Abstract: The present invention is directed to cementitious dry cast mixtures for forming cementitious articles, particularly a cementitious dry cast mixture containing a dispersant, wherein said dispersant is a derivatized polycarboxylate dispersant which is a polymer comprising units derived from at least a substituted carboxylic acid monomer or substituted ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and optionally including at least one of an unsaturated hydrocarbon, an N-polyoxyalkylene maleimide, and a condensation product of an unsubstituted carboxylic acid monomer and an alkoxypolyoxyalkylene primary amine substituted carboxylic acid monomer.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a polymer dispersant comprising a substituted polyimide or polyamide backbone, having at least some proportion of oligomeric or polymeric grafted side chains including one of amides, esters, and thioesters, having the general formula: wherein X is at least one of hydrogen, an alkali earth metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, ammonium ion, and amine; R is at least one of C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl(ene) ether and mixtures thereof and C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl(ene) imine and mixtures thereof; Q is at least one of oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur; p is a number from 1 to about 300 resulting in at least one of a linear and branched side chain; R.sub.1 is at least one of hydrogen, C.sub.1 to C.sub.

Abstract: A cementitious formulation comprising a cement and an oligomeric dispersant is provided. The dispersant is a reaction product of two or three moieties. The first moiety (A) is a nonpolymeric, functional moiety that adsorbs onto a particle, and wherein one or more A moieties together contain at least two residues to provide attachment of the dispersant onto a particle to be dispersed. The second required moiety (C) is a linear or branched water soluble, nonionic polymer that provides the dispersing capability. A third moiety (B), if present, is a nonpolymeric moiety disposed between the first and second moiety, to connect the first and second moieties. A method is provided for dispersing a cementitious formulation comprising a cement in water, including providing in said cementitious formulation the above oligomeric dispersant.

Abstract: Polysuccinimide and/or polyaspartate, copolymers of succinimide and aspartate and the polymers cross-linked with a diamine are demonstrated to be enhancement agents for the preparation of cementitious materials. The agents may be added to the dry cementitious mixture or the water which is added to form the cementitious material upon hardening. The enhancement agents improve the workability of the wet cementitious mixture, reduce slump loss during mixing, transport, and placement of the wet cementious mixture; and may provide extra strength upon hardening of the cementitious material.

Abstract: A multi-media librarial storage system including a plurality of individual book-like storage containers is described. Each individual book-like storage container within the system is adapted to receive a plurality of interchangeable receiver inserts configured and dimensioned to retain a variety of multi-media cassette packages such as the common Philips audio cassette, video tape packages of the familiar VHS, VHS-C/8mm video cassettes, digital audio tape (DAT) cassettes, CD-ROMs, computer software diskettes, and other related multi-media items. The receiver inserts disposed within the storage containers are fabricated from sheets of foldable materials such as paperboard using cut and fold techniques common to the packaging industry. Interchangeability among a plurality of differently configured and dimensioned receiver inserts is achieved by the use of integral locking tabs formed on the receiver inserts which are installed within mating slots formed within the individual storage containers.

Abstract: A liquid alkali metal silicate composition comprises water, an alkali metal, e.g., sodium silicate, glyoxal, optionally a Group I-III metal salt, e.g., calcium chloride, and hydrogen peroxide, and from 0.5 to 2.0 moles of a polyhydroxy compound per mole of glyoxal used. The specific polyols are mannitol, glycerol and sucrose. This composition is easily pumpable and injectable at a temperature of 100.degree. F. or higher.

Abstract: An easily pumpable, liquid alkali metal, e.g., sodium silicate composition of controlled gelling characteristics contains water, an alkali metal silicate, glyoxal, optionally a Group I-III metal salt, e.g., calcium chloride, and from 0.005 to 0.10 weight/volume percent of sodium bisulfite/sodium metabisulfite, per liter of composition. This composition is easily applied at elevated temperatures, e.g., 100.degree. F. and higher.

Abstract: A liquid alkali metal silicate composition comprises water, an alkali metal, e.g., sodium silicate, and as curing agent for said alkali metal silicate, a derivative of glyoxal which is 2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-dioxane or glyoxal trimer. The composition optionally contains a Group I-III metal salt, e.g., calcium chloride and hydrogen peroxide. It is easily pumpable and injectable at a temperature of 100.degree. F. or higher.