Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating clay-bearing aggregates, particularly those used for construction purposes, whereby inclusion of fines is maximized due to minimization of clay washing which tends to remove such fines, and whereby performance of the aggregate-containing construction material is enhanced. Exemplary methods comprise introducing to clay a water-soluble, functionalized polyamine comprising a water-soluble polyamine formed by reacting an amine compound with an epoxy compound, the polyamine thus reacted being functionalized through the use of certain halide, sulfate, or epoxy compounds.

Abstract: System and method of the invention involves use of a sensor-containing body which is mounted and/or rotatably disposed along the longitudinal rotational axis of a concrete mixer drum at the close end, the sensor-containing body being connected to a conduit for introducing water, chemical admixture, gas, and/or cleansing fluid through the closed end of the drum into the mixer drum. Numerous heretofore unrealized combinations of advantages and benefits are provided within the concrete industry by the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and method for modifying a hydratable cementitious composition such as concrete or mortar using at least three different, distinct carboxylate polymers, even when clay is present in the concrete or mortar that would otherwise diminish dosage efficiency of polycarboxylate polymer used as dispersant. The three polycarboxylate polymers, designated as Polymer I, Polymer II, and Polymer II, are derived from monomer Components A, B, and C wherein Component A is an unsaturated carboxylic acid, Component B is a polyoxyalkylene, and Component C is an unsaturated carboxylate ester. The component molar ratio ranges for A:B:C are different as between Polymers I and II; while a distinct component molar ratio A:B+C is identified for Polymer III. When treated with these three different polycarboxylate polymers, the hydratable cementitious composition is surprisingly enhanced in terms of initial workability and slump retention, especially if clay is present.

Abstract: A system and process for detecting dynamic segregation in concrete rotated within a mixer drum, such as mounted on a delivery truck. A system processor is programmed to monitor an instantaneous and averaged rheology parameter (e.g., instantaneous and averaged slump values) and to deploy one or more protocols for detecting the occurrence of segregation. A first protocol comprises monitoring the averaged slump or other rheology value of concrete during and immediately after a jump in drum speed of at least plus or minus four rotations per minute and detecting when a change in the averaged slump value meets or exceeds a threshold limit pre-selected by the user or the system processor; and an optional second protocol comprises monitoring the instantaneous slump or other rheology value of the concrete when the mixer drum is rotating at a constant speed for at least three successive rotations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and method for modifying a hydratable cementitious composition such as concrete or mortar using at least three different, distinct carboxylate polymers, even when clay is present in the concrete or mortar that would otherwise diminish dosage efficiency of polycarboxylate polymer used as dispersant. The three polycarboxylate polymers, designated as Polymer I, Polymer II, and Polymer II, are derived from monomer Components A, B, and C wherein Component A is an unsaturated carboxylic acid, Component B is a polyoxyalkylene, and Component C is an unsaturated carboxylate ester. The component molar ratio ranges for A:B:C are different as between Polymers I and II; while a distinct component molar ratio A:B+C is identified for Polymer III. When treated with these three different polycarboxylate polymers, the hydratable cementitious composition is surprisingly enhanced in terms of initial workability and slump retention, especially if clay is present.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods involving the use of a carboxylate graft polymer having high molecular weight and low ratio of acid-to-polyoxyalkylene groups. Such clay-mitigation is particularly useful for treating clay and clay-bearing aggregates, particularly those aggregates used for construction purposes. The present invention minimizes the need to wash the aggregates, thus preserving fine aggregates (“fines”) content in construction materials, and thereby beneficiating the performance and/or properties of construction materials containing the clay-bearing aggregates.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and method for modifying a hydratable cementitious composition such as concrete or mortar using at least three different, distinct carboxylate polymers, even when clay is present in the concrete or mortar that would otherwise diminish dosage efficiency of polycarboxylate polymer used as dispersant. The three polycarboxylate polymers, designated as Polymer I, Polymer II, and Polymer II, are derived from monomer Components A, B, and C wherein Component A is an unsaturated carboxylic acid, Component B is a polyoxyalkylene, and Component C is an unsaturated carboxylate ester. The component molar ratio ranges for A:B:C are different as between Polymers I and II; while a distinct component molar ratio A:B+C is identified for Polymer III. When treated with these three different polycarboxylate polymers, the hydratable cementitious composition is surprisingly enhanced in terms of initial workability and slump retention, especially if clay is present.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and method for modifying a hydratable cementitious composition such as concrete or mortar using at least three different, distinct carboxylate polymers, even when clay is present in the concrete or mortar that would otherwise diminish dosage efficiency of polycarboxylate polymer used as dispersant. The three polycarboxylate polymers, designated as Polymer I, Polymer II, and Polymer II, are derived from monomer Components A, B, and C wherein Component A is an unsaturated carboxylic acid, Component B is a polyoxyalkylene, and Component C is an unsaturated carboxylate ester. The component molar ratio ranges for A:B:C are different as between Polymers I and II; while a distinct component molar ratio A:B+C is identified for Polymer III. When treated with these three different polycarboxylate polymers, the hydratable cementitious composition is surprisingly enhanced in terms of initial workability and slump retention, especially if clay is present.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mitigating the deleterious effect of clays, which are born or conveyed by sand aggregates, crushed rock, gravel, and other aggregates used in the manufacture of concrete, upon the dosage efficiency of cement dispersants or other admixtures which are added into concrete. Instead of introducing the entire cement mitigation agent (CMA) into the aggregate material at a quarry or upon batching in the mix plant in a singular, upfront dose, the present invention comprises combining at least 51% and up to 100%, and, most preferably, at least 75% and up to 100%, of the total dosage amount of the CMAs into a given concrete mix batch during the transit portion of the delivery between initial batching at the mix plant and the pour event at the job site.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods involving the use of a carboxylate graft polymer having high molecular weight and low ratio of acid-to-polyoxyalkylene groups. Such clay-mitigation is particularly useful for treating clay and clay-bearing aggregates, particularly those aggregates used for construction purposes. The present invention minimizes the need to wash the aggregates, thus preserving fine aggregates (“fines”) content in construction materials, and thereby beneficiating the performance and/or properties of construction materials containing the clay-bearing aggregates.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating clay-bearing aggregates, particularly those used for construction purposes, whereby inclusion of fines is maximized due to minimization of clay washing which tends to remove such fines, and whereby performance of the aggregate-containing construction material is enhanced. Exemplary methods comprise introducing to clay a water-soluble, functionalized polyamine comprising a water-soluble polyamine formed by reacting an amine compound with an epoxy compound, the polyamine thus reacted being functionalized through the use of certain halide, sulfate, or epoxy compounds.