Method for making improved ceramic cement compositions containing a dispersed seeded phase and a method and apparatus for producing seed crystals
OwnerDavid M. Goodsoninventor
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Abstract
A method of controlling the physical properties of cement by adding a predetermined amount of a second phase to a first phase cementitious precursor. The second phase is added in the form of seed crystals having controlled sizes, shapes, and compositions. The seed crystals provide growth sites upon curing the cement for a second phase in the cement body. The curing is accelerated by the presence of the seed crystals. Control of the microstructure of the resulting cement body through controlled distribution and growth of the seed crystals enables the formation of a cement body having precisely controlled physical properties.
Claims45
A method of making microstructure control additives for a cement, comprising:
- a) providing a drop tower having an upper portion, a middle portion, and a lower portion in fluid communication;
- b) providing a top fluid in the top portion;
- c) providing a first nutrient fluid in the middle portion;
- d) providing a wash fluid in the lower portion
- e) introducing seed precursors into the top portion of the drop tower;
- f) passing seed precursors from the top portion through the tower into the bottom portion;
- and
- g) extracting starter seeds from the bottom portion.
A method of controlling the physical properties of cement, comprising:
- aa) providing a supply of nearly spherical seed crystals sized with a PSD ranging from about 2 nanometers to 10 microns;
- bb) providing a cement precursor with a majority of the cementitious particles having sizes in the PSD range from about 1 to 20 microns;
- and
- cc) mixing seed crystals into the cement powder to produce a seeded cement precursor with a by volume seed to cement precursor ratio of about 1:100.
A method of making seed additives for a cement, comprising:
- aaa) providing a drop tower;
- bbb) providing a nutrient solution at least partially filling the drop tower;
- ccc) providing a wash solution;
- ddd) passing seed precursors through the nutrient solution to form seeds;
- and
- eee) washing the seeds.
A drop tower for making ceramic particulate compositions, comprising:
- a generally cylindrical upper portion;
- a generally cylindrical middle portion;
- a generally cylindrical lower portion;
- and
- nutrient fluid means for growing seed crystals contained in at least one portion;
- wherein the upper portion, the middle portion, and the lower portion are in fluid communication with each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.