Compositions for improved concrete performance

A process for the preparation of a concrete installation, said process comprising the steps of:

• A) creating a concrete mix from components, said components comprising each of the following:
• a) a quantity of dry cement mix, said cement mix characterized by:
• i) a manufacturer suggested water/cement ratio value;
• wherein said suggested ratio falls in the range of from about 0.35 to about 0.65;
• and whereupon combination with b), the water/cement ratio is greater than the value corresponding to about 10% less than the suggested value and not greater than the value corresponding to about 30% greater than the suggested value;
• or
• ii) manufacturer suggested water/cement ratio range, having an upper value and a lower value, and whereupon combination with b) below, the water/cement ratio is greater than the value corresponding to about 10% less than the lower value and less than the value corresponding to about 30% greater than the upper value;
• or
• iii) an amount such that, whereupon combination with b) below, the water/cement ratio is in the range of from about 0.35 to 0.65;
• b) a quantity of water,
• c) a quantity of amorphous silica in the range of from about 0.1 to about 7.0 ounces per hundredweight of cement in a);
• wherein the average silica particle size is in the range of from about 1 to about 55 nanometers and/or wherein the surface area of the silica particles is in the range of from about 50 to about 900 m2/g;
• and
• d) a quantity of aggregate and/or a quantity of sand in the range of from about 400 to about 700 wt % bwoc;
• wherein the concrete mix is essentially superplasticizer-free;
• and
• B) wherein the water of b) is added in its entirety or in portions comprising an initial portion, comprising at least about 20 wt % of the quantity of water, and a tailwater portion;
• wherein the initial portion of water is combined with a) and the components of d) to form a first mix;
• and wherein the amorphous silica is added to the first mix to form a second mix;
• AND wherein the tailwater is 1) added to the first mix or 2) added to the second mix;
• or 3) is co-added with the amorphous silica to the first mix, wherein the amorphous silica and the tailwater are, optionally, intercombined;
• and wherein 1) the first mix is agitated for a time t11 prior to the addition of the tailwater, for a time t12 after the addition of the tailwater but before the addition of the amorphous silica, and for a time t13 after the addition of the amorphous silica;
• or 2) the first mix is agitated for a time t21 prior to the addition of the amorphous silica, for a time t22 after the addition of the amorphous silica but before the addition of the tailwater, and for a time t23 after the addition of the tailwater;
• or 3) the first mix is agitated for a time t31 prior to co-addition of the amorphous silica and the tailwater, and whereupon the concrete mix is then agitated for a time t32;
• OR
• C) wherein the quantity of water is added to a) and the components of d) to form a mix, whereupon said mix is agitated for a time ta prior to the addition of the amorphous silica, whereupon the concrete mix is then agitated for a time tb;
• and
• D) pouring the concrete mix of B) or C) to form a concrete installation;
• wherein t11 is in the range of from about 2 minutes to about 8 minutes, t12 is in the range of from about 0.5 to about 4 minutes, t13 is in the range of from about 2 minutes to about 10 minutes, t21 is in the range of from about 2 minutes to about 8 minutes, t22 is in the range of from about 0.5 minutes to about 2 minutes, t23 is in the range of from about 2 minutes to about 10 minutes, t31 is in the range of from about 2 minutes to about 8 minutes, t32 is in the range of from about 2 minutes to about 10 minutes, ta is in the range of from about 2 minutes to about 8 minutes and tb is in the range of from about 2 minutes to about 10 minutes.

A process for the preparation of a concrete mixture in a mixing truck, said process comprising the steps of:

• A) creating a concrete mix from components in the mixing truck, said components comprising each of the following:
• a) a quantity of dry cement mix, said cement mix characterized by one of:
• i) a manufacturer suggested water/cement ratio value;
• wherein said suggested ratio value falls in the range of from about 0.35 to about 0.65;
• and whereupon in combination with b), the water/cement ratio is not greater than the value corresponding to about 30% greater than the suggested value;
• or
• ii) a manufacturer suggested water/cement ratio range, the manufacturer suggested water/cement ratio range having an upper value and a lower value, and whereupon combination with b) below, the actual water/cement ratio is less than about 30% greater than the upper value;
• b) a quantity of water;
• c) a quantity of amorphous silica, wherein the average silica particle size is in the rang of from about 1 to about 55 nanometers and/or wherein the surface area of the particles of the amorphous silica is in the range of from about 50 to about 900 m2/g;
• d) a quantity of aggregate and/or sand;
• and
• B) wherein the water of b) is added in its entirety or in portions comprising an initial portion, consisting of at least about 20 wt % of the quantity of water, and a tailwater portion;
• wherein the initial portion of water is combined with a) and the components of d) to form a first mix;
• and wherein the amorphous silica is added to the first mix to form a second mix;
• AND
• wherein the tailwater is 1) added to the first mix or 2) added to the second mix;
• or 3) is co-added with the amorphous silica to the first mix, wherein the amorphous silica and the tailwater are, optionally, intercombined;
• and wherein 1) the first mix is agitated for a time prior to the addition of the tailwater, for a time after the addition of the tailwater but before the addition of the amorphous silica, and for a time after the addition of the amorphous silica;
• or 2) the first mix is agitated for a time prior to the addition of the amorphous silica, for a time after the addition of the amorphous silica but before the addition of the tailwater, and for a time after the addition of the tailwater;
• or 3) the first mix is agitated for a time prior to co-addition of the amorphous silica and the tailwater, and whereupon the concrete mix is then agitated for a time;
• OR
• C) wherein the quantity of water of b) is added to a) and the components of d) to form a first mix, agitating the first mix for a first time, adding the amorphous silica of c) and adding a tailwater portion comprising the remainder of the quantity of water of b), if any, to the first mix to form a second mix, and agitating the second mix for a second time.