# US 9,751,812 B2 · Taggant for cement authentication > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,812 B2 - Document ID: US9751812B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/292,334 - Filed: 2014-05-30 - Published: 2015-12-03 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-30 - Assignees: Elwha LLC - Applicants: Elwha LLC - Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers; Bran Ferren; W. Daniel Hillis; Roderick A. Hyde; Jordin T. Kare; Cameron A. Myhrvold; Conor L. Myhrvold; Nathan P. Myhrvold; Thomas J. Nugent, Jr.; Tony S. Pan; Clarence T. Tegreene; David B. Tuckerman; Lowell L. Wood, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751812B2 ## CPC - C04B 40/0096: {Provisions for indicating condition of the compositions or the final products, e.g. degree of homogeneous mixing, degree of wear} - C04B 28/02: containing hydraulic cements other than calcium sulfates - G01N 33/383: {Concrete or cement} - C04B 2103/54: Pigments; Dyes - C04B: LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE {(roofing granules E04D7/005)}; CERAMICS (devitrified glass-ceramics C03C10/00); REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A traceable cement mixture includes a volume of cementitious material and a taggant disposed within the volume of cementitious material. The taggant includes data relating to a characteristic of the volume of cementitious material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A traceable cement mixture, comprising: a volume of cementitious material; a plurality of taggants disposed within the volume of cementitious material according to a taggant mix ratio that is specified based on a quality of the cementitious material, the plurality of taggants including data relating to a characteristic of the volume of cementitious material; and a volume of an additional material mixed with the volume of cementitious material according an additional material mix ratio. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mixture of claim 1, wherein the characteristic includes at least one of a grade, a quality, a manufacturer, a manufacture date, an inspection status, an inspection date, and an approval status of the volume of cementitious material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mixture of claim 1, wherein the plurality of taggants comprise a hollow shell, the hollow shell configured to float within a volume of water. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The mixture of claim 1, wherein the plurality of taggants include a material that changes color when exposed to water. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The mixture of claim 4, wherein the material includes a water-sensitive dye. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The mixture of claim 4, wherein the material includes iron, and wherein oxidation or reduction of the material provides a color change. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The mixture of claim 1, wherein the additional material includes at least one of an aggregate, a reinforcement fiber, a chemical admixture, and a mineral admixture. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The mixture of claim 1, wherein the plurality of taggants are secured. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The mixture of claim 1, wherein the plurality of taggants include a material having fluorescent properties, the material configured to at least one of provide information and identify the taggant within a volume of concrete associated with the volume of cementitious material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The mixture of claim 9, wherein the plurality of taggants have a maximum dimension of less than one millimeter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The mixture of claim 1, wherein the plurality of taggants include a RFID device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The mixture of claim 1, further comprising a second taggant. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The mixture of claim 1, wherein the taggant has a density that is substantially equal to a density of a volume of concrete associated with the volume of cementitious material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The mixture of claim 1, wherein the taggant has a density that is substantially less than a density of the volume of cementitious material such that the taggant sinks upon hydration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The mixture of claim 1, wherein the taggant has a density that is approximately equal to a density of the volume of cementitious material such that the taggant raises or sinks upon dilution. ### Claim 16 A traceable cement mixture, comprising: a volume of cementitious material; a first taggant disposed within the volume of cementitious material, the first taggant including data relating to a first characteristic of the volume of cementitious material; and a second taggant disposed within the volume of cementitious material, the second taggant including data relating to a second characteristic of the volume of cementitious material different than the first characteristic, wherein the first taggant includes data that is different than the data of the second taggant. ### Claim 17 A traceable cement mixture, comprising: a volume of cementitious material; and a taggant disposed within the volume of cementitious material, the taggant including data relating to a characteristic of the volume of cementitious material, wherein the characteristic includes a number density of taggants within the volume of cementitious material, the number density of taggants specified based on a quality of the cementitious material.