Preparation of modified ether polycarboxylic acid water reducing agent and evaluation

Abstract

Water reducing agent as an important admixture. It is used to decrease the initial water content in cement paste, improving its fluidity. Polycarboxylic acid water reducing agent (PCE) is a high-performance type with advantages such as low dosage, high water reduction rate, environmental friendliness, and a simple synthesis process. In this study, the third monomer (TPEG-SAA-SHES) was synthesized by modifying isopentenol polyoxyethylene ether (TPEG) with sodium hydroxyethyl sulfonate (SHES). Subsequently, a modified ether polycarboxylic acid-based water reducing agent (PCE-S) was synthesized with TPEG and acrylic acid (AA). The experimental conditions for the synthesis of PCE-S were optimized through orthogonal tests. The synthesized PCE-S showed a certain degree of improvement in the initial net slurry flow compared to PCE, with a maximum enhancement of 19.64%. The adsorption increased by 18.25% when the TSS dosage was 5%. PCE-S enhances the hydration products of cement, increasing the compactness of the structure. The product is environmentally friendly, safe, and durable, effectively reducing the dosage of additives and helping to cut costs. It lays the foundation for the next industrialized mass production.