Cement-SCM blends employ particle packing principles to increase particle packing density and reduce interstitial spacing between the cement and SCM particles. Particle packing reduces the amount of water required to obtain a cement paste having a desired flow, lowers the water-cementitious material ratio (w/cm), and increases early and long-term strengths. This may be accomplished by providing a hydraulic cement fraction having a narrow PSD and at least one SCM fraction having a mean particle size that differs from the mean particle size of the narrow PSD cement by a multiple of 3.0 or more to yield a cement-SCM blend having a particle packing density of at least 57.0%.

Cement-SCM blends employ particle packing principles to increase particle packing density and reduce interstitial spacing between the cement and SCM particles. Particle packing reduces the amount of water required to obtain a cement paste having a desired flow, lowers the water-cementitious material ratio (w/cm), and increases early and long-term strengths. This may be accomplished by providing a hydraulic cement fraction having a narrow PSD and at least one SCM fraction having a mean particle size that differs from the mean particle size of the narrow PSD cement by a multiple of 3.0 or more to yield a cement-SCM blend having a particle packing density of at least 57.0%.

The present invention relates to the field of foam formation and stabilization, particularly foamed construction materials, such as cement. Disclosed are additives suitable to obtain mineral foams when added to the corresponding starting materials. The invention provides a ready-to-use product in the form of a solid particulate composition comprising hydrophobized particles (1) and catalytically active particles (2) as defined in claim 1. The invention further provides for manufacturing methods of such ready-to-use product.

The present invention relates to the field of foam formation and stabilization, particularly foamed construction materials, such as cement. Disclosed are additives suitable to obtain mineral foams when added to the corresponding starting materials. The invention provides a ready-to-use product in the form of a solid particulate composition comprising hydrophobized particles (1) and catalytically active particles (2) as defined in claim 1. The invention further provides for manufacturing methods of such ready-to-use product.

A method may include comprising: defining engineering parameters of a proposed cement slurry, the engineering parameters comprising at least a compressive strength requirement, a density requirement, a storage time requirement, and a thickening time requirement; selecting, based at least in part on a model of compressive strength, a model of storage time, and the density requirement, at least a cement and mass fraction thereof, at least one supplementary cementitious material and mass fraction thereof, and a water and mass fraction thereof, such that a set cement formed from the cement, the at least one supplementary cementitious material, and the water meets or exceeds the compressive strength requirement and the density requirement; selecting, based at least in part on a model of thickening time, an accelerator and mass fraction thereof; and preparing a cement slurry comprising the cement and mass fraction thereof, the at least one supplementary cementitious material and mass fraction thereof, the water and mass fraction thereof, and the cement retarder and mass fraction thereof.

A method may include comprising: defining engineering parameters of a proposed cement slurry, the engineering parameters comprising at least a compressive strength requirement, a density requirement, a storage time requirement, and a thickening time requirement; selecting, based at least in part on a model of compressive strength, a model of storage time, and the density requirement, at least a cement and mass fraction thereof, at least one supplementary cementitious material and mass fraction thereof, and a water and mass fraction thereof, such that a set cement formed from the cement, the at least one supplementary cementitious material, and the water meets or exceeds the compressive strength requirement and the density requirement; selecting, based at least in part on a model of thickening time, an accelerator and mass fraction thereof; and preparing a cement slurry comprising the cement and mass fraction thereof, the at least one supplementary cementitious material and mass fraction thereof, the water and mass fraction thereof, and the cement retarder and mass fraction thereof.

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.

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.

A refractory composition including refractory aggregate, one or more matrix components, and silicate-coated set accelerator particles. The silicate-coated set accelerator particles can include one more of silicate-coated calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium chloride, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate and calcium sulfate. Suitable silicate coatings include sodium silicate, potassium silicate, lithium silicate and mixtures thereof. A method of recovering an aged refractory composition, a settable composition and a method of manufacturing silicate-coated calcium hydroxide particles are also provided.

A dry grout composition including a calcium aluminosulfate based hydraulic cement, a mineral filler, a thixotropic agent, and a superplasticizer agent. Also, an anchoring capsule, containing the dry grout composition, for use in anchoring reinforcing member dowel, or anchor elements in a hole of a substrate, and a method of use.