Taggant for cement authentication

Abstract

A traceable cement mixture includes 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, and a volume of an additional material mixed with the volume of cementitious material according an additional material mix ratio.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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; and   a volume of an additional material mixed with the volume of cementitious material according an additional material mix ratio.   
     
     
         2 . 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. 
     
     
         3 . 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. 
     
     
         4 . 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. 
     
     
         5 . 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. 
     
     
         6 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of taggants include a material that changes color when exposed to water. 
     
     
         7 . The mixture of  claim 6 , wherein the material includes a water-sensitive dye. 
     
     
         8 . The mixture of  claim 6 , wherein the material includes iron, and wherein oxidation or reduction of the material provides a color change. 
     
     
         9 . 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. 
     
     
         10 . 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. 
     
     
         11 . The mixture of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of taggants have a maximum dimension of less than one millimeter. 
     
     
         12 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of taggants include a RFID device. 
     
     
         13 . A traceable cement mixture, comprising:
 a volume of cementitious material;   a first taggant disposed within the volume of cementitious material, the first taggant indicating a first characteristic of the volume of cementitious material; and   a second taggant disposed within the volume of cementitious material, the second taggant indicating a second characteristic of the volume of cementitious material, wherein the first characteristic is different than the second characteristic.   
     
     
         14 . The mixture of  claim 13 , wherein the first taggant comprises a hollow shell, the hollow shell configured to float within a volume of water. 
     
     
         15 . The mixture of  claim 13 , wherein the first taggant has a density that is substantially equal to a density of a volume of concrete associated with the volume of cementitious material. 
     
     
         16 . The mixture of  claim 13 , wherein the first taggant has a density that is substantially less than a density of the volume of cementitious material such that the first taggant sinks upon hydration. 
     
     
         17 . The mixture of  claim 13 , wherein the first taggant has a density that is approximately equal to a density of the volume of cementitious material such that the first taggant raises or sinks upon dilution. 
     
     
         18 . The mixture of  claim 13 , wherein the first taggant includes a material that changes color when exposed to water. 
     
     
         19 . The mixture of  claim 18 , wherein the material includes a water-sensitive dye. 
     
     
         20 . The mixture of  claim 18 , wherein the material includes iron, and wherein oxidation or reduction of the material provides a color change. 
     
     
         21 . The mixture of  claim 13 , further comprising an additional material including at least one of an aggregate, a reinforcement fiber, a chemical admixture, and a mineral admixture. 
     
     
         22 . The mixture of  claim 13 , wherein the first taggant includes a material having fluorescent properties, the material configured to at least one of provide information and identify the first taggant within a volume of concrete associated with the volume of cementitious material. 
     
     
         23 . The mixture of  claim 22 , wherein the first taggant has a maximum dimension of less than one millimeter. 
     
     
         24 . The mixture of  claim 13 , wherein the first taggant includes a RFID device. 
     
     
         25 . A traceable cement mixture, comprising:
 a volume of cementitious material; and   a plurality of taggants disposed within the volume of cementitious material, at least one of the plurality of taggants including data relating to a number density of taggants within the volume of cementitious material, the number density of taggants specified based on at least one of a quality, a strength, a grade, a manufacturer, a manufacture date, an inspection status, and an approval status of the cementitious material.   
     
     
         26 . The mixture of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of taggants comprise a hollow shell, the hollow shell configured to float within a volume of water. 
     
     
         27 . The mixture of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of taggants has a density that is substantially equal to a density of a volume of concrete associated with the volume of cementitious material. 
     
     
         28 . The mixture of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of taggants has a density that is substantially less than a density of the volume of cementitious material such that the at least one of the plurality of taggants sinks upon hydration. 
     
     
         29 . The mixture of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of taggants has a density that is approximately equal to a density of the volume of cementitious material such that the at least one of the plurality of taggants raises or sinks upon dilution. 
     
     
         30 . The mixture of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of taggants include a material that changes color when exposed to water. 
     
     
         31 . The mixture of  claim 30 , wherein the material includes a water-sensitive dye. 
     
     
         32 . The mixture of  claim 30 , wherein the material includes iron, and wherein oxidation or reduction of the material provides a color change. 
     
     
         33 . The mixture of  claim 25 , further comprising an additional material including at least one of an aggregate, a reinforcement fiber, a chemical admixture, and a mineral admixture. 
     
     
         34 . The mixture of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of taggants include a material having fluorescent properties, the material configured to at least one of provide information and identify at least one of the plurality of taggants within a volume of concrete associated with the volume of cementitious material. 
     
     
         35 . The mixture of  claim 34 , wherein the plurality of taggants have a maximum dimension of less than one millimeter.