The present invention provides a dry mix composition of a low-viscosity cellulose ether (50 to 750 mPa.Math.s at 1 wt. % solids, at 20 C, and a 514 s-1 shear rate, using a strain-controlled rotational rheometer (for example, ARES-G2™, TA Instruments), a graded aggregate, and a hydraulic cement, or a granular wet cement composition of the cement, graded aggregate and an admixture therefor including the cellulose ether. The wet granular hydraulic cement composition behaves like asphalt compositions and has zero or near zero slump, a high lubricity and from 5 wt. % to less than 13 wt. % of water, or, preferably from greater than 5 to 10.5 wt. %, based on the total weight of the granular wet cement composition. The low-viscosity cellulose ether enables lubricity without impairing compaction and without causing air entrainment.

Described herein is a process for paving a surface with an asphalt paving material, comprising the steps of laying asphalt paving material on a surface to be paved; and combining an asphalt rejuvenator and the asphalt paving material; wherein the asphalt rejuvenator and the asphalt paving material are combined immediately before, concurrently with, or immediately after the asphalt paving material is laid on the surface to be paved. The asphalt paving material may be virgin asphalt, or it may comprise reclaimed asphalt pavement and/or recycled asphalt shingles.

A cementitious composition of one embodiment, according to the present teaching, includes, but is not limited to, a Portland cement, and at least one other cement from a group comprising, but not limited to, calcium sulfoaluminate cement, a calcium aluminosilicate cement, and calcium aluminate, wherein the Portland cement has a content of at least 20 percent based on the total weight of the non-Portland hydratable cement powder, wherein the cementitious composition bonds to asphalt.

A composition including at least: a binder base chosen from: a bitumen base, a pitch base, a clear binder, or a mixture of one or more of these binder bases, an acid compound of general formula (I): R—(COOH).sub.z (I). an amide compound of general formula (II): R′—(NH).sub.nCONH—(X).sub.m—(NHCO).sub.p(NH).sub.n—R″ (II) the compounds (I) and (II) being present in a weight ratio ranging from 10:1 to 1:16, for preparing a mastic asphalt composition. Mastic asphalt compositions and surfacings are thus obtained.

The present invention provides a bidirectional energy-transfer system comprising: a thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete, disposed in a structural object; a location of energy supply or demand that is physically isolated from, but in thermodynamic and/or electromagnetic communication with, the thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete; and a means of transferring energy between the structural object and the location of energy supply or demand. The system can be a single node in a neural network. The thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete includes a conductive, shock-absorbing material, such as graphite. Preferred compositions are disclosed for the thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete. The bidirectional energy-transfer system may be present in a solar-energy collection system, a grade beam, an indoor radiant flooring system, a structural wall or ceiling, a bridge, a roadway, a driveway, a parking lot, a commercial aviation runway, a military runway, a grain silo, or pavers, for example.

The present invention provides a packaged binder unit comprising a binder core retained within a sealable laminated bilayer, wherein the sealable laminated bilayer comprises a bi-axially oriented polymer layer and a non-bi-axially oriented polymer layer, and wherein the binder core comprises a bituminous binder or a synthetic binder.

The present invention further provides a process for manufacturing an asphalt composition comprising the step of mixing the binder unit according to the present invention in a mixing unit with aggregates heated to a temperature in the range of from 140° C. to 220° C.

Additionally, the present invention also provides for a process for manufacturing an asphalt pavement, further comprising spreading the asphalt composition into a layer and compacting the layer, wherein the compaction in step suitably takes place at a temperature of from 120° C. to 180° C.

A conglomerate for making road pavements is described, said conglomerate comprising a binder, preferably bitumen, a heavy inert material, preferably sand and/or gravel and/or filler, between 2.0% and 40% by weight of an elastomeric powder and/or granulate, and between 0.1% and 12% by weight of a thermoplastic polymer, preferably PE, PET or EVA in the form of granules or fibres; a method for making the conglomerate is also described, comprising the use of a compound which includes rubber powder and the polymer in suitable proportion.

An asphalt-cement concrete (“ACC”) interlayer formed of a plant-mix material reinforced with aramid fibers, deposited at a thickness of at least one inch (1″) over a Portland-cement concrete (“PCC”) or ACC base, can extend the service life of a hot-mix asphalt (“HMA”) surface layer installed over the interlayer by retarding or preventing “reflected” cracks—cracks in the surface layer that correspond to cracks, damage and irregularities in the PCC or ACC base. When the surface layer's useable life has expired, it can be removed and replaced, and the interlayer can continue to protect the new surface layer.

Trona-accelerated composition for backfilling trenches are described. The compositions consist of aggregate (e.g., sand), Portland cement, Trona, water and sometimes air. The compositions may have a compressive strength of between 10 psi and 100 psi after 4 hours, a compressive strength of between 75 psi and 500 psi after 28 days, and a penetration resistance of between 4.5 tsf and 200 tsf after 4 hours. Also disclosed are methods of filling a trench with fast-setting flowable fill.

Compositions comprising highly reflective microcrystalline/amorphous materials are provided. In some instances, the highly reflective materials are microcrystalline or amorphous carbonate materials, which may include calcium and/or magnesium carbonate. In some instances, the materials are CO.sub.2 sequestering materials. Also provided are methods of making and using the compositions, e.g., to increase the albedo of a surface, to mitigate urban heat island effects, etc.