A low-density, high-strength concrete composition that is lightweight and self-compacting or non-self-compacting, with a low weight-fraction of aggregate to total dry raw materials, and a highly-homogenous distribution of a non-absorptive and closed-cell lightweight aggregate such as glass microspheres or copolymer polymer beads or a combination thereof, and the steps of providing the composition or components. Lightweight concretes formed therefrom have low density, high strength-to-weight ratios, and high R-value. The concrete has strength similar to that ordinarily found in structural lightweight concrete but at a lower density, such as an oven-dried density as low as 40 lbs./cu.ft. Such strength-to-density ratios range approximately from above 30 cu.ft/sq.in. to above 110 cu.ft/sq.in., with a 28-day compressive strength ranging from about 3400 to 8000 psi.

Self-consolidating geopolymer compositions utilizing fly ash and inorganic mineral including alkaline earth metal oxide as cementitious reactive components and include cement set retarder. The alkaline earth metal oxide is preferably calcium oxide (also known as lime or quicklime) and/or magnesium oxide. The inorganic minerals including alkaline earth metal oxide have an alkaline earth metal oxide content preferably greater than 50 wt. %, more preferably greater than 60 wt. %, even more preferably greater than 70 wt. %, and most preferably greater than 80 wt. %, for example greater than 90 wt. %. The cementitious reactive powder may optionally also include one or more aluminous cements and one or more source of calcium sulfates. The cementitious reactive powders are activated with an alkali metal chemical activator selected from alkali metal salt and/or alkali metal base. Methods for making the compositions are also disclosed.

Clay polymer nanocomposites may be mixed with an aggregate material and heat treated to make a structural stabilizer. In an embodiment, the composition is a structural stabilizer resulting from thermal casting and heat treatment. The structural stabilizer does not include cement or water. The heat treatment may be any suitable heat application, including microwave heating, convection oven heating or heating in thermal mixers. The structural stabilizer can be rapidly synthesized to provide high compressive strength and high homogeneity, and to be substantially free of fractures and cracks. Methods of repairing cracks in concrete and stabilizing soil, rock and sand dune formations using the structural stabilizer include thermal casting. Thermal casting ductile concrete molds can include a coating of aluminum foil. The concrete is self-compact, ecofriendly, lightweight, self-repairing and self pre-stressing with homogeneity and low density. The concrete resists steel corrosion, sudden collapse, and does not produce pollution.

Methods of using a comb polymer K for reducing the mixing time of a mineral binder composition with water, where the comb polymer K has a polymer backbone and side chains, and the comb polymer K includes at least one monomeric unit M1, including acid groups, and at least one monomeric unit M2, including side chains, the monomeric units M1 and M2 being arranged in a non-statistical sequence along the polymer backbone.

Adding a small amount of lightweight course aggregate to a normal weight concrete mix to produce a clean, rough top surface so that manual or mechanical roughing of the top surface is not necessary. The lightweight course aggregate will float to the surface, and make a rough surface so that the bond and shear resistance of the interface (cold joint) between previously placed and newly placed concrete will be as strong as a manually roughened joint.

A controlled low strength material has constituents that include a cement, an aggregate, a heavy oil fly ash, and a water. The controlled low strength material has a compressive strength in a range of 300 kPa to 2.1 MPa. In certain embodiments, the heavy oil fly ash can be part of a heavy oil fly ash slurry.

A low-density, high-strength concrete composition that is lightweight and self-compacting or non-self-compacting, with a low weight-fraction of aggregate to total dry raw materials, and a highly-homogenous distribution of a non-absorptive and closed-cell lightweight aggregate such as glass microspheres or copolymer polymer beads or a combination thereof, and the steps of providing the composition or components. Lightweight concretes formed therefrom have low density, high strength-to-weight ratios, and high R-value. The concrete has strength similar to that ordinarily found in structural lightweight concrete but at a lower density, such as an oven-dried density as low as 40 lbs./cu.ft. Such strength-to-density ratios range approximately from above 30 cu.ft/sq.in. to above 110 cu.ft/sq.in., with a 28-day compressive strength ranging from about 3400 to 8000 psi.

Self-consolidating geopolymer compositions utilizing fly ash and inorganic mineral including alkaline earth metal oxide as cementitious reactive components and include cement set retarder. The alkaline earth metal oxide is preferably calcium oxide (also known as lime or quicklime) and/or magnesium oxide. The inorganic minerals including alkaline earth metal oxide have an alkaline earth metal oxide content preferably greater than 50 wt. %, more preferably greater than 60 wt. %, even more preferably greater than 70 wt. %, and most preferably greater than 80 wt. %, for example greater than 90 wt. %. The cementitious reactive powder may optionally also include one or more aluminous cements and one or more source of calcium sulfates. The cementitious reactive powders are activated with an alkali metal chemical activator selected from alkali metal salt and/or alkali metal base. Methods for making the compositions are also disclosed.

The invention relates to an addition for producing thermally conductive mortars and structural concrete, said addition being a specific powdery formulation in each case, which, when added as an addition to a conventional concrete or mortar, allows the production of a structural concrete or mortar with improved thermal characteristics (thermal conductivity ). If the addition is added to a conventional concrete in a plant, a structural concrete with increased thermal conductivities is produced, which can adapt to the thermal requirements of the building, thereby being highly suitable for the heat activation of structures or the geothermal activation of foundations. The concrete containing the addition takes on special rheological characteristics which, inter alia, allows a self-compacting concrete to be produced. If the addition is added to a conventional mortar in a mixer, a mortar is produced with very high thermal conductivities which make it highly suitable for geothermal probes.

The present invention relates to very high workable yet controllable concrete mix design, admixture composition, and process for placing concrete. The mix design relates to particular aggregate/cement ratios and types which are characteristic of ready mix concrete (RMC), which provide high fluidity reminiscent of self-consolidating concrete (SCC), and which provides advantages over both RMC and SCC in terms of ease and speed in placement and finishability at the construction site placement zone, regardless of whether into a horizontal formwork (e.g., for slabs, floors) or into vertical formwork (e.g., for blocks, walls, columns, etc.), without loss of control and without generating high risks of segregation even when small amounts of water are added at the size to facilitate finishing of the concrete surface. An inventive admixture combination which enables this unique design involves two different polycarboxylate comb polymers in combination with two specific viscosity modifying agents, and this combination provides highly workable concrete to be placed in a controlled, efficient manner.