Patent ID: 6816791
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An assay method for testing cementitious compositions, comprising:providing a hydratable cementitious slurry composition comprising hydratable particles, water, and at least one additive or admixture, said particles comprising a hydratable binder selected from the group consisting of Portland cement, gypsum, fly ash, blast furnace slag, and silica fume; the term â€œadditiveâ€  being defined as an agent that is operative to increase grinding efficiency of cement clinker, to reduce pack setting of processed cement, or to modify a property or increase efficiency of cement grinding operation; the term â€œadmixtureâ€  being defined as a material other than water, crushed stones, crushed gravel, sand, or water that is added to concrete before or during its mixing; providing a plurality of receptacles for containing sample volumes of said hydratable cementitious slurry composition and said at least one additive or admixture; dispensing said hydratable cementitious slurry composition and said at least one additive or admixture into a plurality of receptacles; assaying said hydratable slurry composition and said at least one additive or admixture dispensed into said receptacles to obtain first assay output values, said assaying being performed by x-ray diffraction, x-ray fluorescence, calorimetry, nuclear magnetic resonance, ultrasound, or combination thereof; inputting said first assay output values into a central processing unit; processing said inputted first assay output values using a correlating function operative to provide a second assay output value, said second assay output value corresponding with at least one property selected from the group consisting of dispersion, rheology, hydration, amount of CSH formation, phase compositions set time, porosity characteristic, percolation characteristic, compressive strength, shrinkage, and corrosion resistance; and providing an indication of said second assay output value.