HK1161219A - Ester-based concrete surface retarders - Google Patents

Description

Ester-based concrete surface retarders

Technical Field

The present invention relates to retarding of concrete surfaces (retard), and in particular to surface retarder compositions comprising oil/solvent-soluble or oil-dispersible alkyl-ester compounds of hydroxy carboxyl groups for use in concrete, mortar and other hydratable cementitious material applications.

Background

Surface retarders are compositions used to treat the surface of cement and concrete compositions. For example, freshly poured concrete containing aggregates is poured and leveled and then at about 200g/m on the surface²Spraying the retarder in the form of an aqueous solution. After many hours, the treated surface may be washed with a high pressure water jet to remove uncured cement and expose aggregates on the surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,037,367B 2 to Mauchamp et al discloses compositions in which a surface retarder active (e.g., an acid-based compound including malic, tartaric, citric, gluconic or glucoheptonic acid) is suspended in a vegetable oil derivative such as C₆-C₃₀Mono-and diglycerides of fatty acids, C₆-C₃₀Esters of fatty acids, C₆-C₃₀Fatty alcohol, C₆-C₃₀Fatty amine, C₆-C₃₀Fatty amides and tall oil derivatives. This allows the spray application of a wet film coating that provides a favorable opportunity for the retarder active to penetrate into the cement surface for effective erosion of the cement.

The present inventors believe that there is a need for new surface retarder compositions and methods to achieve pH neutrality, or at least reduced acidity, to minimize the erosive effects of acid-based retarders and avoid the excitation of haze when retarder treatments are sprayed on concrete, while still achieving clear erosion in the concrete surface.

It is an object of the present invention to provide such novel compositions and methods.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides novel surface retarder compositions comprising at least one oil/solvent-soluble or oil-dispersible alkyl-ester compound of hydroxycarboxylates, contained in the form of particles or as a discontinuous liquid phase, distributed within a continuous non-aqueous carrier phase capable of spray application in liquid form.

Exemplary hydroxycarboxylate alkyl-ester compounds of the present invention can be selected from the group consisting of alkyl esters of citric acid, alkyl esters of tartaric acid, alkyl esters of malic acid, alkyl esters of gallic acid, alkyl esters of glycolic acid, alkyl esters of gluconic acid, alkyl esters of lactic acid, alkyl esters of mandelic acid, alkyl esters of salicylic acid, and alkyl esters of 4-hydroxybutyric acid.

Preferred alkyl-ester compounds of hydroxycarboxylic groups of the present invention have an alkyl-ester of an alpha-hydroxycarbonyl or hydroxycarboxylic acid. Most preferred are alkyl esters of citric acid (e.g., triethyl citrate) and tartaric acid (e.g., diethyl tartrate).

The continuous non-aqueous oil/solvent or oil/carrier liquid phase may comprise a petroleum-based solvent, a vegetable oil, an animal oil, or mixtures or derivatives thereof.

An exemplary method of the invention comprises spray application of the novel surface retarder onto the surface of concrete or mortar or other hydratable cementitious material in order to retard its setting. The surface portion of the cementitious material to which the set retarder composition has been applied can then be removed by spraying a water jet to remove the set retarding portion of the surface material. The composition may also be applied to a concrete mold before the concrete composition is poured into the mold and used as a release coating.

The present invention is believed to provide advantages over the prior art in terms of achieving a less acidic pH level. In the case where the ester-based retarder component is used in the form of a solid powder, another advantage is that the retarder particles can be more easily incorporated into the spray-applicable liquid carrier during the manufacturing process, since the raw material can be obtained as solid particles, which does not require a time-consuming grinding step.

In addition, it is believed that the alkyl-ester based hydroxy carboxyl surface retarder compounds of the present invention operate at enhanced reactivity due to the increased pH of the concrete composition, thus bringing about a "latent" retarding capability, which is believed to achieve more aggressive erosion in the concrete material.

Conventional set retarder (set retarder), pigments, fillers and other ingredients may be mixed into the set retarder composition as desired.

Other features and advantages of the present invention are described in more detail below.

Detailed Description

The terms "cement" and "cementitious composition" (which are synonyms for "cement composition") as used herein are understood to relate to pastes, mortars and concrete compositions comprising a hydratable cement binder. The terms "paste", "mortar" and "concrete" are terms of the art: a "paste" is a mixture consisting of a hydratable cement binder (typically, but not exclusively, portland cement, masonry cement, or mortar cement, and which may also include limestone, slaked lime, fly ash, granulated blast furnace slag (slag), pozzolan, and silica fume or other materials typically included in such cements) and water; "mortar" is a paste that additionally contains fine aggregates (e.g., sand), and "concrete" is a mortar that additionally contains coarse aggregates (e.g., crushed gravel, stone). The cementitious compositions used in the present invention may be formed by mixing desired amounts of certain materials, such as hydratable cement, water, and fine and/or coarse aggregates, as may be appropriate for the particular cementitious composition being formed.

All compositional percentages in the present specification or claims should be based on the total weight of the composition, unless otherwise indicated.

As previously outlined, exemplary surface retarder compositions of the present invention include at least one alkyl-ester compound of a hydroxycarboxyl group, including partial esters and/or par esters (parester), which are oil/solvent soluble or oil dispersible. Preferably, but not necessarily, such alkyl esters may be water insoluble at ambient temperature and have at least one or more terminal carboxylic acid (-COOH) groups. Most preferred are alkyl esters having an alpha-hydroxycarbonyl [ -CR- (OH) -C (=) - ] or alkyl-esters of hydroxycarboxylic acids.

Exemplary hydroxycarboxyl alkyl ester compounds contemplated as suitable for use in the present invention are selected from alkyl esters of citric acid (citric acid is otherwise known as 2-hydroxy-1, 2, 3-propanetricarboxylic acid, HOOCCH)₂C(OH)(COOH)CH₂COOH●H₂O); alkyl esters of tartaric acid (tartaric acid otherwise known as dihydroxysuccinic acid, HOOC (CHOH))₂COOH); alkyl esters of malic acid (malic acid otherwise known as hydroxysuccinic acid, COOHCH)₂CH (OH) COOH); alkyl esters of gallic acid (gallic acid is otherwise known as 3,4, 5-trihydroxybenzoic acid, C)₆H₂(OH)₃COOH); alkyl esters of glycolic acid (glycolic acid otherwise known as glycolic acid, CH)₂OHCOOH); alkyl esters of gluconic acid (gluconic acid may be represented by the formula CH₂OH(CHOH)₄COOH represents); alkyl esters of lactic acid (lactic acid may be represented by the formula CH)₃CHOHCOOH); alkyl esters of mandelic acid (mandelic acid can be represented by formula C₆H₅CHOHCOOH); alkyl esters of salicylic acid (salicylic acid may be of formula C)₆H₄(OH) COOH); and alkyl esters of 4-hydroxybutyric acid.

As previously mentioned, preferred alkyl ester surface retarder compounds of the present invention include citrates, tartrates, or mixtures thereof. The inventors believe that a variety of citrates and tartrates are commercially available and suitable for use in the present invention. For example, methyl citrate and methyl tartrate, ethyl citrate and ethyl tartrate, and butyl citrate and butyl tartrate are commercially available. Also useful are acetyltributyl citrate and dibenzyl tartrate.

Of these, the ethyl form (e.g., ethyl citrate, ethyl tartrate) is most preferred in view of the fact that esters can be decomposed by the alkaline environment of cement in concrete.

The alkyl-ester containing hydroxycarboxylate compositions of the present invention are oil/solvent soluble and/or oil dispersible. In other words, they should be compatible with the nonaqueous oil/solvent liquid or oil carrier liquid so that they can be dissolved and/or carried in the form of solid particles dispersed within the continuous nonaqueous carrier phase, which can be applied as a liquid spray.

The continuous liquid phase, which acts as a carrier or solvent, may be petroleum-based or derived from vegetable, animal, or mineral oils, or derivatives thereof, and is preferably sprayable-applied at ambient temperature. The amount of continuous oil carrier liquid (e.g., vegetable oil) or oil solvent (e.g., petroleum resin) is preferably from 1 to 98% by weight of the total liquid-applicable surface retarder composition, more preferably from 25 to 92% by weight of the total composition, and most preferably from 50 to 90% by weight of the total composition.

The total amount of alkyl ester surface retarder component dispersed, dissolved or otherwise distributed within the continuous liquid carrier phase, including any other compounds typically used with surface retarders (e.g., pigments and fillers), is preferably included in an amount of 1% to 20% based on the total weight of the composition.

In cases where a petroleum-based solvent or liquid carrier is undesirable from an environmental standpoint, a vegetable oil-based or mineral oil-based liquid carrier may be employed, as in U.S. Pat. No. 7,037,367B 2 to Mauchamp et alDisclosed is a method for producing a high-purity (high-purity) glass. As defined herein, the term "vegetable oil" refers to products (whether in liquid, paste or solid form) extracted from the seeds, fruits or nuclei of plants and sap trees (e.g., hevea sap, maple, lignosulfonates, pine sap). Vegetable oils are generally considered to be mixtures of mixed glycerides (see, for example, Hawley's)Condensed Chemical DictionaryEd. N. Irving Sax, Richard J. Lewis, Sr., 11 th edition (Von Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York 1987), p. 1219). Vegetable oils include, but are not limited to: rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, castor oil, peanut oil, grape seed oil, corn oil (e.g., including corn germ oil), rapeseed oil, coconut oil, linseed oil, sesame oil, olive oil, palm oil, almond oil, avocado oil, tung oil (china wood oil), cocoa butter, safflower oil, hemp seed oil, walnut oil, poppy seed oil, oiticaca oil (e.g., obtained by pressing from the seeds of the Brazilian oitica tree, licaria rigida), palm nut oil, perilla oil, pecan oil, tung oil (tung oil), and pine tar. Rapeseed oil, if used, can be present in an amount of 50% or more by weight of the total composition.

For example, exemplary compositions of the invention include diethyl tartrate or triethyl citrate as the preferred ester-based hydroxycarboxylate compound, and either or both of these can optionally be combined with a conventional retarder, such as a sugar (e.g., gluconate, sucrose), and dispersed in a vegetable oil such as rapeseed oil, where the retarder to oil ratio can be 10:90 to 90:10 and more preferably 20:80 to 80:20, based on the total weight of the composition.

In further embodiments, the vegetable oil derivative used for the dispersion retarder active may be selected from C₆-C₃₀Mono-and diglycerides of fatty acids, C₆-C₃₀Esters of fatty acids, C₆-C₃₀0 ethoxylated compound of fatty acid, C₆-C₃₀Fatty alcohol, C₆-C₃₀Fatty amine, C₆-C₃₀Fatty amides and tall oil derivatives.

As noted by Mauchamp et al, the list of potential vegetable and animal oil derivatives that are considered suitable for the purposes of the present invention is quite large. Illustrative lists are provided in International patent application No. WO 85/05066 (International publication number) to Nielsen et al, International patent application No. PCT/CK85/00043, beginning at page 16; and these are also believed to be suitable for dispersing or otherwise carrying the ester-based hydroxycarboxyl cure retarder component of the present invention.

The derivatives include hexyl acetate, 2-ethylhexyl acetate, octyl acetate, isooctyl acetate, cetyl acetate, dodecyl acetate, tridecyl acetate; butyl butyrate, isobutyl butyrate, pentyl isobutyrate, hexyl butyrate, heptyl butyrate, isoheptyl butyrate, octyl butyrate, isooctyl butyrate, 2-ethylhexyl butyrate, nonyl butyrate, isononyl butyrate, cetyl butyrate, isocetyl butyrate; ethyl hexanoate, propyl hexanoate, isopropyl hexanoate, butyl hexanoate, isobutyl hexanoate, isoamyl hexanoate, hexyl hexanoate, heptyl hexanoate, isoheptyl hexanoate, octyl hexanoate, 2-ethylhexyl hexanoate, nonyl hexanoate, isononyl hexanoate, cetyl hexanoate, isocetyl hexanoate; methyl octanoate, ethyl octanoate, propyl octanoate, isopropyl octanoate, butyl octanoate, isobutyl octanoate, pentyl octanoate, hexyl octanoate, heptyl octanoate, isoheptyl octanoate, octyl octanoate, isooctyl octanoate, 2-ethylhexyl octanoate, nonyl octanoate, isononyl octanoate, cetyl octanoate, isocetyl octanoate; methyl 2-ethylhexanoate, ethyl 2-ethylhexanoate, propyl 2-ethylhexanoate, isopropyl 2-ethylhexanoate, butyl 2-ethylhexanoate, isobutyl 2-ethylhexanoate, isoamyl 2-ethylhexanoate, hexyl 2-ethylhexanoate, heptyl 2-ethylhexanoate, isoheptyl 2-ethylhexanoate, octyl 2-ethylhexanoate, isooctyl 2-ethylhexanoate, 2-ethylhexyl 2-ethylhexanoate, nonyl 2-ethylhexanoate, isononyl 2-ethylhexanoate, cetyl 2-ethylhexanoate, isocetyl 2-ethylhexanoate; methyl decanoate, ethyl decanoate, propyl decanoate, isopropyl decanoate, butyl decanoate, isobutyl decanoate, isoamyl decanoate, hexyl decanoate, heptyl decanoate, isoheptyl decanoate, octyl decanoate, isooctyl decanoate, 2-ethylhexyl decanoate, nonyl decanoate, isononyl decanoate, cetyl decanoate, isocetyl decanoate; methyl laurate, ethyl laurate, propyl laurate, isopropyl laurate, butyl laurate, isobutyl laurate, isopentyl laurate, hexyl laurate, heptyl laurate, isoheptyl laurate, octyl laurate, isooctyl laurate, 2-ethylhexyl laurate, nonyl laurate, isononyl laurate, cetyl laurate, isocetyl laurate; ethyl oleate, propyl oleate, isopropyl oleate, butyl oleate, isobutyl oleate, isoamyl oleate, hexyl oleate, heptyl oleate, isoheptyl oleate, octyl oleate, isooctyl oleate, 2-ethylhexyl oleate, nonyl oleate, isononyl oleate, cetyl oleate, isocetyl oleate; diethyl succinate, dipropyl succinate, diisopropyl succinate, dibutyl succinate, diisobutyl succinate, diisoamyl succinate, dihexyl succinate, diheptyl succinate, diisoheptyl succinate, dioctyl succinate, diisooctyl succinate, di-2-ethylhexyl succinate, dinonyl succinate, diisononyl succinate, dicetyl succinate, diisocetyl succinate; dimethyl adipate, diethyl adipate, dipropyl adipate, diisopropyl adipate, dibutyl adipate, diisobutyl adipate, diisoamyl adipate, dihexyl adipate, diheptyl adipate, diisoheptyl adipate, dioctyl adipate, diisooctyl adipate, di-2-ethylhexyl adipate, dinonyl adipate, diisononyl adipate, dicetyl adipate, diisocetyl adipate; isopropyl myristate, isobutyl myristate, butyl myristate, amyl myristate, hexyl myristate, heptyl myristate, isoheptyl myristate, octyl myristate, 2-ethylhexyl myristate, nonyl myristate, isononyl myristate, cetyl myristate, isocetyl myristate; isopropyl palmitate, isooctyl palmitate, butyl palmitate, amyl palmitate, hexyl palmitate, heptyl palmitate, isoheptyl palmitate, octyl palmitate, 2-ethylhexyl palmitate, nonyl palmitate, isononyl palmitate, cetyl palmitate, isocetyl palmitate; isopropyl stearate, isobutyl stearate, butyl stearate, amyl stearate, hexyl stearate, heptyl stearate, isoheptyl stearate, octyl stearate, 2-ethylhexyl stearate, nonyl stearate, isononyl stearate, cetyl stearate, and isocetyl stearate.

The vegetable oil useful in the present invention may be essential oil (essentialoil). The term "perfume" refers to and refers to an oil that contains the characteristic odor or flavor (i.e., perfume) of the native flower or fruit. Essential oils are typically obtained by steam distillation of flowers or leaves or cold pressing of the skin or other parts (e.g. stems, flowers, twigs, etc.). Exemplary essential oils include orange, grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, and pine.

In other exemplary surface retarder compositions of the invention, the ester-based hydroxycarboxyl cure retarder compound can be dispersed in an animal oil or derivative thereof, which can be used in place of or in combination with a vegetable oil or derivative thereof. The term "animal oil" means a product (whether in oil, wax, or solid form) obtained from any animal substance, such as bone or other body parts. Examples include lard, bone oil, herring oil, cod liver oil, neatsfoot oil, sardine oil, lanolin oil, fish oil, sheep wool oil, beef tallow, and beeswax. Derivatives of animal oils preferably include C₆-C₃₀Mono-and diglycerides of fatty acids, C₆-C₃₀Esters of fatty acids, C₆-C₃₀Fatty acid ethoxylate, C₆-C₃₀Fatty alcohol, C₆-C₃₀Fatty amine, C₆-C₃₀Fatty amides and tall oil derivatives. (see the list provided in the discussion of vegetable oil derivatives above).

It is also contemplated that mixtures of animal and vegetable oils can be employed for various purposes. For example, pine oil may be used to cover or mask the odor of sheep wool oil. An exemplary surface retarder composition can include methyl sunflower ester (40%), sheep wool oil (25%), sucrose (9%), iron oxide ((2%), diatomaceous earth (22%), and pine oil (2%), all percentages based on the total weight of the composition.

In further exemplary surface retarder compositions, the retarding active may be dispersed in two or more different vegetable oils. Thus, for example, the active may be dispersed or otherwise distributed within a continuous oil carrier phase comprising vegetable oil and vegetable oil derivatives. The one or more vegetable oils and/or one or more animal oils are preferably used as a continuous carrier phase in which one or more retarding actives are suspended or otherwise dispersed as a discontinuous phase throughout.

In still further exemplary surface retarder compositions, one or more ester-based cure retarders can be combined with one or more conventional cure retarders (e.g., sodium gluconate) in one or more oils.

Petroleum solvents and resins may also be employed to solvate or suspend the surface retarder, and these may be used alone or in combination with the vegetable, mineral and/or animal oils mentioned previously.

In further exemplary surface retarder compositions of the invention, optional compounds can be incorporated, such as fillers, including calcium carbonate, silica, sand, mica, talc, clays (e.g., kaolin), barium sulfate, sodium silicoaluminate, alumina, barium carbonate, dolomite (which is a carbonate of calcium and magnesium, CaMg (CO)₃)₂) Magnesium carbonate, magnesium oxide, kieslguhr (diatomaceous earth) or a mixture of any of the foregoing. The total filler content can be, for example, from 0 to 50 percent based on the total weight of the surface retarder composition.

Still further exemplary surface retarder compositions of the invention may also include one or more pigments, colorants or dyes, such as titanium dioxide, iron oxide, chromium oxide, cobalt oxide, zinc oxide, carbon black, or other pigments or colorants, in an amount of 0-30% by weight of the total composition. It is desirable to employ at least one pigment, colorant or dye to enable the applicator to visually confirm (e.g., during spray application) that a particular target cementitious surface has been treated with the surface retarder composition.

Other exemplary surface retarder compositions of the invention may additionally include other components, such as sorbitol, boric acid (or salts thereof), alkyl sulfonates, proteins, and casein. These possible additional components can be used to affect various properties of the surface retarder composition, such as rheology, viscosity, and/or surface tension. Accordingly, additional embodiments include one or more rheology modifiers and/or viscosity modifications.

An exemplary method of the present invention includes applying a coating of a surface retarder composition on a hydratable cementitious material surface, such as concrete. The composition may be applied by roller, but is preferably applied by direct spraying to the surface to be treated. Subsequently, the treated surface portion may be flushed away using a pressure washer or hose, revealing an eroded portion below the treated removed surface portion.

Exemplary methods of the invention also include applying a coating of the surface retarder composition to the interior of a concrete mold, pouring concrete into the mold, and subsequently removing the molded concrete from the mold.

While the invention has been described herein with respect to a limited number of embodiments, these specific embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is described and claimed herein. There are modifications and variations to the described embodiments. More specifically, the following examples are given as specific illustrations of embodiments of the invention defined in the claims. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details set forth in the examples. All parts and percentages in the examples, as well as in the remainder of the specification, are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

In addition, any numerical range recited in the specification or claims, such as that representing a particular set of properties, units of measure, conditions, physical states or percentages, is intended to literally incorporate expressly herein by reference or otherwise, any subset of numbers falling within such range, including within any range so described. For example, whenever a numerical range with a lower limit, RL, and an upper limit, RU, is disclosed, it is specifically disclosed what number, R, falls within the range. In particular, the following numbers R within the range are specifically disclosed: r = RL + K (RU-RL), wherein K may vary from 1% to 100% in 1% increments, e.g., K is 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% … … 50%, 51%, 52%, … … 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100%. Further, any numerical range represented by any two R values as calculated above is also specifically disclosed.

Example 1

A sprayable application composition for use in retarding the surface of concrete was made by the following formulation: rapeseed oil (50.5%), methyl ester of rapeseed oil (40%), diethyl tartrate (6%), titanium dioxide (3%), and fumed silica 0.5%). The formulation is obtained without having to grind any particulate material, as would occur if the acid form (citric acid, tartaric acid) were employed. The composition was spray applied to fresh concrete at ambient temperature at a rate of 200 grams per square meter. The composition was found to perform satisfactorily when compared to the use of the acid form and provided the advantage that no excitation of the haze from the spray was found.

Example 2

The following formulations were found to be successful for spraying the inner surface of the formation (concrete mould): colophon (30%), hydrocarbon flux (48%) (boiling range: 100-. After dissolving the colophon in the hydrocarbon solvent, the remainder of the formulation was dispersed at high speed using a mixer, but without milling. This formulation was observed to perform well as a surface retarder in concrete molds. Using citric acid instead of triethyl citrate would require a milling procedure.

Example 3

Surface retarder compositions are formulated using ester-based surface retarders carried in petroleum-based solvents. The following components were combined using the following temperatures and amounts: aliphatic solvent (140 ℃ to 160 ℃, BP: 48%), petroleum resin (125 ℃, SP: 23%), micronized mica (7%), titanium dioxide (2.4%), micronized talc (10%), and triethyl citrate (8%).

The foregoing examples and embodiments are presented for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Claims (14)

1. A method for retarding the setting of the surface of concrete or other hydratable cementitious material comprising spray applying a surface retarder composition onto the surface of the concrete or mortar or other hydratable cementitious material to retard the setting thereof or spray applying a surface retarder composition onto the surface of a mold into which the concrete or mortar or other hydratable cementitious material is placed; and subsequently removing a portion of the surface of the cementitious material to which the surface retarder composition has been applied by spraying a water jet to remove the retarded portion of the surface material or to remove the cementitious material from the mold surface; the surface retarder composition includes at least one oil/solvent-soluble or oil-dispersible alkyl-ester compound of hydroxycarboxylates distributed in the form of particles or as a discontinuous liquid phase within a continuous non-aqueous carrier phase capable of spray application in liquid form.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one oil/solvent-soluble or oil-dispersible hydroxycarboxylate alkyl-ester compound is selected from alkyl-esters having an alpha-hydroxycarbonyl group and or alkyl-esters of a hydroxycarboxylic acid, or mixtures thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one oil/solvent-soluble or oil-dispersible hydroxycarboxylate alkyl-ester compound comprises an alkyl ester of citric acid, an alkyl ester of tartaric acid, an alkyl ester of malic acid, an alkyl ester of gallic acid, an alkyl ester of glycolic acid, an alkyl ester of gluconic acid, an alkyl ester of lactic acid, an alkyl ester of mandelic acid, an alkyl ester of salicylic acid, or an alkyl ester of 4-hydroxybutyric acid.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one oil/solvent-soluble or oil-dispersible hydroxycarboxylate alkyl-ester compound is an alkyl ester of citric acid.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the alkyl ester of citric acid is triethyl citrate.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one oil/solvent-soluble or oil-dispersible hydroxycarboxylate alkyl-ester compound is an alkyl ester of tartaric acid.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the alkyl ester of tartaric acid is diethyl tartrate.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one hydroxycarboxylate alkyl-ester compound is a mixture of triethyl citrate and diethyl tartrate.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: (A) at least one filler selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, silica, sand, mica, talc, clay, barium sulfate, sodium aluminosilicate, alumina, barium carbonate, dolomite, magnesium carbonate, magnesium oxide, kieselghur (diatomaceous earth), or mixtures thereof; (B) at least one additive selected from pigments, colorants or dyes, including titanium dioxide, iron oxide, chromium oxide, cobalt oxide, zinc oxide, carbon black or mixtures thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the continuous non-aqueous carrier phase comprises a petroleum-based solvent, a vegetable oil, an animal oil, a mineral oil, or mixtures or derivatives thereof.

11. The process of claim 10, wherein the at least one hydroxycarboxylate alkyl-ester compound comprises diethyl tartrate, triethyl citrate, or a mixture thereof, contained in solid particulate form dispersed in a vegetable oil.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the vegetable oil is rapeseed oil; and the composition further comprises titanium dioxide.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising a conventional set retarder.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface retarder composition is spray applied on a surface of concrete, mortar or other hydratable cementitious composition and a portion of the surface is removed by water spray.