The present invention relates to a low-activation concrete comprising high-purity limestone aggregate and white cement, or high-purity limestone aggregate and aluminous cement. The low-activation concrete reduces the content of Europium, Cobalt and Cesium, as well as the content of elements such as Aluminium, Sodium, and Magnesium, when compared to standard concrete compositions and compositions for low-activation concrete already known in the art. The use of the low-activation concrete for forming an interior wall of a particle accelerator vault is provided as well.

A method for making concrete and concrete structures includes: providing a liquid admixture with a carbon nanomaterial in a liquid aqueous or organic solvent/compound mixture, mixing the liquid admixture with cement and water in a dosage selected to form a concrete mix having a carbon nanomaterial structure having individual carbon nanomaterial particles with a unit cell overlap, and hardening the concrete mix to form a concrete matrix with the carbon nanomaterial forming a 3-dimensional carbon nanomaterial network incorporated into the concrete matrix. The 3-dimensional carbon nanomaterial network has a shielding effect against high frequency electromagnetic pulses and other radiofrequency signals.

A multi-functional polymer concrete using polymer or cement-polymer binders modified with boron nanotubes and heavyweight aggregate particles.

Disclosed is a sintered body comprising (a) a matrix material comprising at least one selected from ZnS and ZnSe, (b) an oxide that is present in a form of islands in the matrix material, comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr and Ba, and (c) pores that are present in a form of islands in the matrix material. The sintered body has sufficient strength and an infrared stealth effect in an infrared region such as a MWIR and LWIR region.

A self-supporting inorganic and radiation-hard neutron shielding panel for use in absorbing thermal neutrons. The panel is constructed substantially of concrete and includes a high level of boron by weight to enhance the absorption of thermal neutrons. A layer of radiation-resistant fiber reinforcement within the panel enables production of a thin, strong panel that is self-supporting and easily transportable. Mounting means are included on the panel to facilitate easy mounting on a wall or similar surface. The panels are constructed entirely of inorganic materials and include at least 58% boron by weight to maximize their effectiveness in shielding against thermal neutrons. Further disclosed are methods for forming the neutron-shielding panels.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide for cement, cement paste, cementitious paste, cementitious mortar, and concrete, methods of making cement, cement paste, cementitious paste, cementitious mortar, and concrete, structures incorporating the concrete, and the like, where the cement, cement paste, cementitious paste, cementitious mortar, and the concrete include elemental boron and/or one or more boron compounds (e.g., boron-doped cement, cement paste, cementitious paste, cementitious mortar, and concrete). The boron and/or a boron compound can be homogeneously distributed throughout the cement, cement paste, cementitious paste, cementitious mortar and/or concrete.

A process of fabricating a static structure including an interior volume that includes the steps of mixing coal combustible residual (CCR) with structural reinforcing materials to form a construction material and utilizing the construction material to fabricate exterior enclosure-forming components of the static structure. The enclosure-forming components are sufficiently reinforced, enhanced and/or thick to provide protection against exterior forces directed against the structure.

Disclosed is a method to produce composite materials, which contain customized mixes of nano- and/or micro-particles with tailored electromagnetic spectral properties, structural elements based thereon, in particular layers, but also bulk materials including inhomogeneous bulk materials. In some embodiments the IR-reflectivity is enhanced predominantly independently of reflectivity for visible wavelength. The enhanced IR-reflectivity is achieved by combining spectral properties from a plurality of nano- and/or micro-particles of distinct size distribution, shape distribution, chemical composition, crystal structure, and crystallinity distribution. This enables to approximate desired target spectra better than know solutions, which comprise only a single type of particles and/or an uncontrolled natural size distribution. Furthermore disclosed are methods of manufacturing such materials, including ceramics, clay, and concrete, as well as applications related to design and construction of buildings or other confined spaces.

A fire proof compound is provided including MgSO4.7H2O) (Mg4Si6O15(OH)2.6H2O) CaO (s)+H.sub.2O (1)⇄Ca(OH).sub.2 (ΔH.sub.r=−63.7 kJ/mol of CaO) (CaSO.sub.4.2H2O) H.sub.4 Mg.sub.2 Si.sub.3 O.sub.10). The compound can be added to a gypsum substrate of a wallboard to manufacture a fire proof wallboard. The compound can also be mixed with a paint to provide a fire proof paint. In certain composition, the compound can also exhibit an electromagnetic field blocking property. An existing wallboard manufacturing process line can be modified to accept the additional process of adding the compound to the gypsum substrate of the wallboard.

A composite member includes a matrix part including an inorganic substance, and an organic infrared absorbing material present in a dispersed state inside the matrix part. The composite member has a porosity of 20% or less in a section of the matrix part. A heat generation device includes the composite member, and an infrared light source for irradiating the composite member with infrared rays. A building member and a light emitting device each include the composite member, or the heat generation device.