Comb-like polycarboxylate polymers as modern superplasticizers in concrete

Comb polymers are recently used as modern dispersants to stabilize highly concentrated cement suspensions. The adsorption of comb-like copolymer on the cement surfaces, controlled by 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶−content in copolymer backbones, side chain length, and also polymer conformation in solution, governs the dispersion and rheological behavior of the cementitious system. The dispersion effect increases with the adsorbed amount; especially the adsorbed side chain density increases. But the dispersion power of comb-like copolymers varies depending on the side chain length in comb-like copolymer. The effects of the side chain length in comb-like copolymers on the adsorption, dispersion, rheology, and zeta potential of the concentrated cement suspensions were investigated. The information will elucidate mechanisms of action of comb-like copolymer dispersants. Such information also suggests that their exists the geometrical balance between the main chain and the side chains in comb-like copolymer dispersants which should be very useful in designing optimum molecular structures of high efficient dispersants.