Cement additives and related methods of use

Abstract

Cement and concrete additives and related methods of making and using such additives are disclosed and described. An additive can include molasses and a carrier. An enhanced Portland cement composition can comprise about 97 wt % to 99.9 wt % of the composition and the above described additive comprises about 0.01 wt % to about 3 wt % of the composition.

1 . A method of manufacturing an enhanced Portland cement for use in the preparation of a concrete having enhanced compressive strength, comprising:
 admixing Portland cement with an additive, wherein the additive comprises molasses and a carrier, and wherein the Portland cement and the additive are present in the enhanced Portland cement at a ratio of Portland cement to additive of about 1:1000 (w/w) to about 1:25 (w/w).   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Portland cement and the additive are present in the enhanced Portland cement at a ratio of Portland cement to additive of about 0.4:250 (w/w) to about 1:39 (w/w). 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier includes a member selected from the group consisting of fly ash, shale, slate, limestone, basalt, rhyolite, volcanic ash, ash, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises water is a liquid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the ratio of the amount (wt %) of liquid carrier to the amount (wt %) of molasses is about 1:99 and 99:0.1. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of admixing occurs during the manufacturing of the Portland cement. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the admixing occurs following formation of clinker. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the admixing is accomplished by spraying the additive onto clinker having an elevated temperature. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the elevated temperature is less than about 275° F. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the admixing occurs during grinding of clinker into powdered Portland cement. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the molasses has a Brix value of at least 65. 
     
     
         17 . A powder additive for Portland cements, comprising:
 a molasses, and   a carrier,   wherein the molasses and the carrier are homogenously blended and are in the form of a substantially dry powder.   
     
     
         18 . The additive of  claim 17 , wherein the carrier comprises about 60 wt % to about 90 wt % of the additive. 
     
     
         19 . The additive of  claim 17 , wherein the carrier includes a member selected from the group consisting of fly ash, metakaolin, microsilica, shale, slate, limestone, basalt, rhyolite, ground ash, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The additive of  claim 17 , wherein the carrier includes fly ash and the fly ash comprises about 65 wt % to about 75 wt % of the additive. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The additive of  claim 17 , wherein the carrier is water. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The additive of  claim 17 , wherein the molasses comprises about 15 wt % to about 40 wt % of the additive. 
     
     
         25 . The additive of  claim 17 , wherein the a ratio of the molasses to the carrier is 1:3 (w/w) to about 2:3 (w/w). 
     
     
         26 . The additive of  claim 17 , wherein the molasses has a Brix value of at least about 65. 
     
     
         27 . The additive of  claim 17 , wherein the molasses is cane molasses. 
     
     
         28 . The additive of  claim 17 , wherein the additive is formulated for mixing with Portland cement at a ratio (w/w) of additive to Portland cement of 1:1000 to 1:25. 
     
     
         29 . The additive of  claim 17 , wherein the additive further includes one or more compound selected from the group consisting of polycarboxylate ether, sodium lignosulfonate, sodium naphthalene sulfonate, melamine sulfonate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         30 . An enhanced powdered Portland cement composition, comprising:
 about 97 wt % to 99.99 wt % of a Portland cement, and about 0.01 wt % to about 3 wt % of an additive comprising molasses, molasses.   
     
     
         31 . The enhanced Portland cement composition of  claim 30 , wherein upon mixing with an amount of water, gravel, and sand to form a concrete having a target slump, and then allowing the concrete to cure for 28 days, the concrete has a compressive strength after 28 days that is at least 30% greater than the compressive strength after 28 days of an equivalent concrete having the same target slump but with no additive. 
     
     
         32 .- 51 . (canceled)