W. R. Grace Co.-conn.

Christon L Hill

Ara A Jeknavorian

Chia-Chih Ou

Felek Jachimowicz

Leslie A Jardine

Hideo Koyata

Byong-Wa Chun

Kevin J Folliard

An exemplary surface active agent admixture composition of the invention comprises (1) a first surface active agent comprising a betaine, an alkyl or aryl or alkylaryl sulfonate, or mixture thereof; and (2) a second surface active agent comprising a nonionic oxyalkylene-containing polymer surfactant. The present invention therefore provides a system for ensuring the presence in a hydratable cementitious composition (when hardened) a sufficient air volume and sufficient air void fineness and consistency. Further exemplary admixture compositions may comprise one or more plasticizers and one or more clay activity-modifying agents. Cementitious compositions and methods for modifying cementitious compositions, which incorporate the above-mentioned surface active agent combination, are also described. The invention provides the ability to adjust and stabilize air void systems in hydratable cementitious compositions, while allowing conventional air entraining agent (AEA) dosage practices to be followed.

Air management in cementitious mixtures having plasticizer and a clay-activity modifying agent

In the preparation of aqueous cement compositions containing a plasticizer, such as an EO/PO polymer-containing plasticizer, or EO/PO comb polymer-containing plasticizer, and further containing clay, such as a smectite clay, which expands when in contact with water, the step of providing an agent operative to modify the clay whereby the plasticizer absorbing capability of the clay is reduced. In exemplary methods of the invention, the plasticizer is an EO/PO (e.g., oxyalkylene) plasticizer and preferably an EO/PO comb polymer, and the clay-activity-modifying agent may comprise an inorganic cation, an organic cation, a polar organic molecule capable of being absorbed by the clay, a clay dispersant (such as a polyphosphate), or a mixture thereof. For clay-activity-modifying agents which comprise a cation or a polar organic molecule, the agent is preferably added to the clay before water is introduced to the clay. For clay dispersant agents and some organic cations such as quaternary amines (which have a strong affinity for cationic exchange with the clay), the agent may be added before, during, or after water is introduced to the clay.

Admixture for optimizing addition of EO/PO plasticizers

Admixture and method for optimizing addition of EO/PO superplasticizer to concrete containing smectite clay-containing aggregates

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Washington, DC, United States of America

Christon L Hill