.