A method for forming cement-based cementitious material includes: pouring a cement paste into a mold; applying an electrical current to the cement paste to perform an electro-osmotic reaction; and transferring the reacted cement paste into a water tank for curing, thereby obtaining a functionally graded cement-based cementitious material. A pair of electrodes is placed in the mold and connected to an external power source. The compressive strength of the functionally graded cement-based cementitious material in the middle is lower than that at either of both ends.

The present description relates to methods of producing a wet-cast slag-based concrete product particularly where the wet-cast slag-based concrete product is cast, pre-conditioned and cured with carbon dioxide inside a mould and/or inside a mould placed in a curing chamber. The wet-cast slag-based concrete product is optionally reinforced.

The present description relates to methods of producing a wet-cast slag-based concrete product particularly where the wet-cast slag-based concrete product is cast, pre-conditioned and cured with carbon dioxide inside a mould and/or inside a mould placed in a curing chamber. The wet-cast slag-based concrete product is optionally reinforced.

Herein discussed is a method of sintering a ceramic comprising (a) providing an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) source; (b) (i) providing a layer of intermixed ceramic particles and absorber particles, wherein the absorber particles have a volume fraction in the intermixed particles in the range of no less than 3%; or (ii) providing a first layer comprising ceramic particles and a second layer comprising absorber particles in contact with at least a portion of the first layer, wherein the second layer is farther from the EMR source than the first layer; (c) heating (i) the layer of intermixed particles or (ii) the first layer using EMR; and (d) controlling the EMR such that at least a portion of the ceramic particles are sintered wherein (i) the layer of intermixed particles becomes impermeable or (ii) the first layer becomes impermeable, wherein the absorber particles have greater EMR absorption than the ceramic particles.

Methods of preparing cast-in-place geopolymer piles using electrical heating wire (130) to provide heat to cure the piles are described. The heating wire (130) can be associated with a reinforcement cage (120) inserted in the pile shaft. Rod-shaped heating units comprising electrical heating wire (130) can be inserted into a pile shaft and can be reusable. Geopolymer piles with high compressive strength can be prepared from mixtures of class F fly ash and aqueous sodium hydroxide by heating the piles with the heating wire to a stable curing temperature for at least about 24 hours.

The present description relates to methods of producing a wet-cast slag-based concrete product particularly where the wet-cast slag-based concrete product is cast, pre-conditioned and cured with carbon dioxide inside a mould and/or inside a mould placed in a curing chamber. The wet-cast slag-based concrete product is optionally reinforced.

Herein discussed is a method of sintering a ceramic comprising (a) providing an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) source; (b) (i) providing a layer of intermixed ceramic particles and absorber particles, wherein the absorber particles have a volume fraction in the intermixed particles in the range of no less than 3%; or (ii) providing a first layer comprising ceramic particles and a second layer comprising absorber particles in contact with at least a portion of the first layer, wherein the second layer is farther from the EMR source than the first layer; (c) heating (i) the layer of intermixed particles or (ii) the first layer using EMR; and (d) controlling the EMR such that at least a portion of the ceramic particles are sintered wherein (i) the layer of intermixed particles becomes impermeable or (ii) the first layer becomes impermeable, wherein the absorber particles have greater EMR absorption than the ceramic particles.

A method for forming cement-based cementitious material includes: pouring a cement paste into a mold; applying an electrical current to the cement paste to perform an electro-osmotic reaction; and transferring the reacted cement paste into a water tank for curing, thereby obtaining a functionally graded cement-based cementitious material. A pair of electrodes is placed in the mold and connected to an external power source. The compressive strength of the functionally graded cement-based cementitious material in the middle is lower than that at either of both ends.

Methods of preparing cast-in-place geopolymer piles using electrical heating wire (130) to provide heat to cure the piles are described. The heating wire (130) can be associated with a reinforcement cage (120) inserted in the pile shaft. Rod-shaped heating units comprising electrical heating wire (130) can be inserted into a pile shaft and can be reusable. Geopolymer piles with high compressive strength can be prepared from mixtures of class F fly ash and aqueous sodium hydroxide by heating the piles with the heating wire to a stable curing temperature for at least about 24 hours.

An additive manufacturing process for the manufacture of a body from composite materials, including the steps of: providing a support structure against which the composite material is to be formed; installing a reinforcing material adjacent the support structure; and progressively applying a matrix material to the support structure to cover the reinforcing material, the matrix material being applied from a nozzle movable relative to the support structure.