| abstract |
A method of expanding expandable polymeric microspheres including contacting an aqueous slurry including unexpanded, expandable polymeric microspheres with heat in-situ during manufacture of a construction material for use in a cementitious composition. This construction material may include aggregate material and/or other ingredients which may be found in cementitious compositions, such as fly ash, silica fume, slag, metakaolin, fibers, etc.. A method of manufacturing a construction material includes: (i) contacting an aqueous slurry of unexpanded, expandable polymeric microspheres with heat proximate to and/or during said manufacturing of the construction material to create expanded polymeric microspheres; (ii) optionally pre-wetting the expanded polymeric microspheres; and (iii) mixing the expanded polymeric microspheres with the construction material. |