A hydraulically binding composition can be used to produce an inorganic fire-protection and/or insulation foam. The composition includes: (i) a hydraulic binder, (ii) a blowing-agent mixture, (iii) a thermally expandable compound, and (iv) optionally a foam stabilizer, where the at least one thermally expandable compound, depending on a particle size thereof and an adjusted density of a foamed composition, is present in a quantity such that a foam structure of the foamed composition is not destroyed by expansion thereof during heating of the composition above an onset temperature thereof.

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.

Lightweight molding produced from a dry mixture including graphite particles and a binder for setting of the dry mixture by water, alkali and/or aqueous salt solution, where the proportion by mass of the graphite particles in the dry mixture is more than 0.05, the binder includes magnesia binder, cement, caustic calcined magnesite, lime and/or clay powder, the density of the lightweight molding is in the range from 0.1 g/cm.sup.3 to 3.5 g/cm.sup.3 and the lightweight molding has a thermal conductivity of at least 0.5 W/mK.

Systems and corresponding methods are provided for separation of support structures from near net shape manufactured parts. The system can include a support structure and a non-adhering material. The non-adhering material can be positioned on one or more predetermined exterior-facing surfaces of the support structure. The support system can be dimensioned for receipt within a void space of a porous green body defined by an overhang region of the porous green body. After receipt within a void space of a porous green body that undergoes a thermally-induced volumetric change, the support system can be configured to support the overhang region and the non-adhering material can be configured to inhibit adherence of the exterior-facing surfaces of the support structure to opposed surfaces of the void space.

Joint compounds and spackling compounds which comprise a sanding indicator, the compounds displaying a first color at the surface upon drying/hardening. Methods for finishing a substrate or patching a substrate, the methods comprise applying the joint compound which comprises the sanding indicator and/or the spackling compound which comprises the sanding indicator and sanding the dried/hardened compound until the first color is removed. Accessory products which comprise at least one sanding indicator and methods for making joint compounds and spackling compounds comprising the sanding indicator.

A method of producing a material. The material is produced by the steps of: providing a geopolymer mixture or solution comprising an aluminosilicate and an alkali material; allowing the geopolymer mixture or solution to partially set to form an at least partially set geopolymer including pore spaces; and exposing the at least partially set geopolymer to a metal silicate solution or mixture containing a metal silicate to allow the metal silicate to enter the pore spaces and react to form additional material within the pore spaces. The material may be used in well-cementing and as an abandonment plug.

Binders for geopolymers, which include: a) not less than 30 w % of a mixture of at least two chemically different aluminosilicates, b) not less than 20 w % of Ordinary Portland cement, and c) 8-20 w % of a mixture of calcium sulfoaluminate cement or calcium aluminate cement with a source of calcium sulfate, wherein in the mixture the weight ratio of calcium sulfate to calcium sulfoaluminate and/or calcium aluminate is between 0.08-1.5, preferably 0.3-1.1, more preferably 0.6-1.1. Also, geopolymers using such binders as well as their use in various construction methods.

Described is an aqueous composition for repairing and/or sealing of hardened concrete structures, the aqueous composition including colloidal silica and polycarboxylate ether. Also described is a method for repairing and/or sealing a hardened concrete structure, including a step of applying an aqueous composition including colloidal silica and polycarboxylate ether to a hardened concrete structure or a part thereof.

A concrete and asphalt repair coating formulation includes a cement component and an aggregate component. The cement component includes a calcium sulfoaluminate cement and a Portland cement. The aggregate component includes coarse aggregates between 125-500 microns in diameter and fine aggregates between 5-62.5 microns in diameter.

Mining provides our society with many of minerals, metals, and gemstones for a wide variety of applications from mundane items through to expensive jewelry. But the mining operations generate waste and large empty shafts and stopes within the ground. It would beneficial to provide a lightweight material for backfill which can provide safer working conditions for miners as well as advantages in respect of weight reduction, reducing water consumption, rheology improvement and cost minimization. Equally, it would be beneficial for the lightweight backfill material to include mining tailings to reduce the impact external to the mine. However, the inclusion of mine tailings into a foam is counter-intuitive as mine tailings are generally characterized by a high proportion of small particles with sharp edges. However, embodiments of the invention provide just such a foam based mine backfill material.