Cement compositions comprising sub-micron alumina and associated methods

A cement composition comprising:

• hydraulic cement selected from the group consisting of a Portland cement, a pozzolana cement, a gypsum cement, a high-alumina-content cement, a slag cement, a silica/lime cement, and any combination thereof;
• and wherein the hydraulic cement is free of fly ash;
• sub-micron particles consisting of alumina and having a particle size in a range of about 150 nm to about 950 nm, wherein the sub-micron alumina particles are present in an amount in a range of from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the hydraulic cement on a dry basis;
• and wherein the sub-micron alumina particles are a separate component from the hydraulic cement;
• latex, wherein the latex comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-propylene rubber, a styrene-butadiene rubber, a nitrile rubber, a nitrile butadiene rubber, a butyl rubber, a neoprene rubber, a polybutadiene rubber, an acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene rubber, a polyisoprene rubber, an AMPS-styrene-butadiene rubber, and any combination thereof;
• and
• water, in an amount in the range of about 35% to about 70% by weight of the hydraulic cement.

A cement composition comprising:

• hydraulic cement, wherein the hydraulic cement is free of fly ash;
• sub-micron particles consisting of alumina, which are a separate component from the hydraulic cement, wherein the sub-micron particles have a particle size in a range of from about 150 nm to about 950 nm, and wherein the sub-micron particles are present in an amount in a range of from 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the hydraulic cement on a dry basis;
• latex in an amount of about 2% to about 45% by weight of the cement on a dry basis;
• wherein the latex comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-propylene rubber, a styrene-butadiene rubber, a nitrile rubber, a nitrile butadiene rubber, a butyl rubber, a neoprene rubber, a polybutadiene rubber, an acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene rubber, a polyisoprene rubber, an AMPS-styrene-butadiene rubber, and any combination thereof;
• and
• water, in an amount in the range of about 33% to about 200% by weight of the hydraulic cement.