Abstract: A method of controlled hydration expansion of a smectite-containing day mineral (SCM) within an aqueous environment in a confined volumetric space, the method comprising the steps of: —introducing an amount of an SCM into said volumetric space via an inlet thereinto, and initiating the hydration expansion of the SCM to release SCM particles into the confined volumetric space, and increase the pressure therein; and —introducing a flow path modification to control said released SCM particles from undergoing a recompression, said modification thereby maintaining the pressure in the volumetric space.

Abstract: A leak detection system and method of use thereof is disclosed based on shock wave propagation in a fluid. In one form, the system includes at least one shock wave generator for introducing at least one shock wave signal into a fluid medium; at least one detector for detecting signals in the fluid medium; and at least one processor configured to identify excitation signals in the fluid medium caused by the at least one shock wave signal, wherein the identification of excitation signals is indicative of a fluid leak.

Abstract: A method of making a liquid hardening accelerator for a hydraulic composition the method comprising: (at adding sugar and lithium carbonate to water to form a dispersion of the lithium carbonate in a sugar solution; (b) adding aluminium sulphate to the dispersion to form a liquid hardening accelerator.

Abstract: A method of making a liquid hardening accelerator for a hydraulic composition the method comprising: (at adding sugar and lithium carbonate to water to form a dispersion of the lithium carbonate in a sugar solution; (b) adding aluminium sulphate to the dispersion to form a liquid hardening accelerator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming a polymer, the method comprising reacting a first species comprising at least one isocyanate group with a second species comprising at least one aziridine group to form the polymer.

Abstract: A cross-linkable polyester resin composition for use with a reinforcing element for reinforcing rock and other structures, comprises: (a) from 10 to 45% of a cross-linkable unsaturated polyester resin, (b) from 40 to 90% of a filter and (c) from 1 to 15% of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerizable with the polyester, the percentages being by weight based on the total weight of (a), (b) and (c), the composition being solid but permitting insertion and rotation of a reinforcing element to cause mixing of the composition with a cross-linking catalyst to form a hard mass. Composition will cold cure when mixed with catalyst preferably the monomer has higher flash point than styrene. Advantage of the solid composition is that it does not need to be enclosed within frangible sheath as in the prior art.