The present invention relates to a polymer latex obtained by aqueous emulsion polymerization of a mixture of ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising a) vinyl aromatic compounds; b) conjugated dienes; c) hydroxyalkyl esters of ethylenically unsaturated acids in an amount of 2 to 10 wt.-% based on the total weight of monomers; and d) ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids or salts thereof in an amount of 0 to 0.15 wt.-% based on the total weight of monomers;
wherein the weight ratio of vinyl aromatic compounds to conjugated dienes is at least 1.3:1 and the polymer latex comprises 2 to 10 wt.-% based on total weight of monomers of non-ionic surfactants having an HLB of 17 to 19 and to constructions materials, preferably cementitious compositions comprising same.

The present invention relates to a mechanically carboxylated fly ash which has a BET surface area of less than 50 m.sup.2/g and a CO.sub.2 content of more than 1 wt. %. The invention further relates to methods of its production and uses thereof, for example as a filler. The invention further relates to compositions comprising the mechanically carboxylated fly ash and a further material selected from the group consisting of asphalt, cement, polymers and combinations thereof and methods of their production.

The present invention relates to a mechanically carboxylated fly ash which has a BET surface area of less than 50 m.sup.2/g and a CO.sub.2 content of more than 1 wt. %. The invention further relates to methods of its production and uses thereof, for example as a filler. The invention further relates to compositions comprising the mechanically carboxylated fly ash and a further material selected from the group consisting of asphalt, cement, polymers and combinations thereof and methods of their production.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising a mechanochemically carboxylated mineral filler and a binder, wherein the binder is cement and/or asphalt and wherein the filler is obtainable by mechanochemically carboxylating a silicate mineral. The invention further relates to a method for preparing said compositions. The invention further relates to a method for preparing concrete from these compositions and to the concrete obtainable from said method for preparing concrete. The invention also relates to uses of the mechanochemically carboxylated mineral filler, for example as a filler in asphalt or cement.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising a mechanochemically carboxylated mineral filler and a binder, wherein the binder is cement and/or asphalt and wherein the filler is obtainable by mechanochemically carboxylating a silicate mineral. The invention further relates to a method for preparing said compositions. The invention further relates to a method for preparing concrete from these compositions and to the concrete obtainable from said method for preparing concrete. The invention also relates to uses of the mechanochemically carboxylated mineral filler, for example as a filler in asphalt or cement.

The present invention provides a modified diene copolymer composition having a modified A-B-C or C-B-A copolymer comprising at least one conjugated diene monomer and at least one unsubstituted vinyl aromatic monomer and at least one substituted vinyl aromatic monomer, wherein each block or segment in the modified A-B-C or C-B-A copolymer is either a homopolymer or a copolymer comprising at least one conjugated diene monomer and/or at least one unsubstituted vinyl aromatic monomer and/or at least one substituted vinyl aromatic monomer, wherein any of the copolymers have a distribution configuration that is tapered, counter tapered, random or controlled, and wherein any of the homopolymers or the copolymers comprising at least one conjugated diene monomer and/or at least one unsubstituted vinyl aromatic monomer may be in-chain and/or chain-end modified with at least one unit of at least one substituted vinyl aromatic monomer; optionally having a block copolymer made from the modified A-B-C or C-B-A copolymer, wherein the block copolymer comprises at least two of the modified A-B-C or C-B-A copolymers. The invention also provides a process for making the modified diene copolymer composition.

Use of a comb polymer as an inerting agent for non-swelling layer-silicates, the comb polymer including: a) at least one poly(alkylene oxide) side chain-bearing monomer unit M1 without ionic groups, b) optionally at least one cationic monomer unit MC, wherein the molar ratio of the cationic monomer units MC to the side chain-bearing monomer units M1 is equal to or less than 0.1, preferably less than 0.05, c) optionally at least one anionic monomer unit MA, wherein the molar ratio of the anionic monomer units MA to the side chain-bearing monomer units M1 is less than 1, preferably equal to or less than 0.5, and c) optionally at least one non-ionic monomer unit M3, wherein the molar ratio of the non-ionic monomer units M3 to the side chain-bearing monomer units M1 is less than 7, preferably equal to or less than 3.

A continuous flexible cement sheet roll for coating construction slabs, is disclosed. The sheet comprising a flexible cement layer, which has a thickness of between 0.3 to 6 mm, such as between 0.5 and 5 mm, and which comprises a) essentially inorganic mortar and b) up to 15% polymeric binder. When the amount of a component in a mixture is expressed in % units, the weight % of the component relative to the weight of the whole mixture is intended. The flexible cement sheet roll of the invention comprises, a reinforcing layer of a thickness lower than the thickness of said cement layer, selected from films of a nonwoven fabrics, layers of organic or inorganic fibers, polymer webs, chop strand mat, and fiberglass mats, among others.

The present invention is a ready-mixed, drying-type joint compound including an alkali sensitive component and a pH buffer system of a weak acid and its conjugate base to maintain pH of 8-12, typically for 120 days or more at 75° F. in a sealed container.

Embodiments of the disclosure include swellable smart gel sealants and methods of using smart gel sealants. In certain embodiments, the smart gel sealants reversibly swell when exposed to a certain trigger, such as carbonic acid and/or sulfuric acid. In specific embodiments, the smart gel is comprised within a cement composition.