Abstract
The objective of this study focused on the design and preparation of a molecularly modified polycarboxylate superplasticizer to develop concretes with enhanced engineering features. For this purpose, polyethylene glycol was chemically modified with maleic anhydride to give the mono polyethylene glycol maleate (MPEGM). Then, polycarboxylate superplasticizer comprising of isoprenyl oxy polyethylene glycol (TPEG) and acrylic acid (AA, PCE-1), and the synthesized MPEGM with TPEG and AA (PCE-2) were prepared through solution radical polymerization. Subsequently, concrete mixtures with different dosages (0, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3 wt%) of PCE-1 and PCE-2 were prepared. Chemical structure of the synthesized MPEGM and superplasticizers together with their copolymer composition were identified by FTIR and 1HNMR analyses. The molecular weights (Mw) and molecular weight distributions (PDI) of PCE-1 (8.74 × 104, 1.36) and PCE-2 (8.74 × 104, 2.19) were studied by GPC analysis, respectively. The zeta potential of cement particles (2.8 mV) becomes negative in the presence of 0.6 g/L of PCE-1 (− 7.8) and PCE-2 (− 9.5). This implies that electrostatic and steric hindrance forces of adsorbed superplasticizers synergistically provide a situation for appropriate dispersion of cement particles. The results of water-reducing percentage, fluidity, air content, bleeding water rate, initial and final setting times, wet density, flexural and compressive properties, and ultrasonic pulse velocity analyses exhibit significant enhancement on the features of concrete mixtures made of polycarboxylate superplasticizer. The superiority of PCE-2 to PCE-1 was connected to its adsorption-dispersibility potent induced by stronger electrostatic and steric repulsion forces, which result in quality and continuity enhancement in concretes.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.