Abstract: Disclosed is a method for using a secondary or tertiary alkanolamine for grinding cement, the method including: forming an inorganic acid salt of the alkanolamine; and adding the salified alkanolamine to a grinder.

Abstract: Moisture content in a sample material undergoing elemental activation analysis (EAA) is determined. The sample material contains a sample element which during EAA forms an activation product. A reference material, distinct from the sample element, is positioned in vicinity of the sample material. The reference material contains a reference element having a thermal neutron capture cross-section. The reference material is selected such that its product isotope of a thermal neutron capture reaction is a radioisotope that emits gamma-rays. The sample material and the reference material are irradiated with a source of fast neutrons to produce thermal neutrons in the sample material. Signals are generated representative of detected gamma-rays emitted from the reference material. A factor, R, proportional to the thermal neutron flux, is calculated based on the generated signals. From a relationship relating moisture content to R, the moisture content in the sample material is determined.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for grinding a hydraulic binder, including: a) introducing:—a hydraulic binder, and—a composition B including at least one grinding aid B into the first chamber of a horizontal grinder including several chambers, including a first chamber and a last chamber, each chamber being separated from the adjacent chamber by a diaphragm, whereby a composition ? including the hydraulic binder and composition B is obtained in the first chamber; and b) grinding composition ? in the horizontal grinder, whereby composition ? moves from the first chamber to the last chamber and a ground composition C is obtained at the outlet of the last chamber. At the grinding step, the method includes introducing into the last chamber a composition A including at least one grinding aid A including an aminoalcohol. Also disclosed is a corresponding grinding unit.

Abstract: A modular element for making jewellery items, trinkets, and the like, having a convex outer surface and a through hole arranged at the top of the outer surface, where a wire, chain, or support for making the jewellery item, trinket, and the like can be inserted through the through hole, a main axis of symmetry passing through the hole, including a concave inner surface intended to at least partially accommodate the outer surface of a second element adjacent to the first one, where the outer surface can be inscribed on a rotation surface whose generatrix is an arc of a conic section and whose axis of rotation coincides with the main axis of symmetry. Embodiments also include a jewelry item.

Abstract: A hydraulic composition including water; a hydraulic binder; at least one setting retarder; and at least one polysaccharide; the weight ratio of the water/hydraulic binder being greater than 1.5, methods of using the composition as a mixture in a grout and a corresponding method for preparing a grout and the grout thereby obtained.

Abstract: Described is a fastening device for jewellery comprising a first element and a second element which can be fixed to respective ends of jewellery, wherein the first element has a top surface and a bottom surface, in which a socket is formed; the second element has a top surface, a bottom surface and a head, configured to interlock in a complementary way with the socket, so as to reversibly couple the first element with the second element; the second element comprises a groove, formed on its top surface, in which a sliding slider is housed, the first element comprises a recess, in a position adjacent to the socket, delimited by its top surface, so that, when the head is inserted in the socket, the slider remains in contact with the top surface of the first element at the recess, preventing the head from disengaging the socket and the second element from separating from the first element.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed to determine a concentration of one or more target elements in a sample, using gamma activation analysis comprising: simultaneously irradiating the sample and a reference material containing at least two reference elements X-rays, detecting deactivation gamma-rays from the irradiated sample and the irradiated reference material; determining the concentration of the or each target element in the sample by correcting the number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from any of the or each target element present in the irradiated sample based on the number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the at least two reference elements, wherein the at least two reference elements have a variation in activation rate over a pre-defined X-ray end-point energy range which differs from one another.

Abstract: A method for preventing formation of rust-colored stains on the surface of a hydraulic composition includes mixing the hydraulic composition with an additive for hydraulic binder including at least a dialkanolamine including from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and at least a polyol preferably chosen from a diol, a triol, a tetraol and mixtures thereof. Other uses include a grinding aid for hydraulic binder precursor, and/or improving the compressive strength of a set hydraulic composition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a colored luminescent composite pigment including an association of at least one luminescent pigment having an average particle size of between 50 and 2000 ?m and at least one coloring agent. Also disclosed are compositions and materials including the pigment, to the method for the production thereof and to the use of same for coloring materials, particularly of a hydraulic binder composition.

Abstract: A shielded X-ray radiation apparatus is provided comprising an X-ray source, an X-ray attenuation shield including an elongate cavity to house the X-ray source and incorporating a region to accommodate a sample, a neutron attenuation shield, and a gamma attenuation shield. The neutron attenuation shield is situated adjacent to and substantially surrounds the X-ray attenuation shield and the gamma attenuation shield is adjacent to and substantially surrounds the neutron attenuation shield. In some embodiments a removable sample insertion means is provided to insert samples into the elongate cavity and which is composed of adjacent blocks of material, each respective block having a thickness and a composition which substantially matches the thickness and a composition of one of the X-ray attenuation, neutron attenuation and gamma-ray attenuation shields.

Abstract: A shielded X-ray radiation apparatus is provided comprising an X-ray source, an X-ray attenuation shield including an elongate cavity to house the X-ray source and incorporating a region to accommodate a sample, a neutron attenuation shield, and a gamma attenuation shield. The neutron attenuation shield is situated adjacent to and substantially surrounds the X-ray attenuation shield and the gamma attenuation shield is adjacent to and substantially surrounds the neutron attenuation shield. In some embodiments a removable sample insertion means is provided to insert samples into the elongate cavity and which is composed of adjacent blocks of material, each respective block having a thickness and a composition which substantially matches the thickness and a composition of one of the X-ray attenuation, neutron attenuation and gamma-ray attenuation shields.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to determine the moisture content in a sample material undergoing elemental activation analysis (EAA), the sample material containing at least one sample element which during EAA forms an activation product.

Abstract: A copolymer includes a main hydrocarbon chain and side groups including carboxylic groups and polyoxyalkylate groups. The copolymer further includes gem-bisphosphonate groups. The copolymer can be included in an admixture for suspensions of mineral particles and in a composition of mineral particles. The copolymer can also be used for fluidifying and maintaining fluid, suspensions of mineral particles and for reducing the sensitivity of hydraulic compositions to clays and alkaline sulfates.

Abstract: Disclosed is a block copolymer including: at least one block A not including any phosphonate group, and including at least one poly(alkylene oxide) group and at least one block B obtained by polymerization of a monomer B1 or of a mixture of monomers with ethylenic unsaturation including at least one monomer B1, wherein a monomer B1 is a monomer with ethylenic unsaturation including at least one phosphonate function, to its preparation method by RAFT controlled radical polymerization and to its uses.

Abstract: Disclosed is a colored luminescent composite pigment including an association of at least one luminescent pigment having an average particle size of between 50 and 2000 ?m and at least one coloring agent. Also disclosed are compositions and materials including the pigment, to the method for the production thereof and to the use of same for coloring materials, particularly of a hydraulic binder composition.

Abstract: The invention chiefly concerns a method for preparing polyalkoxylated polycarboxylates in which the following are caused to react in the presence of water and a catalyst at a temperature of between 120 and 250° C.: at least one polycarboxylic acid obtained by polymerization of at least one unsaturated carboxylic acid; and at least one polyether carrying a free hydroxyl group capable of reacting with a carboxylic function of the said polycarboxylic acid, characterized in that the catalyst is an alkaline or alkaline-earth salt of a strong protic acid.