Abstract: An additive for a bituminous binder respectively a bituminous composite material, able to reduce bituminous binder respectively bituminous composite material viscosity when an alternating magnetic field is applied, in particular for healing pavement cracks and in-depth micro-cracks in asphalt, wherein the additive comprises an amount of magnetic iron oxide particles should be improved, in order to reach bituminous composite material respectively a bituminous binder which can be melted in a faster and simplified way, in particular usable for crack healing of asphalt structures on site. This is reached by forming the additive comprising at least a part of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with average sizes between 1 nm and 300 nm coated with a fatty acid.

Abstract: The method includes a tension element, for example in the form of flat steel, that is placed on the structure or structural part and can be guided around a corner. The flat steel can also wrap as a band around the structure, in which the two ends of the flat steel are either connected to one another or are separately connected to the structure by the end anchors or intersect to produce a clamping connection. The flat steel contracts as a result of a subsequent active and controlled input of heat using a heating element and generates a permanent tensile stress and, correspondingly, a permanent prestress on the structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a graphene nanoribbon, comprising a repeating unit which comprises at least one modification, wherein the modification is selected from a heteroatomic substitution, a vacancy, a sp3 hybridization, a Stone-Wales defect, an inverse Stone-Wales defect, a hexagonal sp2 hybridized carbon network ring size modification, and any combination thereof.

Abstract: A Multi-pass optical cell (1) with an internal space (11) for laser spectroscopy is described, which is able to reduce or eliminate interference fringes appearing by performing laser absorption spectroscopy in the multi-pass optical cells (1) leading to improved absorption spectra. This is achieved by using a multi-pass optical cell (1) comprising an absorption mask (3) which is permanently or removable mountable in the internal space (11) in a rotatably fixed manner, where in a mask wall (30) a plurality of m apertures (300) is formed, in which the position of each aperture (300) is adapted to a predefinable propagation path of a main optical beam and/or the resulting reflection spot pattern (211) defined by the geometry of the multi-pass optical cell (1) and the used angle of incidence of an initial beam (20), so that each aperture (300) is traversable by the main optical beam from a first side (301) to a second side (302).

Abstract: A process for the production of an aerogel material comprises the following steps: a) preparation of a silicon oxide sol in an alcoholic solvent mixture; b) triggering of the gelation of the sol by adding base, whereby a gel is formed, and optionally aging of the gel; c) hydrophobicization of the optionally aged gel; d) removal of the solvent mixture by subcritical drying, whereby the aerogel material is formed. The silicon oxide sol formed in step a) comprises at least one acid-catalytically activatable hydrophobicization agent, wherein the volume fraction of the hydrophobicization agent in the sol is 5 to 60%. The hydrophobicization in step c) is induced as a result of release or addition of at least one hydrophobicization catalyst acting in combination with the hydrophobicization agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved concrete elements, particularly to high-performance self-compacting concrete (HP-SCC); to cementitious compositions suitable for producing such concrete elements; to methods of manufacturing such concrete elements and such cementitious compositions; to the use of specific additives in concrete elements and cementitious mixtures. The inventive compositions comprise an effective amount of polymer fibres and of hydrogels. The inventive concrete elements show improved fire resistance, particularly towards explosive spalling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a graphene nanoribbon, which comprises: (a) providing at least one aromatic monomer compound which is selected from at least one polycyclic aromatic monomer compound, at least one oligo phenylene aromatic monomer compound, or combinations thereof, on a solid substrate, (b) polymerization of the aromatic monomer compound so as to form at least one polymer on the surface of the solid substrate, (c) at least partially cyclodehydrogenating the one or more polymers of step (b), wherein at least step (b) is carried out at a total pressure p(total) of at least 1×10?9 mbar; and a partial oxygen pressure p(O2) and partial water pressure p(H2O) which satisfy the following relation: p(O2)×p(H20)<3×10?14 mbar2.

Abstract: Method for making plastic fiber for application in concrete with largest grain diameters >4 mm, with an average diameter of 0.15 to 2 mm, corresponding to approximately 160 to 28,000 dtex. Using a co-extrusion process, a bi-component fiber is formed having a central core and a casing around the central core, the central core and the casing contain different pure polymers or polymer mixtures, and then the co-extruded bi-component fiber is stretched by a factor of 5 to 15, and thereafter a structured or grooved surface is embossed onto the co-extruded stretched bi-component fiber. The embossing is performed such that a depth of the embossing is more than 10% of an average fiber diameter, and a maximal distances of structure tips within incorporated structures of the embossing in an axial direction lie in a region between 0.5 mm and 3 mm.

Abstract: In order to strengthen an elongated or a two-dimensional bearing construction structure (1) against shear forces, at least one pre-stressing means (11) is mounted in a slack or pre-stressed manner on or in the structure cross-section (4) to generate a pre-stressing force directed transversely to the length or to the two-dimensional surface of the structure when this structure is shear-loaded.