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.

Provided is a cement composition that has high fluidity (for example, a 0-drop flow value of 200 mm or more) before curing and exhibits high compressive strength (for example, 320 N/mm.sup.2 or more) after curing. The cement composition includes a cement, a silica fume having a BET specific surface area of from 10 m.sup.2/g to 25 m.sup.2/g, an inorganic powder having a 50% cumulative particle size of from 0.8 μm to 5 μm, a fine aggregate having a maximum particle size of 1.2 mm or less, a water reducing agent, an antifoaming agent, and water. The ratio of the cement is from 55 vol % to 65 vol %, the ratio of the silica fume is from 5 vol % to 25 vol %, and the ratio of the inorganic powder is from 15 vol % to 35 vol % in the total amount of 100 vol % of the cement, the silica fume, and the inorganic powder.

A system and method for manufacturing building materials made of volcanic material includes gathering of molten volcanic material that is collected by catching the molten volcanic material after the molten volcanic material flows off an edge of land, cooling the volcanic material by immersing the mold containing the volcanic material into a body of ocean water, and shaping the volcanic material into shapes that may be used in construction.

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for manufacturing building materials made of volcanic material. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to the gathering of molten volcanic material, cooling the volcanic material, and shaping the volcanic material into shapes that may be used in construction.

As used herein, the term lava refers to any molten rock generated by geothermal energy and expelled through fractures in planetary crust. Lava shall also refer to lava flow and molten volcanic material as used herein. Lava flow is a moving outpouring of lava created during a non-explosive effusive eruption. While this application generally refers to lava, a person having ordinary skill in the art would understand that similar systems and methods may be applied with respect to volcanic material or molten rock that is collected from within the Earth's core and that has not erupted to the surface in a naturally occurring manner.

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 invention comprises a method of curing concrete. The method comprises placing a concrete cylinder in an insulated container having a sufficient quantity of water therein so that the concrete cylinder is submerged in and surrounded by the water and selectively adding heat to the quantity of water in an insulated container, so that the temperature of the quantity of water follows a predetermined temperature profile.

The invention comprises a method of curing concrete. The method comprises placing a concrete cylinder in an insulated container having a sufficient quantity of water therein so that the concrete cylinder is submerged in and surrounded by the water and selectively adding heat to the quantity of water in an insulated container, so that the temperature of the quantity of water follows a predetermined temperature profile. Apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Provided is a cement composition that has high fluidity (for example, a 0-drop flow value of 200 mm or more) before curing and exhibits high compressive strength (for example, 320 N/mm.sup.2 or more) after curing. The cement composition includes a cement, a silica fume having a BET specific surface area of from 10 m.sup.2/g to 25 m.sup.2/g, an inorganic powder having a 50% cumulative particle size of from 0.8 m to 5 m, a fine aggregate having a maximum particle size of 1.2 mm or less, a water reducing agent, an antifoaming agent, and water. The ratio of the cement is from 55 vol % to 65 vol %, the ratio of the silica fume is from 5 vol % to 25 vol %, and the ratio of the inorganic powder is from 15 vol % to 35 vol % in the total amount of 100 vol % of the cement, the silica fume, and the inorganic powder.

The invention comprises a method of curing concrete. The method comprises placing a concrete cylinder in an insulated container having a sufficient quantity of water therein so that the concrete cylinder is submerged in and surrounded by the water and selectively adding heat to the quantity of water in an insulated container, so that the temperature of the quantity of water follows a predetermined temperature profile.

Provided is a cement composition that has high fluidity (for example, a 0-drop flow value of 200 mm or more) before curing and exhibits high compressive strength (for example, 320 N/mm.sup.2 or more) after curing. The cement composition includes a cement, a silica fume having a BET specific surface area of from 10 m.sup.2/g to 25 m.sup.2/g, an inorganic powder having a 50% cumulative particle size of from 0.8 m to 5 m, a fine aggregate having a maximum particle size of 1.2 mm or less, a water reducing agent, an antifoaming agent, and water. The ratio of the cement is from 55 vol % to 65 vol %, the ratio of the silica fume is from 5 vol % to 25 vol %, and the ratio of the inorganic powder is from 15 vol % to 35 vol % in the total amount of 100 vol % of the cement, the silica fume, and the inorganic powder.