Vegetable oil based construction materials

Abstract

The present invention provides a composition for use in the production of a construction element, said composition comprising a vegetable oil and a graded aggregate having a maximum aggregate particle size of around 15 mm and/or an aggregate porosity of greater than 5%. Construction elements produced using the composition are described. There is further provided a structural element comprising at least partially cured vegetable oil and an aggregate. A method for producing a construction element is provided comprising mixing partially cured vegetable oil with an aggregate and then further curing said vegetable oil within said mixture.

1 . A composition for use in the production of a construction element, said composition comprising a vegetable oil and a graded aggregate having a maximum aggregate particle size of around 15 mm. 
     
     
         2 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said graded aggregate has a maximum aggregate particle size of around 10 mm. 
     
     
         3 . A composition for use in the production of a construction element, said composition comprising a vegetable oil and a graded aggregate having an aggregate porosity of greater than 5%. 
     
     
         4 . A composition according to  claim 3 , wherein said graded aggregate has an aggregate porosity of less than around 50%. 
     
     
         5 . A composition according to  claim 3 , wherein said graded aggregate has an aggregate porosity in the range of around 10% to around 40%. 
     
     
         6 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the vegetable oil content of the composition is about 1 to about 20 wt %. 
     
     
         7 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the vegetable oil content of the composition is about 5 wt %. 
     
     
         8 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises at least one vegetable oil and the or each vegetable oil is separately selected from the group consisting of vegetable oil originating from any plant source, boiled vegetable oil, polymerised vegetable oil, heat treated vegetable oil, fully or partially oxidised vegetable oil, waste vegetable oil and recycled vegetable oil. 
     
     
         9 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises at least one type of aggregate and the or each aggregate is separately selected from the group consisting of natural soil, quarried crushed mineral aggregates from igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary rocks, including unused and waste aggregates from quarry operations, natural sand, crushed sand, gravel, dredged aggregates, china clay sand, china clay stent, china clay wastes, natural stone, recycled bituminous pavements, recycled concrete pavements, reclaimed road base and subbase materials, recycled automotive components, crushed concrete, crushed bricks, construction and demolition wastes, waste/recycled flue gas ashes, crushed glass, slate waste, waste plastics, incinerated animal bones, egg shells, sea shells, and by-products from incinerators. 
     
     
         10 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises at least one further component selected from the group consisting of a cementitious binder, a pozzolanic binder, an inert filler, an active filler, a bituminous binder, a natural polymer, a synthetic polymer, and a metal catalyst. 
     
     
         11 . A construction element comprising a composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said vegetable oil is at least partially cured. 
     
     
         12 . A construction element according to  claim 11 , wherein said element is a structural element. 
     
     
         13 . A construction element according to  claim 11 , wherein said element comprises internal or external reinforcement. 
     
     
         14 . A construction element according to  claim 13 , wherein said internal reinforcement comprises a fibrous reinforcing agent. 
     
     
         15 . A construction element according to  claim 14 , wherein the construction element contains up to around 100 kg/m 3  of the fibrous reinforcing agent. 
     
     
         16 . A construction element according to  claim 14 , wherein the fibrous reinforcing agent comprises fibres possessing a diameter of up to around 5 mm. 
     
     
         17 . A construction element according to  claim 14 , wherein the fibrous reinforcing agent comprises fibres possessing a length of up to around 100 mm. 
     
     
         18 . A construction element according to any  claim 14 , wherein the fibrous reinforcing agent comprises steel fibres. 
     
     
         19 . A structural element comprising at least partially cured vegetable oil and an aggregate. 
     
     
         20 . A structural element according to  claim 19 , wherein said aggregate is graded. 
     
     
         21 - 47 . (canceled)