Study on the Hydration and Physical Properties of Cement by M18 Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer Modified Graphene Oxide

Graphene oxide(GO)as a new nano-enhancer in cement-based materials has gained wide attention.However,GO is easy to aggregate in alkaline cement mortar with poor dispersibility.This hinders its application in practical infrastructure construction.In this work,GO-M18 polycarboxylate compound superplasticizer(GM)were obtained by compounding the M18 polycarboxylate superplasticizer with GO solution at different mass ratios.The dispersion of GM in alkaline solution was systematically studied.The phases and functional groups of GM were characterized by XRD and FTIR.The effects of GM on the cement mortar hydration and the formation of microstructure were investigated by measuring the heat of hydration,MIP,TG/DSC,and SEM.The results show that the long-chain structure of the M18 polycarboxylate superplasticizer can increase the interlayer spacing of GO and weaken the force between GO sheets.The modified GO can be uniformly dispersed in the cement slurry.GM can accelerate the early hydration process of cement,which can increase the content of Ca(OH)2 and decrease the grain size.It can optimize the pore size distribution of cement-based materials,increase the density of harmless and less harmful pores,thereby improving mechanical properties.Such methods can transform traditional cement-based materials into stronger,more durable composites,which prolong the life of cement-based materials and reduce the amount of cement used for later maintenance.This provides an idea for achieving sustainability goals in civil engineering.

Influence of High-Robustness Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer on the Performances of Concrete Incorporating Fly Ash and Manufactured Sand

Using ethylene glycol monovinyl polyoxyethylene ether,2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid(AMPS)and acrylic acid as the main synthetic monomers,a high robustness polycarboxylate superplasticizer was prepared.The effects of initial temperature,ratio of acid to ether,amount of chain transfer agent,and synthesis process on the properties of the superplasticizer were studied.The molecular structure was characterized by GPC(Gel Permeation Chromatography)and IR(Infrared Spectrometer).As shown by the results,when the initial reaction temperature is 15℃,the ratio of acid to ether is 3.4:1 and the acrylic acid pre-neutralization is 15%,The AMPS substitution is 10%,the amount of chain transfer agent is 8%,and the performance of the synthesized superplasticizer is the best.Compared with commercially available ordinary polycarboxylate superplasticizer in C30 concrete prepared with manufactured sand and fly ash,the bleeding rate decreases by 52%,T50 decreases by 1.2 s,and the slump time decreases by 1.1 s.In C60 concrete prepared with fly ash and river sand,the bleeding rate decreases by 46%,T50 decreases by 0.8 s,and the slump time decreases by 3.2 s.

Effect of Crosslink Structure of Bridge Polycarboxylate Superplasticizers on Dispersion Ability

Bridge polycarboxylate superplasticizers（PCs） with crosslink structure were synthesized by using polyethyleneglycol di-acrylate（PEGdA）, replacing partial polyethyleneglycol mono-acrylate （PEGmA） as crosslinking agent. Structures of bridge PCs were analyzed by gel permeation chromatography, and dispersion ability was evaluated by cement paste dispersity variation on time and rheology test. The experimental results showed that, molecular weight（MW） of bridge PCs increased with increase of PEGdA proportion, and MW distribution curve changed from Gaussian to fiat like, which meant notable increase of highly crosslinked copolymer. Bridge PCs led to decreased initial cement paste dispersity and better dispersity retention due to slow releasing. Further research showed that, PEGdA proportion had slight effect on polymerization degree of backbone, MW distribution of backbone deviated from Gaussian distribution and shoulder peaks appeared on distribution curve when PEGdA increased.

Influence of Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer on Rheological Behavior in Cement Paste

Molecular structures of polycarboxylate（PCE） superplasticizer significantly affect the rheological properties of cement paste. Consequently, we employed self-synthesized PCE copolymers with different carboxylic densities to investigate their influence on the rheological behavior of cement paste. Three typical rheological models were applied to analyze the rheological properties, including Power-law model, Bingham model as well as Herschel-Buikley model. In addition, the thixotropical performances of cement paste in the presence of PCE with different carboxylic densities were investigated. The results show that the carboxylic density of PCE greatly influences the dispersing performance of PCE superplasticizers. As carboxylic density increases, the dispersing capability of PCE improves, and P（PEG1-AA6） possesses the strongest dispersing capability, the initial fluidity and 1 h fluidity of cement paste are both the highest, and cement paste has the lowest viscosity and the smallest hysteresis loop.

Synthesis and Performance Characterization of a Low Adsorption Clay-resistant Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer

A low adsorption clay-resistant polycarboxylate superplasticizer(KN-PC)was synthesized using acrylic acid and isopentenol polyoxyethylene ether as the main reaction materials.The structural characterization and clay-resistant mechanism of the KN-PC were explored using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction,and the effect of the KN-PC on the performance of composite paste with various montmorillonite(MMT)contents was analyzed.Compared with ordinary polycarboxylate superplasticizer(PC),the KN-PC has a low sensitivity to the MMT.By the action of the MMT,the adsorption dosage of the KN-PC on the MMT is much smaller than that of the PC.

Effects of Clay on Properties of Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer and Solutions

The infl uence law of clay on mortar fluidity mixed with polycarboxylate superplasticizer was studied. Several methods of inhibiting clay adsorption of polycarboxylate superplasticizer were discussed. The experimental results show that clay has signifi cant effect on the dispersion of polycarboxylate superplasticizer and montmorillonite clay has more signifi cant impact on mortar fluidity than other clays. The pH value and the salts of the solution can affect the adsorption of clay to polycarboxylate superplasticizer. The incorporation of a small amount of sodium hydroxide solution, sodium silicate or cationic surfactants can improve the effect of the clay on the dispersion of polycarboxylate superplasticizer.

Determination of Residual Monomers in Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography

A procedure was developed for the determination of residual monomers in polycarboxylate superplasticizer （PCs） by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography （RP-HPLC）.Four kinds of residual monomers were well separated and determined on a SinoChrom ODS-BP （C18） column with mobile phases composed of acetonitrile and phosphate buffer solution.The monomers were detected by UV detector at 205 nm and quantitatively analyzed with an external standard method.For those residual monomers,the linear response ranged from 4.0×10-6 mol·L-1 to 2.0×10-3 mol·L-1.The determination limit of acrylic acid,sodium methylallyl sulfonate and 2-Acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid was 0.02×10-5 mol·L-1,while that of methoxy-polyethylene glycol monoacrylate was 0.1×10-5 mol·L-1.The relative standard deviation （RSD） of high concentration samples was less than 1%,while that of the low concentration samples was between 1%-4%.The standard （additional） recovery ratio was 97.4% -104.2%.

Influences of Polycarboxylate Superplasticizers on Rheological Behavior of Low-cement Castables

Influences of different superplasticizers （ STP. KSJSTO and LMS-P） on rheological behavior of low-cement castables and the mechanisms were analyzed. The shear stress and viscosity under different shear rates of matrix slurry were determined using a NXS-I IA rotary viscometer. Effects of different admixtures on the rheological properties of slurry was analyzed theoretically. Sodium tripolyphosphate and poly＇carboxylate superplasticizers KS-JSTO and LMS-P） can improve the fluidity and initial setting time. With STP. the slurry is plastic flow. With KS-JS70 or LMS-P increasing, the slurrv changes from plastic.flow, pseudoplastic flow to dilatant flow successively. Th, e optimum dosages of STP. KS-JSTO and LMS-P are 0. 15%. 0. 25% and 0. 40%, respectively. KS-JS70 and LMS-P can significantly reduce the slurry viscosity and shear stress to improve the workability of construction. Both shear stress and viscosity shall be taken into account for on-site construction.

Effect of molecular structure and slump loss resistance of polycarboxylate superplasticizers on self-compacting concrete

A new kind of polycarboxylate superplasticizer with high slump loss resistance was obtained by designing scheduled molecular structure.The number average molecular mass of the polymer was characterized by the gel permeation chromatography measurements.And chemical structure of the polymer was observed by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR).The results show that the good workable maintaining of self-compacting concrete could be achieved through direct adjustment of number average molecular mass and different unsaturated monomer in synthetic process.The FT-IR analysis illustrated that the high slump loss resistance of polycarboxylate superplasticizers with ester and carboxyl group and expectations of molecular structure were designed.

Influences of Soluble Salts on Adsorption Properties of Polycarboxylate Superplasticizers

Polycarboxylate（PC） superplasticizers with different chemical structures were synthesized through free radical co-polymerization reaction.A total organic carbon analyzer was used to investigate adsorption behaviors of PCs,and to evaluate influences of soluble salts on absorption properties of PCs.It is found that adsorption ratios of PCs on cement particles decrease greatly with the addition of Na2SO4;the adsorption ratio of ethers PC with Hydroxyethyl methacrylate（HEMA） group first increases then decreases with the addition of NaCl;the adsorption ratio of esters PC with short side chains first decreases then increases,while the adsorption ratio of ethers PC with HEMA group decreases with the addition of CaCl2;the adsorption ratio of esters PC with short side chains decreases with the addition of Ca（NO3）2;AlCl3 causes the decrease of the adsorption ratio of ethers PC with HEMA group.

Effects of Molecular Structure of Polycarboxylate-type Superplasticizer on the Hydration Properties of C_3S

Effects of polycarboxylate-type superplasticizer（PC） molecular structure on the hydration heat of tricalcium silicate（C3S） paste and polymerization degree of hydration products（C-S-H gel） were researched by using TAM AIR isothermal microcalorimetry（TA） and 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance（NMR）.Methoxy polyethylene glycol-methacrylates-based polycarboxylate superplasticizers with different side chain lengths and main chain lengths were employed.PC molecules with shorter main chain or longer side chains caused stronger retardation of C3S early hydration and lesser increase of C3S 3 d hydration degree.NMR measurement indicated that the incorporation of PC increased the hydration degree of C3S paste and the polymerization degree of silicon-oxygen tetrahedron of C-S-H gel.The tendency for C3S 7 d hydration degree to improve was more pronounced while PC molecules with longer main chain or shorter side chain were added.Whereas,PC molecules with longer main chains or longer side chains increased the 7 d polymerization degree of C-S-H gel.

Adsorption Mechanism of Polycarboxylate-Based Superplasticizer in CFBC Ash-Portland Cement Paste

Circulating fluidized bed combustion （CFBC） ash exhibits the desirable pozzolanic activity which makes it a potential supplementary cementitious material to replace cement for concrete production. However, the high unburnt carbon content and porous surface structure of CFBC ash may adsorb water reducer and thereby significantly reduce the efficiency of water-reducing agents. The adsorption mechanism of polycarboxylate superplasticizer in CFBC ash-Portland cement paste was investigated by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer, and the conception of ＂invalid adsorption site＂ of CFBC ash was presented. The results show that the adsorption behavior of polycarboxylate superplasticizer in coal ash-Portland cement paste can be described by Langmuir isothermal adsorption equation. The adsorption capacity of CFBC ash-Portland cement paste is higher than that of pulverized coal combustion （PCC） fly ash-Portland cement paste. Moreover, the adsorption amount of polycarboxylate superplasticizer increases with the ratio of ash-to-cement in the paste. At last, the fluidity of CFBC ash-Portland cement paste is lower than that of the PCC fly ash paste. This work suggests that when CFBC ash is used as concrete admixture, the poor flowability of the cementitious system due to the high adsorption of water and water-reducing agent should be taken into consideration.

The Influence of Chemical Admixtures on the Fluidity,Viscosity and Rheological Properties of Ultra-High Performance Concrete

To achieve higher strength and better durability,ultra-high performance concrete(UHPC)typically employs a relatively small water-binder ratio.However,this generally leads to an undesired increase in the paste viscosity.In this study,the effects of liquid and powder polycarboxylate superplasticizers(PCE)on UHPC are compared and critically discussed.Moreover,the following influential factors are considered:air-entraining agents(AE),slump retaining agents(SA),and defoaming agents(DF)and the resulting flow characteristics,mechanical properties,and hydration properties are evaluated assuming UHPC containing 8‰powder PCE(PCE-based UHPC).It is found that the spread diameter of powder PCE is 5%higher than that of liquid PCE.Among the chemical admixtures studied,AEs have the best effect on improving UHPC workability,while DFs have the worst effect.When the addition of AE and SA is 1.25‰and 14.7%of PCE,paste viscosity reduces by 35%and 19%,respectively compared to the paste with only 8‰PCE.A low AE dosage(1.25‰)decreases compressive strength by 4.1%,while SA(8.1%)increases UHPC compressive strength by 9.1%.Both AE and SA significantly delay the UHPC hydration process,reducing the hydration heat release peaks by 76%and 27%,respectively.

An alternative approach to improve the compatibility of PCE in cement paste blend with coal gangue powder

Coal gangue(CG)is an environmental waste that faces an urgent demand for disposal in China.The utilization of CG in construction materials has broad application prospects and gained increasing interest.However,the poor compatibility of polycarboxylate superplasticizer(PCE)with CG powder hinders its efficiency in a wide range of applications.Here,this paper attempts to improve the compatibility of PCE with CG powder in cement paste based on the regulation of aggregation and the adsorption behavior of PCE.Dynamic light scattering(DLS)and fluorescence spectroscopy tests were carried out to understand the improved mechanism.The results indicated that the addition of CG powder increases the ionic strengths of the cement liquid phase,which makes PCE tend to aggregate at a lower concentration compared with no CG powder introduction.Adding(CH_(3)COO)_(2)Cu is beneficial for enhancing the workability of cement paste by reducing PCE aggregation while maintaining the compressive strength of cement specimens.Therefore,(CH_(3)COO)_(2)Cu extra addition can be regarded as an effective and sustainable way to improve the workability of cement paste with CG powder.