Abstract: A method and apparatus are directed to heating materials by application of radio frequency (“RF”) energy. The materials to be heated may include petroleum ore, such as bitumen, oil sands, oil shale, tar sands, or heavy oil. Petroleum ore is mixed with a substance that includes mini-dipole susceptors such as carbon strands. A source is provided which applies RF energy to the mixture of a power and frequency sufficient to heat the mini-dipole susceptors. The RF energy is applied for a sufficient time to allow the mini-dipole susceptors to heat the mixture to an average temperature greater than about 212° F. (100° C.). Optionally, the mini-dipole susceptors can be removed after the desired average temperature has been achieved. The susceptors may provide advantages for the RF heating of hydrocarbons, such as higher temperatures (sufficient for distillation or pyrolysis), anhydrous processing, and greater speed or efficiency.

Abstract: An asphaltic sheet comprising an asphaltic component including an asphalt binder and expandable graphite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bitumen or asphalt formulation for the pavement of road surfaces, said formulation comprising a mixture of bitumen and aggregates, and an additive package evenly distributed therein, said additive package comprising from about i) 10 to 60% by weight of an amine or modified amine surfactant, ii) from about 20 to 90% of an asphalt rheology modifying component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bitumen or asphalt formulation for the pavement of road surfaces, said formulation comprising a mixture of bitumen and aggregates, and an additive package evenly distributed therein, said additive package comprising from about i) 10 to 60% by weight of an amine or modified amine surfactant, ii) from about 20 to 90% of an asphalt rheology modifying component.

Abstract: The use of fine agglomerate mixtures and coarse agglomerate mixtures as an agglomerates filler materials in asphalt compositions. The fine agglomerate mixtures and coarse agglomerate mixtures are prepared from pyrolyzed polymeric and/or carbonaceous materials that have been refined into mixtures having consistent particle size and binding affinity with asphalt binders. An asphalt cement composition in accordance with one aspect of the present invention has an asphalt binder combined with an agglomerates filler formed from pyrolized carbonaceous material. The agglomerates filler material is generally about 1% to about 20% of the weight of the mixture of the agglomerates filler and the asphalt binder. The asphalt composition also includes an aggregate material that is mixed with the asphalt binder and the agglomerates filler. The end result is a lower cost asphalt composition that exhibits greater long range durability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bitumen or asphalt formulation for the pavement of road surfaces, said formulation comprising a mixture of bitumen and aggregates, and an additive package evenly distributed therein, said additive package comprising from about i) 10 to 60% by weight of an amine or modified amine surfactant, ii) from about 20 to 90% of an asphalt rheology modifying component.

Abstract: The present invention is a fly ash filler or filler blend having a particle size distribution with at least three modes that can be combined with a polymer at higher filler loadings to produce a filled polymer for polymer composites that, in many cases, can produce improved mechanical properties for the polymer composites over polymer composites using conventional fillers. As a result, superior polymer composites (e.g. those used in carpet backing) can be produced at a lower cost than conventional polymer composites. The present invention also includes a method for producing a polymer composite, comprising the steps of combining a polymer with a fly ash filler or a filler blend having a particle size distribution with at least three modes to produce a filled polymer and producing a polymer composite with the resulting filled polymer. The present invention further includes a method of determining what fly ashes can be used as fillers for polymer composites.

Abstract: Recycled tire rubber, either in the presence or the absence of carbonaceous waste solids such as those from petroleum refinery operations, is first subjected to a heat treatment to release volatile materials and then combined with a liquid asphalt composition to achieve an asphalt mastic that is storage stable and of uniform consistency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing carbon black or other flame aerosols, comprising the following steps: the heat is removed from the flame by dissipation and/or radiation; a thin gas boundary layer is formed; the flow formed by the flame and the gas boundary layer is accelerated or expanded; the obtained aerosol is withdrawn; and the cooling surface is cleaned. The invention further relates to a device for carrying out such a method and a black carbon having a maximum pH value of 6.0, a maximum ignition residue of 0.1 percent, and a maximum 5 ?m screening refuse of 200 ppm. The inventive black carbon can be used in rubber, plastic, printing inks, inks, inkjet inks, toners, lacquers, dyes, paper, bitumen, concrete, and other construction materials.

Abstract: Compositions of discrete substances that are capable of being mixed together to form a composite material and methods for making the compositions are disclosed. The composition includes a plurality of pellets of a tacky, deformable material at an ambient temperature dispersed within a flowable fine material. The fine material occupies the interstices between the plurality of pellets in a manner that minimizes pellet to pellet contact.

Abstract: A new ramming paste for aluminum reduction cell cathodes is a high swelling cold ramming paste made of a blend of pitch, light oil diluent and an aggregate comprising a mixture of anthracite and crushed anode butts or calcined coke. The presence of the crushed anode butts or calcined coke increases the sodium swelling index of the paste by about four times higher than that of regular ramming pastes. This new high swelling cold ramming paste may also contain an amount of a refractory hard material, such as TiB2.

Abstract: Sulfur, useable in as an additive to asphalt in the preparation of asphalt binders can be plasticized by addition of carbon and further treated with amyl acetate. This plasticized sulfur can be formed into solid particles and then added to asphalt as either a minority or majority component to create desired paving binder compositions. The solid plasticized sulfur has non-stick non-flow properties within a wide range of ambient temperatures, and it can be stored solid for subsequent use in paving applications.

Abstract: A refractory repair batch material includes a refractory, in particular a basic resistor component in granule form and a binder system. The binder system contains at least one hard bitumen component in granule form, at least one ignitable metal powder and at least one combustible mineral oil.

Abstract: A road paving material includes an aggregate, asphalt, and fine ceramic particles selected from the group consisting of RBC particles, CRBC particles, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Solid, low-cost paving binder prepared by admixing sulfur, paving grade asphalt (AC) asphalt, and a siliceous filler such as fly ash and silica material, and solidifying the product into preferably flaked, pellet or pastille forms. Carbon black is another possible ingredient of the paving binder. The solid paving binder has non-sick non-flow properties within a wide range of ambient temperatures, and it can be stored solid for subsequent use in paving applications. Properties such as the color, radiation-resistance, and odor of the paving binder can be controlled in the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A road paving material includes an aggregate, asphalt, and fine ceramic particles selected from the group consisting of RBC particles, CRBC particles, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is a fly ash filler or filler blend having a particle size distribution with at least three modes that when combined with asphalt produces asphalt composites such as roofing shingles with improved mechanical properties at a lower cost than asphalt shingles produced using conventional calcium carbonate fillers. The present invention also includes a method for producing an asphalt composite, comprising the steps of combining asphalt with a fly ash filler or a filler blend having a particle size distribution with at least three modes and producing an asphalt composite with the resulting filled asphalt. The present invention further includes a method of determining what fly ashes can be used as fillers for asphalt composites such as roofing shingles.

Abstract: In a method of improving the weathering of a bituminous coating, a microwave-produced carbon black is added to the coating. The microwave-produced carbon black is added in an amount sufficient to increase the cycles-to-failure of the coating by at least about 10% compared to the same coating without the added microwave-produced carbon black, when tested for weathering according to ASTM D 4799-00.

Abstract: Sulfur, useable in as an additive to asphalt in the preparation of asphalt binders can be plasticized by addition of carbon and further treated with amyl acetate. This plasticized sulfur can be formed into solid particles and then added to asphalt as either a minority or majority component to create desired paving binder compositions. The solid plasticized sulfur has non-sick non-flow properties within a wide range of ambient temperatures, and it can be stored solid for subsequent use in paving applications.

Abstract: In a method of improving the weathering of a bituminous coating, a microwave-produced carbon black is added to the coating. The microwave-produced carbon black is added in an amount sufficient to increase the cycles-to-failure of the coating by at least about 10% compared to the same coating without the added microwave-produced carbon black, when tested for weathering according to ASTM D 4799-00.

Abstract: A filler composition comprising a filler material and a hydrocarbonaceous material having a volatility of less than or equal to 5% at 200° and a time of 2 hours. The hydrocarboneous material may comprise a bituminous material comprising bitumen, oxibitumen, or mixtures thereof; petroleum/oil cracker residue bottoms, for example ethylene cracker residues (ECR); carbon black feedstock fuels comprising less than or equal to 5%, by weight, sulfur and having a molar hydrogen to carbon ratio between 0.90:1 and 1.10:1; linear or cyclic condensation products comprising an aromatic alcohol, for example, phenol, catechol, resorcinol, naphthol, and an aldehyde, for example formaldehyde, preferably where the aromatic alcohol is present in a molar excess; or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An electrically poorly conductive material for producing external glow-discharge protection for an electrical conductor, includes a base material which is provided with a conductive coating on at least one side. In order to ensure adequate external glow-discharge protection and cost-effective production of an insulating sleeve, even for high rated voltages, the conductive coating is produced essentially from carbon, which has microcrystalline and amorphous structures.

Abstract: Asphaltic concrete compounds comprised of asphalt cement and aggregate have, as a substantial portion of their respective aggregates, anthracite coal particles and fines, which are added specially as a lossy microwave material. These asphaltic concrete compounds are particularly useful when laid down as a pavement, or a top layer of a pavement, which thereafter can be freed of ice, by using microwave energy to debond the ice. The debonding of the ice occurs without causing any noticeable melting of the ice, and the debonded ice is thereafter easily lifted and removed from the pavement of the way, serving as a roadway, highway, runway, or walkway. Also these asphaltic concrete compounds are particularly useful as patching materials when damaged pavement is being repaired, especially during cold weather.

Abstract: An improved process for making asphalt involves incorporating tar sands into a hot asphalt mix process and modifying the process. The improved process involves using a heated asphalt counter-flow drum mixer to admix asphaltic cement, coarse aggregate, and fine aggregate. During this mixing process, the admixture is heated to produce the asphaltic concrete. In the improved process from about 20 to about 80 percent tar sand is mixed with from about 80 to about 20 percent aggregate and from about 1 to less than about 5 percent liquid asphalt cement in a drum mixer to form an admixture, heating the admixture to a first elevated temperature (e.g., 250° and 400° F.) for a set period of time (e.g., 40 to about 90 seconds); and discharging the heated admixture at a second elevated temperature (e.g., from about 150° to about 350° F.) to produce asphaltic concrete. Preferably, the aggregate has a gradation of 10 to 25 percent passing a #4 sieve, and the admixture has substantially no added fines.