Superplasticized vs. Conventional Concrete: A Comparative Review

The global awareness and utilization of superplasticizers (SPs) in concrete have significantly contributed to developing resilient and sustainable infrastructure. Despite this, many developing nations face limited adoption of SPs in construction practices due to a lack of knowledge. This study provides a concise overview of concrete’s mechanical and durability properties, comparing formulations with and without superplasticizers. The focus is on compressive and flexural strengths, modulus of elasticity, water sorptivity, and chloride penetration. The results underscore the considerable improvement in both mechanical and durability properties when SPs are incorporated. The study recommends the widespread use of SPs, particularly in developing countries, to enhance the longevity of concrete structures.

The Effect of Various Polynaphthalene Sulfonate Based Superplasticizers on the Workability of Reactive Powder Concrete

A superplasticizer is a type of chemical admixture used to alter the workability(viscosity)of fresh concrete.The workability of fresh concrete is often of particular importance when the water-to-cement(w/c)ratio is low and a particular workability is desired.Reactive Powder Concrete(RPC)is a high-strength concrete formulated to provide compressive strengths exceeding 130MPa and made of primarily powders.RPC materials typically have a very low w/c,which requires the use of a chemical admixture in order to create a material that is easier to place,handle and consolidate.Superplasticizer are commonly used for this purpose.Superplasticizers are developed from different formulations,the most common being Polycarboxylate Ether(PCE),Polymelamine Sulfonate(PMS),and Polynaphthalene Sulfonate(PNS).This study investigates the effect of various PNS based superplasticizers on the rheological performance and mechanical(compressive strength)performance of a RPC mixture.Six distinctive types of PNS based superplasticizers were used;three of various compositional strengths(high,medium,low range)from a local provider,and three of the same compositional strengths(high,medium,low)from a leading manufacturer.The properties investigated were the individual superplasticizers’viscosity,the concrete workability,determined through a mortar spread test,the concrete viscosity,and the compressive strength of the hardened RPC mixtures measured at 7,14,and 28 days.Two separate RPC mixtures were prepared,which contained two different water-to-cementitious ratios,which consequently increases the dosage of superplasticizer needed,from 34.8L/m3 to 44.7L/m3.The results show that the name brand high range composition produced the overall highest spread,lowest viscosity,and a highest compressive performance.However,the local provider outperformed the name brand in the mid and low range compositions.Lastly,the rheology assessment also confirmed that the name brand high range,and RPC fabricated with the name brand high range,developed the lowest viscosities.

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.

Effects of an AMPS-modified Polyacrylic Acid Superplasticizer on the Performance of Concrete Materials

A self-made 2-acrylamide-2-methyl propylene sulfonic （AMPS）-modified polyacrylic acid superplasticizer and two other commercially available superplasticizers with different molecular structures are used in this study to investigate the effect of an AMPS-modified polyacrylic acid superplasticizer on the properties of concrete materials. In the experiments, initial and 1.5 h slumps over time after admixtion are determined by adding different dosages of three superplasticizers into the premixed concrete to characterize the slump loss resistance of the premixed concrete. The water-reducing rates of three different types of concrete are determined to characterize the water-reducing capacity of the concrete with each superplasticizer. The 3, 7 and 28 d compressive strength is determined to characterize the mechanical properties of the concrete with each superplasticizer. In the meanwhile, 1, 1.5 and 2.0 h slump loss rates over time after admixtion are determined by adding different dosages of the three superplasticizers into the high-performance concrete （HPC） to characterize the slump loss resistance of HPC. The 7, 28, 60 and 90 d compressive strength is determined to characterize the compressive properties of HPC with each superplasticizer. The dry shrinkage rates of three different types of HPC are determined with each superplasticizer. Electric flux after standard curing for 56 d and chloride ion diffusion coefficient after curing for 28 d of I-IPC are determined to characterize the impermeability of HPC with each superplasticizer. The cross-section was examined using a scanning electron microscopy （SEM） system. Results demonstrate that the AMPS-modified polyacrylic acid superplasticizer has better water-reducing effect and slump than the two commercially available polyacrylie acid superplasticizers. The AMPS-modified polyacrylic acid superplasticizer also shows significant improvement of the compressive strength, especially in comprehensive performance of HPC. In conclusion, the AMPS-modified polyacrylic acid superplastieizer is particularly suitable for the preparation of HPC.

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.

Interactions between Superplasticizer and Release Agents at the Concrete/Formwork Interface

Improving the knowledge of rheological and tribological characteristics of fresh concrete is important to contribute to the progress of construction sites and the final quality of the work. The objective of this study is to identify the effect of a superplasticizer based on polycarboxylic ether on the tribological behavior of fresh concrete at the concrete/formwork and concrete/oil/formwork interfaces. Friction tests on fresh concrete were carried out using a plan/plan tribometer. In order to study the behavior of the superplasticizer close to the formwork, three concretes with 30% of paste and different dosage of superplasticizer were formulated. The results show that the increase of the dosage of superplasticizer reduces the friction stress. The properties of the superplasticizer generate a deflocculating action of concrete grains and lead to a stabilisation of the soap-oil micellae present in the vicinity of the formwork. Thus, the efficiency of superplasticizer depends on the quantity of fines, on the quantity of soap formed and so, on the release agent formulation.

Rheological Properties of Recycled Aggregate Concrete Using Superplasticizers

The mechanical properties of recycled aggregates concrete from demolition have been studied for several years. It has been documented that rheological properties of these concrete are generally affected by use of recycled aggregates. They could present mechanical properties less affected by the presence of recycled aggregates if the initial concrete were of good quality. However, manufacturing problems, mainly attributed to the angular character of these aggregates and to the granulometry of recycled sand, limit their industrial use. The worth point of this study consists in the optimization of the concrete formulation using specific admixture, adapted to this aggregates in order to facilitate its manufacturing. It shows that the new generation of superplasticizers containing some copolymer polycarboxylate makes it possible to significantly improve the fluidity of the recycled aggregates concrete in its fresh state. The aim of this research is to control rheologica] properties of fresh recycled aggregates concrete with fine and coarse recycled aggregates to limit the negative influence of aggregates on mechanical properties of concrete.

Production and Properties of Superplasticized Concrete

The objective of this research is to study the effect of grinding powdered superplasticizer, Portland cement, sand, and silica fume on the properties of fresh and hardened concrete. Lose Angeles Machine was used to grind these constituents. The program was arranged to determine the effect of cycles＇ number, superplasticizer type and dosage, silica fume dosage and condition, and gravel to sand ratio on properties of concrete. Naphthalene sulphonated formaldehyde （NSF） superplasticizers in the forms of liquid and powdered were used. Silica fume may be grinded with the other constituents （grinded）, or added to concrete mixer （normal）. The water/cement （w/c） ratio varied from 0.35 to 0.55 to achieve a constant slump （50-90 mm）. Slumps, bulk density and mechanical properties of concrete were measured. Scanning electron microscope （SEM） was also used to show the differences between traditional and superplasticized concrete. The results showed that grinding the mixture enhances fresh and hardened concrete properties. It is also observed that grinding the mixture for 500 cycles is more effective than other numbers of grinding. In addition, superplasticized concrete exhibits compressive strength higher than traditional one at varied ages. Moreover, using powdered superplasticizer has a remarkable effect on enhancing concrete properties rather than using it in a liquid form. A dosage of 1% by weight of cement gave the highest results of compressive strength. Silica fume has an essential role in improving concrete strength and durability since it acts as very efficient void filler and as a super pozzolana. SEM observations illustrate that grinding the mixture enhances transition zone （TZ） properties and makes it denser. On the other hand, grinded mixture can be packaged in bags and transported for use in crowded cities, and so, enhances quality control, since the only requirement to obtain superplasticized concrete is to add water and gravel. This technique has many benefits such as; saving cement, labor and noise, high quality control, and enhancing concrete permeability and durability. There are many fields of application of superplasticized concrete such as; in locations which are not easily accessible by ordinary concreting techniques, in repairing and strengthen, thin coating, and for small projects when ready mix supply is not feasible.

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.

High Performance Concrete and Its Typical Mixes

With the modern development of chemical and mineral admixtures, it is now possible to produce much higher performance concrete than before. Higher performance does not only mean higher strength, but also better durability, lower risk of thermal cracking and higher dimensional stability etc. The three most effective admixtures for producing high performance concrete are superplastieizer, pulverized fuel ash and condensed silica fume. This paper outlines the properties of these materials and presents some practical guidelines for their usage.

Effect of Molecular Structure on the Performance of Polyacrylic Acid Superplasticizer

The effects of structure parameters, such as molecular structure, segment kinds, molecular weight, and organic functional groups, on the performance of polyacrylic acid superplasticizer were discussed. According to the differences of chain sections, functional groups, eic, polyacrylic acid superplasticizer could be divided into A, B, C three parts. Among them, A chain section included sulfonic acid groups, B chain section carboxyl groups, C chain section polyester. Polyacrylic acid superplasticizers with different matching of A, B, C chain sections, different length of C chain section and different molecular weights were synthesized by acrylic acid, polyethylene glycol, sodium methyl allylsulfonate; the relation between the molecular structure and perfolxnance was also studied. The expetimental results indicate that the water-reduction ratio increases obviously with the increment of the proportion of sodium methyl allylsulfonate chain section in the molecular; the slump retention increases greatly with the increment of the proportion of acrylic acid chain section; the dispersion of cement particles increases with the increment of the chain length of polyethylene glycol; when the molecular weight is in the range of 5000, the dispersion and slump retentibity increase with the increment of the average molecular weight of polymers.

A Talc-Based Cement-Poor Concrete for Sealing Boreholes in Rock

Deep investigation boreholes in crystalline rock for site selection of repositories for high-level radioactive waste are proposed to be sealed by installing a series of dense concrete and clay plugs. These should prevent radionuclides from leaking canisters at depth to migrate to the biosphere through the holes. The concrete seals will be installed where the holes intersect water-bearing fracture zones to serve as stable and low-permeable supports for adjacent clay plugs. Low porosity and microstructural stability must be guaranteed for many thousands of years and ordinary Portland cement with organic superplastizer will not fulfill the requirements since the high pH will cause degradation of contacting clay and the organic additive can produce colloids with a capacity to carry radionuclides up to the biosphere. Very cement-poor concrete (

Analysis of the Influence of Type, Amount and Way of Introduction of Anti-foaming Admixture （AFA） on the Properties of Self-compacting Concrete （SCC） Mix

The properties of the self-compacting concrete mix depend on an automatic introduction of air bubbles caught during the process of mixing. What is interesting, the criterion for self-compactibility is not taken into consideration in commonly used self-compacting tests. On the basis of different tests concerning self-compacting concrete mixes, it has been found out that too high air content in their volume was the result of superplasticizer, in spite of meeting the self-compactibility criteria （i.e., self-venting）. For the decrease of too high air volume in SCC, the use of anti-foaming admixture （AFA） is proposed. As a result, the effect of AFA mix flow diameter is increased and the flow time is decreased. Moreover, the workability loss is lower. In case of mix incorporating AFA, their high flowability does not cause segregation of the mix, what is possible in case of SCC incorporating only superplasticizer. However, the time of the introduction of AFA and its type is essential to get higher flowability degree, but it is not important to achieve low air volume in SCC.

减水剂改性固废基蒸压加气混凝土的制备与性能研究

以花岗岩石粉、黄河特细砂为硅质材料,以电石渣为钙质材料,以聚羧酸减水剂为改性剂,制备固废基蒸压加气混凝土(AAC)。研究了聚羧酸减水剂掺量对AAC料浆流动性、发气过程、抗压强度、干密度、孔隙率和孔径分布的影响。结果表明,减水剂掺量由0.15%增大到0.30%,料浆初始流动度、发气速率、发气量和孔隙率逐渐增大,制品抗压强度和干密度逐渐降低。减水剂掺量为0.25时,料浆初始流动性270 mm,发气量208 mL,孔隙率82.54%,抗压强度2.9 MPa,干密度509 kg/m^(3),AAC综合性能最优。减水剂掺量大于0.2%时,2 mm以上的大孔基本消失,孔隙率和孔壁无害孔含量对AAC抗压强度影响更明显。

柠檬酸改性低分子量减水剂的合成、性能及机理

以柠檬酸(CA)和聚乙二醇聚丙二醇单甲醚(MPEPPG)为主要反应原料,通过酯化反应合成一种柠檬酸改性低分子量减水剂(LMWS)。通过红外光谱、核磁氢谱和凝胶色谱测试获得合成减水剂的结构参数信息。同时通过动态光散射(DLS)、水泥净浆Zeta电位、减水剂对水泥的吸附性能、水泥净浆凝结时间、水泥水化热、水泥净浆塑性粘度、水泥净浆流动度及混凝土性能等研究对比了相同酸醚比(n(CA)∶n(MPEPPG)=1∶1)时不同分子量LMWS的综合性能。结果表明:相同掺量条件下,分子量适中的LMWS-3显著降低水泥净浆的塑性粘度并延缓水泥的水化进程,具有优异的初始分散和分散保持性能。

聚羧酸减水剂和钢纤维耦合作用对UHPC性能的影响

聚羧酸减水剂(PCE)和钢纤维是超高性能混凝土(UHPC)的重要组成部分,二者的耦合作用对UHPC的工作性能和力学性能有重要的影响。针对聚羧酸减水剂和钢纤维耦合作用下新拌UHPC坍落度及其保持性、硬化UHPC的抗压强度,深刻揭示聚羧酸减水剂和钢纤维耦合作用对UHPC性能影响规律。结果表明:聚羧酸减水剂含量为3%,钢纤维的掺入量为1.5%时,UHPC性能最优异,其中坍落度达到135 mm,坍落度保持率约66.7%,抗压强度达到144 MPa。

超细粉掺合料专用聚羧酸减水剂的制备及性能研究

为解决超细粉掺合料在混凝土应用中出现的黏度大、流速时间长、易抓底、收缩大的问题,通过合成原料的选择以及调整合成工艺,合成了超细掺合料专用聚羧酸减水剂ZS-CX。结果表明,采用EPEG单体、合成起始温度15℃、滴加反应时间60 min,MAP用量为单体质量的0.6%时,制备的减水剂性能最佳。与市售减水剂相比,净浆流动度、混凝土坍落度和扩展度增大,倒筒排空时间更短,达到5 s,Zeta电位绝对值大,而且混凝土60 d电通量小于1000 C、收缩率降低30%以上。

C60流态混凝土的工作性及强度影响因素试验研究

采用单因素法研究了粒径为5~10 mm和10~20 mm粗骨料级配(比例5∶5、6∶4、7∶3、8∶2)、减水剂掺量(1.3%、1.5%、1.7%、1.9%、2.1%)、骨胶比(2.6、2.9、3.2、3.5、3.8)对C60流态混凝土工作性和抗压强度的影响。结果表明:随着5~10 mm石子比例的增加,混凝土的坍落扩展度、J环扩展度和抗压强度均呈先增加后降低的趋势,T500则先降低后增加;随着减水剂掺量的增加,混凝土的坍落扩展度和J环扩展度逐渐增加,T500逐渐降低,抗压强度呈先增加后降低的趋势;随着骨胶比的增加,混凝土的坍落扩展度、J环扩展度和抗压强度先增加后降低,T500先降低后增加;当粒径为5~10 mm和10~20 mm粗骨料级配比例为7∶3、减水剂掺量为1.7%、骨胶比为2.9时,混凝土的综合性能最佳。

聚羧酸减水剂发展历程综述

介绍了国内聚羧酸减水剂的各阶段研究成果,通过各阶段研究成果了解聚羧酸减水剂和混凝土发展历程,分析未来聚羧酸减水剂的研究走向,展望混凝土减水剂新产品。

贵州地区水泥与聚羧酸减水剂适应性的研究

贵州地区水泥生产厂家的生产标准存在差异,因此对贵州地区水泥与聚羧酸减水剂的适应性研究有重要意义。水泥颗粒对聚羧酸减水剂的吸附性与水泥细度有关,细度越大,水泥颗粒对减水剂的吸附性越大,混凝土试验时减水剂掺量越高。水泥越细,相同质量下水泥细颗粒多,水化热加快,混凝土损失加快,水泥与聚羧酸减水剂的适应性变差。此外,水泥中各化学成分的质量分数不同,对聚羧酸减水剂的吸附性也不同。