Multi-method approach to study influence of superplasticizers on cement suspensions

Journal Article · Sat Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Cement and Concrete Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2011.06.010· OSTI ID:21576898

Ferrari, L ^[1]; Kaufmann, J; Winnefeld, F ^[1]; Plank, J ^[2]

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1. Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, Laboratory for Concrete/Construction Chemistry, Ueberlandstr. 129, 8600 Duebendorf (Switzerland)
2. Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Department of Chemistry, Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85747 Garching (Germany)

Superplasticizers are widely used in concrete processing to increase the rheological properties of hardening pastes. In this study, different techniques (rheology, adsorption, atomic force microscopy-AFM, and {zeta}-potential) are used to characterize the impact of polycarboxylate-ether based superplasticizer (PCE) on particle suspensions. Results obtained with two cements and two inert powders (MgO and calcite) show that superplasticizer efficiency is strongly influenced by polymer architecture and by the ionic species present in solution. Additionally, experiments performed with AFM and {zeta}-potential contributed to characterize dispersion forces exerted by superplasticizers at the solid-liquid interface. The application of plateau AFM-tips coated with platinum reveals that dispersion forces depends on the presence of ions in solution, and that multilayer formation occurs with certain superplasticizer types. A further conclusion includes the idea that the PCE has a lubricating effect between adjacent particles and PCE increases surface wettability.

• OSTI ID: 21576898
• Journal Information: Cement and Concrete Research, Journal Name: Cement and Concrete Research Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 41; ISSN 0008-8846; ISSN CCNRAI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ADSORPTION
ARCHITECTURE
ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY
BUILDING MATERIALS
CALCITE
CARBONATE MINERALS
CEMENTS
CONCRETES
DISPERSIONS
EFFICIENCY
ETHERS
FLUIDS
LIQUIDS
MATERIALS
MICROSCOPY
MINERALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PLASTICIZERS
RHEOLOGY
SOLIDS
SORPTION
SURFACES
SUSPENSIONS