A concrete composition and method include a portion of fine aggregate bearing a coating of a polymer or an admixture, which may be a continuous coating layer or a layer of powdered, discrete particles embedded in a binder. The polymeric coating may be an admixture in powdered form, a super absorbent polymer (insoluble in water, but absorbing water), or another polymer such as the acrylamides, co-polymers thereof, polyacrylamides, or the like (soluble in water). The coating absorbs water, but particles are too small to form significant voids. Water is absorbed into the concrete mix in far greater proportions (e.g. w/c ratio over 0.5) improving workability, doubling workability time, and improving ultimate compressive stress (strength).

Described herein are plugging materials with polysaccharides that can be used in wellbore operations. A plugging material can include hydraulic cement, amorphous silica, polysaccharides, a retarder, clay, and an aqueous base, where the material is injectable into a wellbore. The polysaccharides can be cross-linked with borate. The retarder can be at least one of an organo phosphoric acid, a modified sulfonated styrene-maleic anhydride polymer, lignosulfonate, or a polyacrylic acid.

Described herein are plugging materials with polysaccharides that can be used in wellbore operations. A plugging material can include hydraulic cement, amorphous silica, polysaccharides, a retarder, clay, and an aqueous base, where the material is injectable into a wellbore. The polysaccharides can be cross-linked with borate. The retarder can be at least one of an organo phosphoric acid, a modified sulfonated styrene-maleic anhydride polymer, lignosulfonate, or a polyacrylic acid.

A composite cementitious feedstock includes mineral rock agglutinates, super absorbent polymer (SAP) particles, cement particles, and a binder. Each of the agglutinates has irregular surface regions and cavities originating at the irregular surface regions. At least a portion of the SAP particles and cement particles are disposed on the irregular surface regions and in the cavities. The binder coheres the agglutinates, SAP particles, and cement particles.

A composite cementitious feedstock includes mineral rock agglutinates, super absorbent polymer (SAP) particles, cement particles, and a binder. Each of the agglutinates has irregular surface regions and cavities originating at the irregular surface regions. At least a portion of the SAP particles and cement particles are disposed on the irregular surface regions and in the cavities. The binder coheres the agglutinates, SAP particles, and cement particles.

An admixture for mineral binder compositions, in particular an after-treatment agent for mineral binder compositions, including at least one water-absorbing substance and at least one shrinkage reducer.

An admixture for mineral binder compositions, in particular an after-treatment agent for mineral binder compositions, including at least one water-absorbing substance and at least one shrinkage reducer.

A cement mixture for applying to a ceramic honeycomb body that includes: (i) inorganic ceramic particles; (ii) an inorganic binder; (iii) an organic binder containing a hydrophilic polymer and a hydrophilic additive comprising a polymer with a different composition than the composition of the hydrophilic polymer, the additive having a weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w) of at least 1,000,000 g/mol; and (iv) an aqueous liquid vehicle.

A cement mixture for applying to a ceramic honeycomb body that includes: (i) inorganic ceramic particles; (ii) an inorganic binder; (iii) an organic binder containing a hydrophilic polymer and a hydrophilic additive comprising a polymer with a different composition than the composition of the hydrophilic polymer, the additive having a weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w) of at least 1,000,000 g/mol; and (iv) an aqueous liquid vehicle.

Composite cement compositions and slurries for treating a well following a water-based wellbore operation are provided and comprise cement comprising at least one of cement particles and cementitious material, water, and water swellable particulates that are embedded in the cement, derived from an elastomeric material, and present at a concentration of at least about 2% by weight of the cement but no more than about 30% by weight of the cement. Methods for treating a well drilled with a water-based drilling mud are provided and comprise pumping the composite cement compositions and slurries into the well and treating the well by allowing the composite cement compositions and slurries to set or cure after being pumped into the well.