Abstract: A method for grinding a solid in a vertical roller mill (VRM), comprising grinding at least one solid in the presence of a grinding stabilizing additive, wherein the grinding stabilizing additive comprises an alkanol amino acid compound or a disodium or dipotassium salt thereof having the structural formula (I): The definitions of variables R1, R2, and R3 are provided herein.

Abstract: A method and system for initiating a majority percentage of chemical admixture dosage into a delivered concrete load preferably just before arrival of the concrete delivery truck at the delivery pour site, such that a maximized slump (or slump flow, or other slump characteristic) increase occurs just before discharge/pour. The invention employs a concrete slump management system having a processor that is programed to consider time of pour (discharge) and stored data that includes dosage response (change of slump characteristic) of the concrete mix due to past additions in the same type of concrete mix, and thus maximizes pre-pour increase in slump characteristic while minimizing or avoiding the risk of overshooting the slump target as well as limiting the time required for adjusting concrete to attain the target slump value at the jobsite.

Abstract: Described are a method and system for initiating a majority percentage of chemical admixture dosage into a delivered concrete load preferably just before arrival of the concrete delivery truck at the delivery pour site, such that a maximized slump (or slump flow, or other slump characteristic) increase occurs just before discharge/pour. The invention employs a concrete slump management system having a processor that is programed to consider time of pour (discharge) and stored data that includes dosage response (change of slump characteristic) of the concrete mix due to past additions in the same type of concrete mix, and thus maximizes pre-pour increase in slump characteristic while minimizing or avoiding the risk of overshooting the slump target as well as limiting the time required for adjusting concrete to attain the target slump value at the jobsite.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the discovery that short chain aliphatic fatty acids, such as potassium sorbate, can be used in liquid-additive grinding compositions in the amount of at least 10%, more preferably at least 20%, and most preferably at least 30%, to mill carbonate materials into smaller particle size. The carbonate material can optionally be combined with another inorganic material in the grinding operation, such as limestone, lime, dolomites, talc, titanium dioxide, alumina, and kaolin, ceramics, and cement clinker. The use of the particularly described grinding additive composition are food-grade or food-contact approved, and are believed by the present inventors to resist the humectant behavior of the resultant ground particles which could in herently otherwise decrease efficiency of the particulate grinding process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modification of hydratable cement and cementitious materials, such as mortar cement and masonry or ready-mix concrete using ketone alcohol oil waste (“KAOW”) material, obtained as an alkali-soluble liquor waste byproduct at a certain stage in the commercial production of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone. Preferred applications for KAOW are in chemical admixture formulations whereby KAOW is used to substitute for a portion of a cement dispersant such as sodium lignosulfonate, sodium gluconate, or other conventional dispersant. Another preferred use is in mortar cement and masonry concrete units such as blocks, pavers, curbstones, and other concrete masonry units wherein air void systems advantageously foster freeze-thaw durability.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods relative to controlling hydration onset of an alkaline earth metal oxide such as calcium oxide, comprising heating an inorganic alkaline earth metal oxide to sub-calcination temperatures in the presence of organic material comprising a carbohydrate, an amino-carboxylic acid, a hydroxycarboxylic acid, or a mixture thereof. Preferred treated particles comprise at least 40% and more preferably at least 80% by dry weight calcium oxide which is heated in the presence of ascorbic acid and a starch. Treated particles of the present invention manifest an unexpected, surprising hydration induction postponement behavior as demonstrated through calorimetric testing.

Abstract: A method of making a cement composition, comprising grinding a cement clinker and a strength-enhancing agent, thereby producing a hydraulic cementitious powder, wherein the strength-enhancing agent is present in the hydraulic cementitious powder in an amount of from 0.001% to 0.09% based on dry weight of the hydraulic cementitious powder. The strength-enhancing agent is a compound represented by the following structural formula (I). The definitions of variables R1, R2, and R3 as well as R10, R20, and R30 are provided herein.

Abstract: A method for grinding a solid in a vertical roller mill (VRM), comprising grinding at least one solid in the presence of a grinding stabilizing additive, wherein the grinding stabilizing additive comprises an alkanol amino acid compound or a disodium or dipotassium salt thereof having the structural formula (I): The definitions of variables R1, R2, and R3 are provided herein.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the discovery that short chain aliphatic fatty acids, such as potassium sorbate, can be used in liquid-additive grinding compositions in the amount of at least 10%, more preferably at least 20%, and most preferably at least 30%, to mill carbonate materials into smaller particle size. The carbonate material can optionally be combined with another inorganic material in the grinding operation, such as limestone, lime, dolomites, talc, titanium dioxide, alumina, and kaolin, ceramics, and cement clinker. The use of the particularly described grinding additive composition are food-grade or food-contact approved, and are believed by the present inventors to resist the humectant behavior of the resultant ground particles which could in herently otherwise decrease efficiency of the particulate grinding process.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods relative to controlling hydration onset of an alkaline earth metal oxide such as calcium oxide, comprising heating an inorganic alkaline earth metal oxide to sub-calcination temperatures in the presence of organic material comprising a carbohydrate, an amino-carboxylic acid, a hydroxycarboxylic acid, or a mixture thereof. Preferred treated particles comprise at least 40% and more preferably at least 80% by dry weight calcium oxide which is heated in the presence of ascorbic acid and a starch. Treated particles of the present invention manifest an unexpected, surprising hydration induction postponement behavior as demonstrated through calorimetric testing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modification of hydratable cement and cementitious materials, such as mortar cement and masonry or ready-mix concrete using ketone alcohol oil waste (“KAOW”) material, obtained as an alkali-soluble liquor waste byproduct at a certain stage in the commercial production of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone. Preferred applications for KAOW are in chemical admixture formulations whereby KAOW is used to substitute for a portion of a cement dispersant such as sodium lignosulfonate, sodium gluconate, or other conventional dispersant. Another preferred use is in mortar cement and masonry concrete units such as blocks, pavers, curbstones, and other concrete masonry units wherein air void systems advantageously foster freeze-thaw durability.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fast response method and system wherein one or more comb-type polycarboxylate ether (PCE) polymers, having a cumulative absorptivity coefficient in the range of 40%-75%, are employed as fluidizing admixtures dosed into concrete by and in automated slump monitoring and control systems which iteratively monitors and adjusts the slump of the concrete mix.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fast response method and system wherein one or more comb-type polycarboxylate ether (PCE) polymers, having a cumulative adsorptivity coefficient in the range of 40%-75%, are employed as fluidizing admixtures dosed into concrete by and in automated slump monitoring and control systems which iteratively monitors and adjusts the slump of the concrete mix.

Abstract: The present invention discloses compositions and methods wherein polycarboxylate comb polymers are used as grinding additives. The comb polymers contain a carbon-containing backbone and pendant groups wherein oxyalkylene pendant groups contain one or more ether linkage groups for providing robustness to the polymer for resisting degradation during grinding and hence sustaining workability and strength of hydratable cementitious materials, such as cements, pozzolans, limestone, and other cementitious materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of polycationic compound in combination with a hydroxycarboxylic acid or salt thereof to enhance slump retention in cements and concretes having clay-bearing aggregates, wherein the clay otherwise absorbs or diminishes the dosage efficiency of polycarboxylate superplasticizers.

Abstract: An additive composition, a cement composition, and method for modifying rheology of an uncured masonry cement, comprising the use of at least one extra-cellular biopolymer, at least one anionic surfactant, and at least one cationic or amphoteric surfactant. Preferably, the biopolymer and surfactants are incorporated into the cement by incorporating the components into the grinding of clinker as part of the manufacture of the cement. Masonry cements produced by the invention have excellent workability, particularly when coarse sands are employed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses compositions and methods wherein polycarboxylate comb polymers are used as grinding additives. The comb polymers contain a carbon-containing backbone and pendant groups wherein oxyalkylene pendant groups contain one or more ether linkage groups for providing robustness to the polymer for resisting degradation during grinding and hence sustaining workability and strength of hydratable cementitious materials, such as cements, pozzolans, limestone, and other cementitious materials.

Abstract: Phosphate-containing polycarboxylate polymer dispersant compositions of the invention comprise a polymer made from polyoxyalkylene groups, acrylic acid groups, mono-ester groups, and optionally di-ester and tri-ester groups, all in specific molar ratios. The polymer dispersants of the invention achieve quick mix-in dispersibility, particularly within hydratable cementitious compositions such as concrete, in comparison with polycarboxylate polymer dispersants that do not contain phosphate groups, while having improved initial slump as well as slump retention compared to phosphate-containing polymers of the prior art.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of the invention for retarding the surface of a concrete or other hydratable cementitious composition involve the use of at least one alkyl-ester-of-hydroxycarboxy compound contained in the form of particles or as a discontinuous phase distributed within a continuous non-aqueous carrier phase that is spray-applicable in liquid form. The set retarder helps to achieve lower pH and to avoid irritating fogs during spray application of the surface retarder when compared to prior art acid-containing surface retarders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of polycationic compound in combination with a hydroxycarboxylic acid or salt thereof to enhance slump retention in cements and concretes having clay-bearing aggregates, wherein the clay otherwise absorbs or diminishes the dosage efficiency of polycarboxylate superplasticizers.