Methods for increasing aggregate hardness, hardened aggregate, and structures including the hardened aggregate

Abstract

Methods for increasing the hardness of aggregate include applying a hardener to the aggregate. The hardener may react with a material of the aggregate and/or a material on a surface of the aggregate. For example, an alkali metal silicate, such as lithium polysilicate, or a colloidal silica may chemically react with calcium oxide and/or calcium hydroxide of an aggregate or on an aggregate to create cementitious material, which may at least partially fill pores in the surface of the aggregate, harden an existing microtexture of the aggregate and/or enhance the microtexture of the aggregate. These characteristics may enhance frictional characteristics, the wear characteristics and the durability of the aggregate, and of any structures formed from composite materials that include the aggregate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.