U.S. patent application number 10/533994 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-24 for corrosion protection for metals in cementitious material and method of applying and making the same.
Invention is credited to Chambers, Brian D., Lane, D. Stephen, Taylor, S. Ray.
Application Number | 20050258401 10/533994 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32312822 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050258401 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lane, D. Stephen ; et
al. |
November 24, 2005 |
Corrosion protection for metals in cementitious material and method
of applying and making the same
Abstract
A method for preventing, inhibiting or reducing the corrosion of
metals embedded in cementitious material. The method can comprise
manufacturing lithium nitrate. The method can further comprise
providing lithium nitrate for addition to a cementitious material
at an effetive dosage rate. The dosage rate can be between about
0.01 gram moles per cubic foot of cementitious material and about
100 gram moles per cubic foot of cementitious material, or greater
if desired or required. The reduced corrosion rate therefore
increases the life expectancy of the structures formable from
cementitious material. Some exemplary structures formable from the
cementitious material include the following, but not limited
thereto, pillars, bridge decks, bridges, road decks, roads, houses,
buildings, pilings, railroads, warehouses, piers, parking
structures, wharves, and/or any other structures desired and/or
required, etc.
Inventors: |
Lane, D. Stephen;
(Barboursville, VA) ; Chambers, Brian D.;
(Jackson, MS) ; Taylor, S. Ray; (Madison,
MS) |
Correspondence
Address: |
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PATENT FOUNDATION
250 WEST MAIN STREET, SUITE 300
CHARLOTTESVILLE
VA
22902
US
|
Family ID: |
32312822 |
Appl. No.: |
10/533994 |
Filed: |
May 5, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
November 6, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US03/35475 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60424516 |
Nov 7, 2002 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
252/387 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C23F 11/181 20130101;
C04B 22/085 20130101; C04B 41/009 20130101; C04B 28/02 20130101;
C04B 2111/26 20130101; C04B 41/65 20130101; C04B 28/02 20130101;
C04B 41/009 20130101; C04B 22/085 20130101; C04B 41/5009 20130101;
C04B 7/425 20130101; C04B 2103/61 20130101; C04B 41/009 20130101;
C23F 2201/02 20130101; C04B 2103/61 20130101; C04B 28/02 20130101;
C04B 32/02 20130101; C04B 2103/61 20130101; C04B 22/085 20130101;
C04B 32/02 20130101; C04B 22/085 20130101; C04B 2103/0008 20130101;
C04B 28/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
252/387 |
International
Class: |
C23F 011/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for inhibiting the corrosion of metals embedded in a
cementitious material, said cementitious material manufacturable
from a process comprising the activities of: manufacturing lithium
nitrate; and providing said lithium nitrate for addition to said
cementitious material at an effective dosage rate.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cementitious material and about 100 gram moles of lithium nitrate
per cubic foot of cementitious material.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cementitious material and about 0.1 gram moles of lithium nitrate
per cubic foot of cementitious material.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cementitious material and about 1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per
cubic foot of cementitious material.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cementitious material and about 10 gram moles of lithium nitrate
per cubic foot of cementitious material.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 10 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cementitious material and about 100 gram moles of lithium nitrate
per cubic foot of cementitious material.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein said effective dosage rate is
about 0.815 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cementitious material.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein said lithium nitrate is provided
as a solid.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein said lithium nitrate is provided
in an aqueous solution.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein said cementitious material is
concrete.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein said cementitious material is
grout.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein said cementitious material is
mortar.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein said cementitious material is
pozzalanic cement.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein said cementitious material is at
least one of cement, grout, mortar, and pozzalanic cement, or any
combination thereof.
15. A method for inhibiting the corrosion of metals embedded in
concrete or any other cementitious material, said concrete or
cementitious material manufacturable from a process comprising the
activities of: obtaining lithium nitrate; and mixing said lithium
nitrate with said concrete or cementitious material at an effective
dosage rate.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
concrete or cementitious material and about 100 gram moles of
lithium nitrate per cubic foot of concrete or cementitious
material.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
concrete or cementitious material and about 0.1 gram moles of
lithium nitrate per cubic foot of concrete or cementitious
material.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
concrete or cementitious material and about 1 gram moles of lithium
nitrate per cubic foot of concrete or cementitious material.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
concrete or cementitious material and about 10 gram moles of
lithium nitrate per cubic foot of concrete or cementitious
material.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 10 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
concrete or cementitious material and about 100 gram moles of
lithium nitrate per cubic foot of concrete or cementitious
material.
21. The method of claim 15, wherein said effective dosage rate is
about 0.815 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
concrete or cementitious material.
22. A method for inhibiting the corrosion of metals embedded in
grout, said grout manufacturable from a process comprising the
activities of: obtaining lithium nitrate; and mixing said lithium
nitrate with said grout at an effective dosage rate.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout and about 80 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout.
24. The method of claim 22, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout and about 82 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout.
25. The method of claim 22, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout and about 100 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout.
26. The method of claim 22, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout and about 0.1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout.
27. The method of claim 22, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout and about 1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout.
28. The method of claim 22, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout and about 10 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout.
29. The method of claim 22, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 10 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout and about 100 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout.
30. The method of claim 22, wherein said effective dosage rate is
about 0.815 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout.
31. A method for inhibiting the corrosion of metals embedded in
mortar, said mortar manufacturable from a process comprising the
activities of: obtaining lithium nitrate; and mixing said lithium
nitrate with said mortar at an effective dosage rate.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar and about 80 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar.
33. The method of claim 31, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar and about 82 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar.
34. The method of claim 31, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar and about 100 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot
of mortar.
35. The method of claim 31, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar and about 0.1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot
of mortar.
36. The method of claim 31, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar and about 1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar.
37. The method of claim 31, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar and about 10 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar.
38. The method of claim 31, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 10 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar and about 100 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot
of mortar.
39. The method of claim 31, wherein said effective dosage rate is
about 0.815 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar.
40. A method for inhibiting the corrosion of metals embedded in
cementitious material, said cementitious material manufacturable
from a process comprising the activities of: obtaining lithium
nitrate; and applying said lithium nitrate to the surface of said
cementitious material at an effective dosage rate.
41. The method of claim 40, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cementitious material and about 100 gram moles of lithium nitrate
per cubic foot of cementitious material.
42. The method of claim 40, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cementitious material and about 0.10 gram moles of lithium nitrate
per cubic foot of cementitious material.
43. The method of claim 40, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cementitious material and about 1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per
cubic foot of cementitious material.
44. The method of claim 40, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cementitious material and about 10 gram moles of lithium nitrate
per cubic foot of cementitious material.
45. The method of claim 40, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 10 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cementitious material and about 100 gram moles of lithium nitrate
per cubic foot of cementitious material.
46. The method of claim 40, wherein said effective dosage rate is
about 0.815 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cementitious material.
47. A method for inhibiting the corrosion of metals in embedded in
cementitious material, said cementitious material manufacturable
from a previously heated Portland cement composition, said Portland
cement manufacturable from a process comprising the activities of:
obtaining lithium nitrate; and admixing said lithium nitrate with
said Portland cement composition at an effective dosage rate.
48. The method of claim 47, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cement and about 100 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot
of cement.
49. The method of claim 47, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cement and about 0.1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot
of cement.
50. The method of claim 47, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 0.1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cement and about 1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cement.
51. The method of claim 47, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cement and about 10 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cement.
52. The method of claim 47, wherein said effective dosage rate is
between about 10 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cement and about 100 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot
of cement.
53. The method of claim 47, wherein said effective dosage rate is
about 0.815 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
cement.
54. A method for inhibiting the corrosion of metals embedded in
cementitious material, said cementitious material comprising a
Portland cement composition, said Portland cement composition
creatable from a method comprising the activities of: obtaining
lithium nitrate; admixing said lithium nitrate with said Portland
cement in an amount sufficient to inhibit the corrosion of metals;
and heating said material to form a Portland cement clinker.
55. The method of claim 54, wherein said sufficient amount provides
a molar ratio of lithium to sodium equivalent in the resultant
cement clinker of between about 0.01:1 to about 10:1.
56. The method of claim 54, wherein said sufficient amount provides
a molar ratio of lithium to sodium equivalent in the resultant
cement clinker of between about 0.01:1 to about 0.1:1.
57. The method of claim 54, wherein said sufficient amount provides
a molar ratio of lithium to sodium equivalent in the resultant
cement clinker of between about 0.1:1 to about 1:1.
58. The method of claim 54, wherein said sufficient amount provides
a molar ratio of lithium to sodium equivalent in the resultant
cement clinker of between about 1:1 to about 5:1.
59. The method of claim 54, wherein said sufficient amount provides
a molar ratio of lithium to sodium equivalent in the resultant
cement clinker of between about 5:1 to about 10:1.
60. A composition comprising: a concrete or cementitious material
comprising between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per
cubic foot of concrete to about 100 gram moles of lithium nitrate
per cubic foot of concrete or cementitious material.
61. The composition of claim 60, wherein said concrete or
cementitious material comprises between about 0.01 gram moles of
lithium nitrate per cubic foot of concrete to about 0.1 gram moles
of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of concrete or cementitious
material.
62. The composition of claim 60, wherein said concrete or
cementitious material comprises between about 0.1 gram moles of
lithium nitrate per cubic foot of concrete to about 1 gram moles of
lithium nitrate per cubic foot of concrete.
63. The composition of claim 60, wherein said concrete or
cementitious material comprises between about 1 gram moles of
lithium nitrate per cubic foot of concrete to about 10 gram moles
of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of concrete or cementitious
material.
64. The composition of claim 60, wherein said concrete or
cementitious material comprises between about 10 gram moles of
lithium nitrate per cubic foot of concrete to about 100 gram moles
of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of concrete or cementitious
material.
65. The method of claim 60, wherein said concrete or cementitious
material comprises about 0.815 gram moles of lithium nitrate per
cubic foot of grout or cementitious material.
66. A composition comprising: a grout comprising between about 0.01
gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of grout to about 100
gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of grout.
67. The composition of claim 66, wherein said grout comprises
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout and about 80 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout.
68. The composition of claim 66, wherein said grout comprises
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout and about 82 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout.
69. The method of claim 66, wherein grout comprises between about
0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of grout and
about 0.1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout.
70. The method of claim 66, wherein said grout between about 0.1
gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of grout and about 1
gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of grout.
71. The method of claim 66, wherein said grout comprises between
about 1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of grout and
about 10 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of grout.
72. The method of claim 66, wherein said grout comprises between
about 10 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of grout and
about 100 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
grout.
73. The method of claim 66, wherein said grout comprises about
0.815 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of grout.
74. A composition comprising: a mortar comprising between about
0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of mortar to
about 100 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar.
75. The composition of claim 74, wherein said mortar comprises
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar and about 80 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar.
76. The composition of claim 74, wherein said mortar comprises
between about 0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar and about 82 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar.
77. The method of claim 74, wherein mortar comprises between about
0.01 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of mortar and
about 0.1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar.
78. The method of claim 74, wherein said mortar between about 0.1
gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of mortar and about 1
gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of mortar.
79. The method of claim 74, wherein said mortar comprises between
about 1 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of mortar and
about 10 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar.
80. The method of claim 74, wherein said mortar comprises between
about 10 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of mortar and
about 100 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
mortar.
81. The method of claim 74, wherein said mortar comprises about
0.815 gram moles of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of mortar.
82. A composition comprising: a cementitious material comprising an
effective amount lithium nitrate per cubic foot of cementitious
material for inhibiting the corrosion of metals embedded in
cementitious material.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/424,516, filed 7 Nov. 2002, entitled
"Lithium Nitrate as a Corrosion Inhibitive Admixture for Concrete
and Related Methods of Making and Using the Same," the entire
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to reduction of corrosion in
rebar and/or other metals embedded in cementitious material, which
among other things, can be important to minimize long-term
infrastructure costs. The corrosion of reinforcing metals in
cementitious material is estimated, for example, to affect more
than 50 percent of the 575,000 bridges in the United States.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method for
preventing, inhibiting, and reducing the corrosion of metals
embedded in cementitious material, The reduced corrosion rate
therefore increases the life expectancy of the structures formable
from cementitious material. Some exemplary structures formable from
the cementitious material include the following, but are not
limited thereto, pillars, bridge decks, bridges, road decks, roads,
houses, buildings, pilings, railroads, warehouses, piers, parking
structures, wharves, or any other structures desired or required,
etc. The method can comprise manufacturing lithium nitrate. The
method can further comprise providing lithium nitrate for addition
to the cementitious material at an effective dosage rate. The
dosage rate can be between about 0.01 gram moles per cubic foot of
cementitious material and about 100 gram moles per cubic foot of
cementitious material. In other exemplary embodiments the effective
dosage rate can be greater than 100 gram moles per cubic foot of
cementitious material as desired and/or required.
[0004] An embodiment provides a method for preventing, inhibiting
or reducing the corrosion of metals embedded in cementitious
material. The cementitious material manufacturable from a process
comprising the activities of: manufacturing lithium nitrate; and
providing the lithium nitrate for addition to the cementitious
material at an effective dosage rate.
[0005] An embodiment provides a method for preventing, inhibiting
or reducing the corrosion of metals embedded in concrete or any
other cementitious material. The concrete or cementitious material
manufacturable from a process comprising the activities of:
obtaining lithium nitrate; and mixing the lithium nitrate with the
concrete or cementitious material at an effective dosage rate.
[0006] An embodiment provides a method for preventing, inhibiting
or reducing the corrosion of metals embedded in grout. The grout
manufacturable from a process comprising the activities of:
obtaining lithium nitrate; and mixing the lithium nitrate with the
grout at an effective dosage rate.
[0007] An embodiment provides a method for preventing, inhibiting
or reducing the corrosion of metals embedded in mortar. The mortar
manufacturable from a process comprising the activities of:
obtaining lithium nitrate; and mixing the lithium nitrate with the
mortar at an effective dosage rate.
[0008] An embodiment provides a method for preventing, inhibiting
or reducing the corrosion of metals embedded in cementitious
material. The cementitious material manufacturable from a process
comprising the activities of: obtaining lithium nitrate; and
applying the lithium nitrate to the surface of the cementitious
material at an effective dosage rate.
[0009] An embodiment provides a method for preventing, inhibiting
or reducing the corrosion of metals embedded in cementitious
material. The cementitious material manufacturable from a
previously heated Portland cement composition. The Portland cement
manufacturable from a process comprising the activities of:
obtaining lithium nitrate; and admixing the lithium nitrate with
the Portland cement composition at an effective dosage rate.
[0010] An embodiment provides a method for preventing, inhibiting
or reducing the corrosion of metals embedded in cementitious
material. The cementitious material comprising a Portland cement
composition. The Portland cement composition creatable from a
method comprising the activities of: obtaining lithium nitrate;
admixing the lithium nitrate with the Portland cement in an amount
sufficient to inhibit the corrosion of metals; and heating the
material to form a Portland cement clinker.
[0011] An embodiment provides a composition comprising: a concrete
or cementitious material comprising between about 0.01 gram moles
(or lower) of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of concrete to about
100 gram moles (or higher) of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of
concrete or cementitious material.
[0012] An embodiment provides a composition comprising: a grout
comprising between about 0.01 gram moles (or lower) of lithium
nitrate per cubic foot of grout to about 100 gram moles (or higher)
of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of grout.
[0013] An embodiment provides a composition comprising: a mortar
comprising between about 0.01 gram moles (or lower) of lithium
nitrate per cubic foot of mortar to about 100 gram moles (or
higher) of lithium nitrate per cubic foot of mortar.
[0014] An embodiment provides a composition comprising: a
cementitious material comprising an effective amount lithium
nitrate per cubic foot of cementitious material for inhibiting the
corrosion of metals embedded in cementitious material.
[0015] These and other objects, along with advantages and features
of the invention disclosed herein, will be made apparent from the
description, drawings, and claims that follow.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The present invention and its wide variety of potential
embodiments will be more readily understood through the following
detailed description, with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a bar chart illustrating test results of an
exemplary embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a
method of use 2000 of lithium salts;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a
method of use 3000 of lithium salts; and
[0020] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a
method of use 4000 of lithium salts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] FIG. 1 is a bar chart illustrating test results of an
exemplary embodiment. The addition of lithium nitrate to concrete
can be an effective means of reducing, inhibiting, and preventing
the corrosion of metallic reinforcement members encased in the
concrete. The bar chart illustrates experimental results measuring
the corrosion of metals encased in concrete, wherein one of a
plurality of different substances is admixed with the concrete. In
particular, the chart reveals the survivability of wires after 100
weeks of measuring resistance change for all admixed concrete. The
Line (arrows) represents the control.
[0022] As used herein, the term "metal" means any metal used to
improve the structural properties of a cementitious material.
Metals can comprise steel, rebar, cast iron, copper, brass, zinc,
aluminum, and/or any alloy thereof, etc. As used herein the term
"cementitious material" means any hardenable concrete, cement,
mortar, pozzalanic cement, other suitable material, and/or grout,
or any combination thereof, etc. that can be hardenable from
curing. The term "cementitious material" can refer to a dry mix or
material before water is added for reaction purposes, a slurried
mix after water is added for reaction purposes, and/or a hardened
mix after the slurried mix or material are allowed to cure, or any
combination thereof The "cementitous material" can include any
plastic or fluid state. As used herein, the term "pozzalanic
cement" means any cement comprising a "pozzalanic" substance. As
used herein, the term "pozzalanic" substance means a substance that
by itself comprises little or no cementing properties, but in the
presence of lime and moisture can comprise cementing
properties.
[0023] Substances mixed with concrete in the tests reported in FIG.
1 comprise: AMA--aminoethylethanolamine, ATP--2-aminothiophenol or
orthoaminothiophenol, BGP--di-sodium-beta glycerophosphate,
CN--calcium nitrite, DS--di-n-butyl sulfoxide, LN--lithium nitrate,
NA--Sodium metasilicate, and PA--Phosphonic acid (also known as
aminotrimethylenephosphonic acid (AMP) and nitrilotrisphosphonic
acid).
[0024] Lithium nitrate added at an effective amount of 0.815
gmole/cubic foot of concrete can reduce, inhibit, and prevent
corrosion rates of embedded metal significantly as compared to a
control sample as illustrated on the bar chart as a line arrow.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a
method of use 2000 of lithium salts. At activity 2100 a lithium
salt can be manufactured. The lithium salt can comprise lithium
nitrate, lithium carbonate, and/or lithium hydroxide, etc.
[0026] At activity 2200 the lithium salt can be dissolvable in
water to form an aqueous solution. In certain exemplary
embodiments, the aqueous solution can be undersaturated, saturated,
or supersaturated with respect to the lithium salt.
[0027] At activity 2300 the lithium salt can be added to
cementitious material. The lithium salt can be added to
cementitious material as a dry component, as a component of an
aqueous solution, and/or as a constituent of another component such
as, for example, Portland cement, etc. The lithium salt can be
added at an effective concentration. The effective concentration
can be between about 0.01 gram moles per cubic foot of cementitious
material and about 100 gram moles per cubic foot of cementitious
material. The effective concentration can be any amount within the
range such as about: 0.014, 0.1, 0.94, 0.815, 1, 7.899, 28.711, 33,
34.0, 59.822, 89, or 97.323 gram moles per cubic foot of
cementitious material, etc. In other exemplary embodiments the
effective concentration can be greater than 100 gram moles per
cubic foot of cementitious material as desired or required.
[0028] The lithium salt can be blended with other ingredients to
form the cementitious material by any technique such as batch
mixing and/or continuous mixing. Any mixing equipment can be used
for mixing the lithium salt with the other ingredients forming the
cementitious mix such as, for example, a ribbon blender, a rotary
drum, a rotary kiln, a screw conveyor, a belt conveyor, a truck
with a rotating element, and/or any other desired or required
mixing or blending apparatus, etc.
[0029] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a
method of use 3000 of lithium salts. At activity 3100 a lithium
salt can be obtained. The lithium salt can be obtained, for
example, from a manufacturer, a distributor, and/or a broker,
etc.
[0030] At activity 3200 the lithium salt can be mixed with other
ingredients to form a cementitious material. In certain operative
embodiments, when mixed with cementitious material the lithium salt
can reduce, inhibit, and prevent rates of corrosion in metals
embedded in the cementitious material. In other exemplary
embodiments, the lithium salt can act to suppress an alkali silica
reaction in the cementitious material. As used herein the term
"alkali silica reaction" means a reaction of an alkali in
cementitious material with reactive silica comprised in aggregates
in the presence of water. The alkali silica reaction can cause
deterioration in cementitious material due to the swelling of a gel
formed consequent to the reaction. Suppressing the alkali silica
reaction can increase the life of cementitious materials by
reducing and inhibiting deterioration rates of the cementitious
material itself. Reducing and inhibiting the corrosion rate of
metals embedded in cementitious material can increase the life
expectancy of structures (including for example, but not limited
thereto, pillars, bridge decks, bridges, road decks, roads, houses,
buildings, pilings, railroads, warehouses, piers, parking
structures, and/or wharves) formable from cementitious
material.
[0031] At activity 3300 the lithium salt can be applied to a
cementitious material surface. The lithium salt can penetrate the
cementitious material surface and be absorbed into the cementitious
material. Lithium absorbed into the cementitious material can be
adaptable to reduce, inhibit, and prevent the corrosion rate of
metals comprised in the cementitious material as well as acting to
suppress the alkali silica reaction.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a
method of use 4000 of lithium salts. At activity 4100 a lithium
salt can be obtained.
[0033] At activity 4200 the lithium salt can be mixed with a
Portland cement. Portland cement can comprise a heated mixture of
limestone and clay. In certain exemplary embodiments, the Portland
cement raw materials can be prepared to feed a kiln using dry
ingredients. In other embodiments, the Portland cement raw
materials can be prepared for the kiln by mixing ingredients in a
slurry. After passing through the kiln, a Portland cement clinker
can be formed. Portland cement clinker can be ground after being
formed in the kiln. In certain exemplary embodiments, the lithium
salt can be mixed with the Portland cement raw materials prior to
the Portland cement raw materials entering the kiln. In other
exemplary embodiments, the lithium salt can be added to the
Portland cement during grinding or other processing after the
Portland cement raw materials have passed through the kiln to form
the Portland cement clinker. In certain operative embodiments,
lithium nitrate can be mixed with Portland cement in an amount
sufficient to provide a molar ratio of lithium to sodium equivalent
in the resultant cement clinker of between about 0.01:1 to about
0.1:1. In other exemplary embodiments, the lithium nitrate can be
mixed with Portland cement in an amount sufficient to provide a
molar ratio of lithium to sodium equivalent in the resultant cement
clinker of between about 0.01:1 to about 10:1 or greater as desired
or required. Still yet, other resultant cement clinkers are in the
range of between about 0.1:1 to about 1:1; about 1:1 to about 5:1;
and/or about 5:1 to about 10:1, etc.
[0034] At activity 4300 the Portland cement raw materials can be
routed through the kiln to be indurated to form a clinker. The
Portland cement raw materials can be heated in the kiln to a
temperature in excess of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit or any
temperature as desired. The kiln can use coal, natural gas, and/or
fuel oil, or other desired fuel/energy, etc. as sources of
energy.
[0035] At activity 4400 Portland cement can be added with other
ingredients such as sand, gravel, a coarse aggregate, or other
suitable material, and/or water, or any combination thereof, etc.
to form a cementitious material. The cementitious material can be
cast around metal components or other components as desired. Metal
components can be used to provide reinforcement, pre-stressing
and/or post-tensioning to improve the structural characteristics of
the cementitious material. As used herein the term "pre-stressing"
the cementitious material means stretching high strength metal
cables or strands between two fixed abutments, then casting the
cementitious material on and/or in a form that can be placed
between the abutments. The cementitious material can cure. The
cables can be cut free from the abutments after curing the
cementitious material. Pre-stressed cementitious materials can
recover, in certain embodiments, when loaded beyond a capacity
rating.
[0036] As used herein, the term post-tensioning means a method for
strengthening concrete using metal strands or bars typically
referred to as tendons. The tendons can be placed in the
cementitious material. Once the cementitious material has reached a
required strength, tension can be applied to the tendons. The
tendons can be anchorable in a position after tension is applied to
the tendons. In certain embodiments metals used in post-tensioning
applications can be encasable in grout. Metals encasable in grout
can be better protected from deleterious elements as compared to
metals not encasable in grout.
[0037] The following publications, patents, patent applications are
hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety:
[0038] 1. U.S. Pat. No. 6,524,465 B1 to Ashida et al.
[0039] 2. U.S. Pat. No. 6,500,254 B1 to Baxter et al.
[0040] 3. U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,990 B1 to Marazzani et al.
[0041] 4. U.S. Pat. No. 6,342,101 B1 to Miksic et al.
[0042] 5. U.S. Pat. No. 6,340,438 B1 to Lane et al.
[0043] 6. U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,742 B1 to Bennett
[0044] 7. U.S. Pat. No. 6,071,436 to Incorvia
[0045] 8. U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,553 to Bennett
[0046] 9. U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,408 to Stokes et al.
[0047] 10. U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,876 to Stokes et al.
[0048] 11. U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,075 to Gaidis et al.
[0049] 12. U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,966 to Berke et al.
[0050] 13. U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,388 to Berke et al.
[0051] 14. U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,141 to Hoopes et al.
[0052] 15. U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,556 to Cogliano et al.
[0053] 16. U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,834 to Dodson et al.
[0054] 17. U.S. Pat. No. 3,826,665 to Hovasse et al.
[0055] 18. U.S. Pat. No. 2,744,831 to McCoy et al.
[0056] Still other embodiments will become readily apparent to
those skilled in this art from reading the above-recited detailed
description and drawings of certain exemplary embodiments. It
should be understood that numerous variations, modifications, and
additional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such
variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as
being within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For
example, regardless of the content of any portion (e.g., title,
section, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application,
unless clearly specified to the contrary, there is no requirement
for any particular described or illustrated activity or element,
any particular sequence of such activities, or any particular
interrelationship of such elements. Moreover, any activity can be
repeated, any activity can be performed by multiple entities,
and/or any element can be duplicated. Further, any activity or
element can be excluded, the sequence of activities can vary,
and/or the interrelationship of elements can vary. Accordingly, the
descriptions and drawings are to be regarded as illustrative in
nature, and not as restrictive.
* * * * *