Title:
Synthesis of Innovative Superplasticizers and Their Impact on Properties of Concrete
Author(s):
M. S. Mohamed, M. E. Sultan, A. G. Ibrahim, and F. A. Abd El-Hai
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
123
Issue:
3
Appears on pages(s):
67-78
Keywords:
grout; isoamyl alcohol polyethylene glycol (IAA-PEG); methoxy polyethylene glycol methacrylate (MPEG-MA); polycarboxylate ether (PCE); superplasticizers
DOI:
10.14359/51749323
Date:
5/1/2026
Abstract:
In this work, novel polycarboxylate admixtures were synthesized by two different free radical polymerization systems: methacrylic acid (MAA) and methoxy polyethylene glycol methacrylate (MPEG-MA) for PC-1, and acrylic acid (AA) and isoamyl alcohol polyethylene glycol (IAA-PEG) for PC-2. Thioglycolic acid as a chain transfer agent and ammonium persulfate as an initiator were used. The synthesized carboxylic polymers were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The influence of the chemical structure of polycarboxylates on the rheology of the concrete, as well as the prognosis of the superplasticizer’s development, is also presented through measuring of water consistency, setting times, flow table, slump test, zeta potential, and compressive strength. The cementitious products were investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The developed superplasticizers showed good dispersion effects and slump performance in workability and fluidity retention tests, adsorption performance, and SEM performance. Intriguingly, the PC-1 and PC-2 mixtures achieved flow table values of 230 and 200 mm, respectively. The compressive strength values at various curing ages up to 28 days exhibited double and triple values compared with the control sample. Additionally, compared to the control ordinary portland cement paste, a reduction of the water-cement ratio (w/c) of approximately 0.25 and the development of excessive hydration products give PC-1 and PC-2 extensive pastes a more dense and compact structure in XRD and SEM investigation.
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