Study on dispersion, adsorption and flow retaining behaviors of cement mortars with TPEG-type polyether kind polycarboxylate superplasticizers

• MA and SMAS were introduced into the TPEG-type PCEs to improve the dispersion and flow retention abilities.
• This paper discussed the dispersion and adsorption effects of TPEG-type PCEs compared with conventional MPEG-type PCEs.
• PCE2 has excellent water-reducing and flow-retaining abilities, which is attributed to the synergistic effects of steric hindrance and electrostatic repulsive force.
• Application results showed that PCE2 can be used as high-range water reducer in practical applications.

This paper highlighted the study on dispersion, adsorption and flow retaining behaviors of cement mortars with TPEG-type polyether kind polycarboxylate superplasticizers (PCEs) which were synthesized by isoprenyl oxy polyethylene glycol ether (TPEG), acrylic acid (AA), maleic anhydride (MA) and sodium methylallyl sulfonate (SMAS). These copolymers were characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR and GPC. The effects of TPEG-type PCEs on fluidity and flow retention, adsorption and zeta potential in cement mortars were detailed discussed, and the dispersion and adsorption mechanism was compared with conventional MPEG-type polyester kind PCEs. Experimental results indicated that the MA modified TPEG-type PCE2 with certain number of anchor groups and PEO side chains has excellent water reducing capability and flow retaining ability, which is mainly attributed to the maximum synergistic effects of steric hindrance and electrostatic repulsive force. Further application results indicated that PCE2 can be used as high-range water reducer to produce high performance concrete.