Disclosed are hydrophobic finish compositions and cementitious articles made with the hydrophobic finish compositions. In some embodiments, the article is a waterproof gypsum panel surface reinforced with inorganic mineral fibers that face a flexible and hydrophobic cementitious finish possessing beneficial waterproofing properties. These waterproof gypsum panels have many uses, such as, tile backer board in wet or dry areas of buildings, exterior weather barrier panel for use as exterior sheathing, interior wall and ceiling, and roof cover board having water durability and low surface absorption. The flexible and hydrophobic cementitious finish can include fly ash, film-forming polymer, preferably silane compound (e.g., alkyl alkoxysilane), an extended flow time retention agent including either one or more carboxylic acids, salts of carboxylic acids, or mixtures thereof, and other optional additives. Preferably a pre-coated non-woven glass fiber mat is employed to provide the inorganic mineral fibers for the surface reinforcement.

A disclosed structural and light concrete includes a binding matrix and light aggregates. The binding matrix has a volume fraction from approximately 20% to approximately 50% of a concrete total volume and include: (1) a Portland Type I, II, III, IV or V cement or a mixture thereof, in a dose of at least 100 kg/m3 of concrete; (2) supplementary cementitious materials in a proportion of up to 4 times by volume of Portland cement; (3) a water component having a volume fraction relative to cement and supplementary cementitious materials in a range from approximately 0.2 to approximately 0.7; and (4) a maximum volume fraction of calcium hydroxide (CH) of approximately 10%. The light aggregates correspond to a volume fraction a range from approximately 30% to approximately 80% of the total concrete volume. Properties include increased compression resistance, decreased density, lower thermal conductivity and higher quotient of density resistance.

A disclosed structural and light concrete includes a binding matrix and light aggregates. The binding matrix has a volume fraction from approximately 20% to approximately 50% of a concrete total volume and include: (1) a Portland Type I, II, III, IV or V cement or a mixture thereof, in a dose of at least 100 kg/m3 of concrete; (2) supplementary cementitious materials in a proportion of up to 4 times by volume of Portland cement; (3) a water component having a volume fraction relative to cement and supplementary cementitious materials in a range from approximately 0.2 to approximately 0.7; and (4) a maximum volume fraction of calcium hydroxide (CH) of approximately 10%. The light aggregates correspond to a volume fraction a range from approximately 30% to approximately 80% of the total concrete volume. Properties include increased compression resistance, decreased density, lower thermal conductivity and higher quotient of density resistance.

A cement composition including a hydraulic cement material, a latent-hydraulic cement material, and a non-hydraulic cement material. Also provided is a method including combining, at a jobsite, the cement composition comprising the hydraulic cement material, the latent-hydraulic cement material, and the non-hydraulic cement material with water to provide a cement slurry, and allowing the cement slurry to harden in the presence of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) to provide a hardened cement.

A cement composition including a hydraulic cement material, a latent-hydraulic cement material, and a non-hydraulic cement material. Also provided is a method including combining, at a jobsite, the cement composition comprising the hydraulic cement material, the latent-hydraulic cement material, and the non-hydraulic cement material with water to provide a cement slurry, and allowing the cement slurry to harden in the presence of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) to provide a hardened cement.

A cement-reduced construction composition comprises a) a cementitious binder comprising one or more calcium silicate mineral phases and one or more calcium aluminate mineral phases, and having a Blaine surface area of at least 3800 cm.sup.2/g; b) a fine material having a Dv90 of less than 200 ?m, selected from alkali-activatable binders, rock powders and inorganic pigments, or mixtures thereof; c) optionally, an extraneous aluminate source; d) a sulfate source; and e) a polyol. The composition contains a controlled amount of available aluminate, calculated as Al(OH).sub.4.sup.?, from the calcium aluminate mineral phases plus the optional extraneous aluminate source; and the molar ratio of total available aluminate to sulfate is 0.4 to 2.0. The construction composition further comprises f) an ettringite formation controller and g) a co-retarder. The cement-reduced construction composition is a reduced carbon footprint construction composition and exhibits high early strength, high final strength, sufficient open time, high durability, and reduced shrinkage compared to ordinary Portland cement based mixes.

A cement-reduced construction composition comprises a) a cementitious binder comprising one or more calcium silicate mineral phases and one or more calcium aluminate mineral phases, and having a Blaine surface area of at least 3800 cm.sup.2/g; b) a fine material having a Dv90 of less than 200 ?m, selected from alkali-activatable binders, rock powders and inorganic pigments, or mixtures thereof; c) optionally, an extraneous aluminate source; d) a sulfate source; and e) a polyol. The composition contains a controlled amount of available aluminate, calculated as Al(OH).sub.4.sup.?, from the calcium aluminate mineral phases plus the optional extraneous aluminate source; and the molar ratio of total available aluminate to sulfate is 0.4 to 2.0. The construction composition further comprises f) an ettringite formation controller and g) a co-retarder. The cement-reduced construction composition is a reduced carbon footprint construction composition and exhibits high early strength, high final strength, sufficient open time, high durability, and reduced shrinkage compared to ordinary Portland cement based mixes.

A composition including a particulate, water, and a suspension aid comprising graphene, wherein the graphene comprises bioderived renewable graphene (BRG) and wherein the particulate is suspended in the composition. Methods of making and using the composition are also provided.

A composition including a particulate, water, and a suspension aid comprising graphene, wherein the graphene comprises bioderived renewable graphene (BRG) and wherein the particulate is suspended in the composition. Methods of making and using the composition are also provided.

Method for grinding a solid in a vertical roller mill (VRM) and a cement composition prepared by the disclosed methods. A method comprises grinding a solid comprising a cement clinker under a water spray in the presence of a grinding stabilizing additive, wherein the grinding stabilizing additive comprises: (i) an alkanol amino acid compound or a disodium or dipotassium salt thereof having the structural formula:

##STR00001##

(ii) a glycol; or a mixture of (i) and (ii), wherein the water spray level is reduced by at least 5% compared to a control. Cement compositions prepared by the disclosed methods have the pre-hydration level (W.sub.k) equal to or less than 1.5%. The values and preferred values of R.sup.1-3 are disclosed herein.