A grout used in horizontal directional drilling including a silica material present in an amount of from about 50% to about 70%, bentonite present in an amount of from about 20% to about 30%, a carbon source present in an amount of from about 5% to about 15%, an inorganic alkaline material present in an amount of from about 0% to about 3%, a fluid loss additive present in an amount of from about 0% to about 1%, a polymeric dispersant present in an amount of from about 0% to about 1%, and a polymeric flow enhancer present in an amount of from about 0% to about 0.5%, all by weight of the grout composition. Methods utilizing the grout include placing conduit in a hole, forming the grout slurry, and placing the grout slurry adjacent to the conduct.

A grout used in horizontal directional drilling including a silica material present in an amount of from about 50% to about 70%, bentonite present in an amount of from about 20% to about 30%, a carbon source present in an amount of from about 5% to about 15%, an inorganic alkaline material present in an amount of from about 0% to about 3%, a fluid loss additive present in an amount of from about 0% to about 1%, a polymeric dispersant present in an amount of from about 0% to about 1%, and a polymeric flow enhancer present in an amount of from about 0% to about 0.5%, all by weight of the grout composition. Methods utilizing the grout include placing conduit in a hole, forming the grout slurry, and placing the grout slurry adjacent to the conduct.

Optical analysis systems and methods that utilize integrated computational elements (“ICE”) may be useful for characterizing dry cements and determining cement slurry additives suitable for use therewith. For example, a method may include optically interacting a dry cement with an ICE configured to detect a characteristic of the dry cement; generating a plurality of output signals corresponding to the characteristic of the dry cement detected by the ICE; receiving and processing the plurality of output signals with a signal processor to yield a value for the characteristic of the dry cement; and determining at least one of a composition and a concentration of a cement slurry additive for use in combination with the dry cement based on the value of the characteristic of the dry cement.

Optical analysis systems and methods that utilize integrated computational elements (“ICE”) may be useful for characterizing dry cements and determining cement slurry additives suitable for use therewith. For example, a method may include optically interacting a dry cement with an ICE configured to detect a characteristic of the dry cement; generating a plurality of output signals corresponding to the characteristic of the dry cement detected by the ICE; receiving and processing the plurality of output signals with a signal processor to yield a value for the characteristic of the dry cement; and determining at least one of a composition and a concentration of a cement slurry additive for use in combination with the dry cement based on the value of the characteristic of the dry cement.

The invention relates to a cementitious powder blend comprising, based on total weight—45-90 wt % Portland cement; pref. 50-80 wt %—0-25 wt % siliceous fly ash; pref. 5-20 wt %—0-25 wt % limestone; pref. 5-20 wt %—5-30 wt % polyvinylalcohol, pref. 5-15 wt %. The PVA preferably has—a size distribution with D.sub.10=170-270 μm, D50=370-450 μm. D.sub.90=690-850 μm and D.sub.100=1000-1300 μm; and—an ester value in the range of 1-250 mg KOH/g, as determinable by EN-ISO 3681:1998 and/or wherein the polyvinyl alcohol has a viscosity of a 4% aqueous solution at 20° C. in the range of 1-40 mPa.Math.s, as determinable by EN-ISO 12058-1:2002. A substantial part of the PVA may be present in the form of hybrid particles composed of Portland cement and the polyvinylalcohol. Further, the invention relates to concrete composed of the cementitious powder blend, water and aggregate as well as flexible concrete products made therefrom. The cementitious powder blend is used for—for the preparation of a paving of a road or other infrastructural element; for the preparation of a base course for a road or other infrastructural element; for the manufacture of a floor of a building; for the repair of a concrete structure; for grouting; or—as an injection into a concrete structure.

The invention relates to a cementitious powder blend comprising, based on total weight—45-90 wt % Portland cement; pref. 50-80 wt %—0-25 wt % siliceous fly ash; pref. 5-20 wt %—0-25 wt % limestone; pref. 5-20 wt %—5-30 wt % polyvinylalcohol, pref. 5-15 wt %. The PVA preferably has—a size distribution with D.sub.10=170-270 μm, D50=370-450 μm. D.sub.90=690-850 μm and D.sub.100=1000-1300 μm; and—an ester value in the range of 1-250 mg KOH/g, as determinable by EN-ISO 3681:1998 and/or wherein the polyvinyl alcohol has a viscosity of a 4% aqueous solution at 20° C. in the range of 1-40 mPa.Math.s, as determinable by EN-ISO 12058-1:2002. A substantial part of the PVA may be present in the form of hybrid particles composed of Portland cement and the polyvinylalcohol. Further, the invention relates to concrete composed of the cementitious powder blend, water and aggregate as well as flexible concrete products made therefrom. The cementitious powder blend is used for—for the preparation of a paving of a road or other infrastructural element; for the preparation of a base course for a road or other infrastructural element; for the manufacture of a floor of a building; for the repair of a concrete structure; for grouting; or—as an injection into a concrete structure.

Disclosed herein are concrete and asphalt crack filler compounds and methods for utilizing them. According to some embodiments, the crack filler compounds can include (1) silica sand, (2) ethylene vinyl acetate, (3) and cement, and/or (4) color additives. According to some embodiments, a method of utilizing one of the compounds can include the steps of (1) obtaining a surface crack filler compound, (2) depositing the surface crack filler compound into a surface crack (e.g., concrete, asphalt, etc.), and (3) depositing water onto the surface crack filler compound to cause the surface crack filler compound to solidify and fill the surface crack. Additionally, and according to some embodiments, the method can further include, prior to depositing the surface crack filler compound into the surface crack: removing debris from the surface crack using at least one of a brush, pressurized air, or pressurized water.

Disclosed herein are concrete and asphalt crack filler compounds and methods for utilizing them. According to some embodiments, the crack filler compounds can include (1) silica sand, (2) ethylene vinyl acetate, (3) and cement, and/or (4) color additives. According to some embodiments, a method of utilizing one of the compounds can include the steps of (1) obtaining a surface crack filler compound, (2) depositing the surface crack filler compound into a surface crack (e.g., concrete, asphalt, etc.), and (3) depositing water onto the surface crack filler compound to cause the surface crack filler compound to solidify and fill the surface crack. Additionally, and according to some embodiments, the method can further include, prior to depositing the surface crack filler compound into the surface crack: removing debris from the surface crack using at least one of a brush, pressurized air, or pressurized water.

The invention relates to processes for making improved ultra-high performance concrete with plasma-treated inclusions and articles made from the same. The invention includes a process for producing silicon carbide and multiwalled carbon nanotubes by heating agricultural waste husks in an inert atmosphere to a temperature higher than 1300 degrees C. to obtain a mixture containing silicon carbide and MWCNTs, and treating the mixture to extract the silicon carbide and MWCNTs for use as microinclusions in ultra high performance concrete.

The invention relates to processes for making improved ultra-high performance concrete with plasma-treated inclusions and articles made from the same. The invention includes a process for producing silicon carbide and multiwalled carbon nanotubes by heating agricultural waste husks in an inert atmosphere to a temperature higher than 1300 degrees C. to obtain a mixture containing silicon carbide and MWCNTs, and treating the mixture to extract the silicon carbide and MWCNTs for use as microinclusions in ultra high performance concrete.