Lightweight concrete compositions containing antimicrobial agents

1. A lightweight concrete composition comprising

from 10 to 90 volume percent of a cement composition,

from 10 to 90 volume percent of expanded particles having an average particle diameter of from 0.2 mm to 3 mm, a bulk density of from 0.028 g/cc to 0.48 g/cc, an aspect ratio of from 1 to 3, and have a continuous outer layer,

from 0 to 50 volume percent of aggregate, and is substantially free of air-entraining agents;

wherein the sum of components used does not exceed 100 volume percent;

wherein the concrete composition has a density of from about 90 to about 130 lb./ft 3 ;

wherein after the lightweight concrete composition is set for seven days, has a compressive strength of at least 1700 psi as tested according to ASTM C39; and

wherein the expanded particles contain from 0.01 to 20 percent, based on the weight of the particles, of an antimicrobial agent.

2. The lightweight concrete composition according to claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise expanded polymer particles having an inner cell wall thickness of at least at least 0.15 μm.

3. The lightweight concrete composition according to claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise expanded polymer particles comprising one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of vinyl aromatic monomers; copolymers of at least one vinyl aromatic monomer with one or more of divinylbenzene, conjugated dienes, alkyl methacrylates, alkyl acrylates, acrylonitrile, and/or maleic anhydride; polyolefins; polycarbonates; polyesters; polyamides; natural rubbers; synthetic rubbers; and combinations thereof.

4. The lightweight concrete composition according to claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial agent includes one or more agents selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium, zinc, copper, and barium salts of carbonate, silicate, sulfate, halide, and borate in all forms; zinc carboxylates; boric acids; sodium dichromate; copper chrome arsenate; chromated copper borate; ammoniacal copper arsenate; ammoniacal copper zinc arsenate; copper chromium fluoride; copper chromium fluoroborate; copper chromium phosphorous; propiconazole tebuconazole; pentachlorophenol; quaternary ammonium compounds; copper 8-hydroxyguinoline, copper oxene; tri-n-butyltin oxide; tri-n-butyltin naphthenate; didecyldimethylammonium bromide; didecyldimethylammonium chloride; silver ions; mercury ions; carbamates; isothiazolones; chlorinated phenoxy and polyhexamethylene beguanidide hydrochlorides; barium metaborate monohydrate; 2-N-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; octyl isothiazolone, dichloro-octyl isothiazolone, trichlorophenoxy phenol, Triclosan, 10,10′-oxybisphenoarsine; silver-hydroxyapatite complex; 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4(methyl sulphonyl) pyridine; 2-(thiocyanomethylthio) benzothiazole; N-(trichloromethyl thio)-phthalimide; 3-iodo-2-propynyl butyl carbamate; chlorinated phenoxy 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) phenol; polyhexamethlyene biguanidie hydrochloride; 5-Chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-phenol, Chloro-2-) 2,4-dichloro phenol; Chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) phenol; Trichloro-2-hydroxydiphenyl ether; 1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl)methyl]-4,5-dihydro-N-nitro-1H-imidazol-2-amine; 3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid cyano(3-phenoxyphenyl)-methyl ester; 3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid (3-phenoxyphenyl)-methyl ester; 1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl)methyl]-4,5-dihydro-N-nitro-1 H-imidazol-2-amine; tea tree oil; mint oil; leleshwa oil; sandalwood oil; clove oil; lavender oil; nigella sativa (Black cumin) oil; onion and combinations thereof.

5. The lightweight concrete composition according to claim 1 , wherein the cement composition comprises a hydraulic cement composition.

6. The lightweight concrete composition according to claim 5 , wherein the hydraulic cement comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of Portland cements, pozzolana cements, gypsum cements, gypsum compositions, aluminous cements, magnesia cements, silica cements, and slag cements.

7. The lightweight concrete composition according to claim 1 , wherein the cementitious mixture comprises sand, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, plasticizers and/or fibers.

8. The lightweight concrete composition according to claim 1 molded and set in the form of a construction article.

9. The lightweight concrete composition according to claim 1 set in the form of a concrete masonry unit.

10. The lightweight concrete composition according to claim 1 set in the form of a dining table, counter surface, bench top, or examination table.

11. The lightweight concrete composition according to claim 1 set in the form of a construction panel.

12. A lightweight concrete composition consisting of:

from 10 to 60 volume percent of a cement composition that includes type III Portland Cement;

from 20 to 78 volume percent of expanded polymer particles having an average particle diameter of from 0.2 mm to 5 mm, a bulk density of from 0.032 g/cc to 0.56 g/cc, have a continuous outer layer, and an aspect ratio of from 1 to 2 and contain from 0.01 to 20 percent by weight of an antimicrobial agent;

from 5 to 35 volume percent of one or more aggregates,

from 0.1 to 1 volume percent of one or more additives selected from the group consisting of anti-foam agents, water-proofing agents, dispersing agents, set-accelerators, set-retarders, plasticizing agents, superplasticizing agents, freezing point decreasing agents, adhesiveness-improving agents, colorants and combinations thereof; and

is substantially free of air-entraining agents; and

wherein the sum of components used does not exceed 100 volume percent.

13. The lightweight concrete composition according to claim 12 , wherein after the lightweight concrete composition is set, it has a compressive strength of at least 1700 psi as tested according to ASTM C39 after seven days.

14. The lightweight concrete composition according to claim 12 , wherein the antimicrobial agent includes one or more agents selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium, zinc, copper, and barium salts of carbonate, silicate, sulfate, halide, and borate in all forms; zinc carboxylates; boric acids; sodium dichromate; copper chrome arsenate; chromated copper borate; ammoniacal copper arsenate; ammoniacal copper zinc arsenate; copper chromium fluoride; copper chromium fluoroborate; copper chromium phosphorous; propiconazole tebuconazole; pentachloro-phenol; quaternary ammonium compounds; copper 8-hydroxy-quinoline, copper oxene; tri-n-butyltin oxide; tri-n-butyltin naphthenate; didecyldimethylammonium bromide; didecyldimethyl-ammonium chloride; silver ions; mercury ions; carbamates; isothiazolones; chlorinated phenoxy and polyhexamethylene beguanidide hydrochlorides; barium metaborate monohydrate; 2-N-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; octyl isothiazolone, dichloro-octyl isothiazolone, trichlorophenoxy phenol, Triclosan, 10,10′-oxybisphenoarsine; silver-hydroxyapatite complex; 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4(methyl suiphonyl)pyridine; 2-(thio-cyanomethylthio)benzothiazole; N-(trichloromethyl thio)phthalimide; 3-iodo-2-propynyl butyl carbamate; chlorinated phenoxy 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichiorophenoxy)phenol; polyhexamethlyene biguanidie hydrochloride; 5-Chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol, Chloro-2-)2,4-dichloro)phenol; Chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol; Trichloro-2-hydroxydi-phenyl ether; 1-[(6chloro-3-pyridinyl)methyl]-4,5-dihydro-N-nitro-1H-imidazol-2-amine; 3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-carboxylic acid cyano (3-phenoxy-phenyl)-methyl ester; 3-(2,2dichloroetheny)-2,2-dimethyl-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl ester; 1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl)methyl]-4, 5-dihydro-N-nitro-1H-imidazol-2-amine; tea tree oil; mint oil; leleshwa oil; sandalwood oil; clove oil; lavender oil; nigella sativa (Black cumin) oil; onion and combinations thereof.