• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.561-583
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• 2018

A variety of polycarboxylate ether (PCE)-based superplasticizers are commercially available. Their influence on the rheological retention and slump loss in respect of concrete differ considerably. Fluidity and slump loss are the cardinal features responsible for the quality of concrete. These are related to the dispersion of cement particles and the hydration process which are greatly influenced by type of polycarboxylate ether (PCE)-based superplasticizers. On the backdrop of relatively less studies in the context of rheological retention of high strength self-consolidating concrete (HS-SCC), the experimental investigations were carried out aiming at quantifying the effect of the six different PCE polymers (PCE 1-6) on the rheological retention of HS-SCC mixes containing two types of Ordinary Portland Cements (OPC) and unwashed crushed sand as the fine aggregate. The tests that were carried out included $T_{500}$, V-Funnel, yield stress and viscosity retention tests. The supplementary cementitious materials such as fly ash (FA) and micro-silica (MS) were also used in ternary blend keeping the mix paste volume and flow of concrete constant. Low water to binder ratio was used. The results reveal that not only the PCEs of different polymer groups behave differently, but even the PCEs of same polymer groups also behave differently. The study also indicates that the HS-SCC mixes containing PCE 6 and PCE 5 performed better as compared to the mixes containing PCE 1, PCE 2, PCE 3 and PCE 4 in respect of all the rheological tests. The PCE 6 is a new class of chemical admixtures known as Polyaryl Ether (PAE) developed by BASF to provide better rheological properties in even in HS-SCC mixes at low water to binder mix. In the present study, the PCE 6, is found to help not only in reduction in the plastic viscosity and yield stress, but also provide good rheological retention over the period of 180 minutes. Further, the early compressive strength properties (one day compressive strength) highly depend on the type of PCE polymer. The side chain length of PCE polymer and the fineness of the cement considerably affect the early strength gain.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2006.05b
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• pp.533-536
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• 2006

PC-type copolymers were synthesized using MPEG(Polyethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate, Mn=2080) to different mole ratios of mono-carboxylic acid(AA : Acylic acid). The mole ratios of AA were 2, 3, 4. To investigate effects of PC-type co-polymers on the hydration of cement, experiments involving FT-IR, XRD, SEM have been analysed with cement paste specimens to 1, 3, 28 day. The hydration reaction rate of cement paste was slightly delayed at 1 day, due to increase in molar ratio of [AA] / [MPEG], it was recovered in the days after.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2006.05b
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• pp.77-80
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• 2006

Graft copolymerized polycarboxylate(PC)-type superplasticizers(PCs) which have carboxylic acid with $\pi$ bond among the molecular structure and polyethyleneglycol methyl ether methacrylate(PMEM) were synthesized by free radical reaction and investigated the chemical structure, polymerization condition, and physical and chemical properties. Also, the effects of PCs in the dispersion, adsorption and hydration of cement were evaluated. As the molecular weight of graft chain decreases, the adsorption amount on cement particles increased. It was advantageous for the flow to reduce molar ratio, the lower the side bone molecular weight, and increase the molar ratio, the larger the side bone molecular weight. The hydration reaction speed was highly delayed at day 1, due to increase in molar ratio and reduction in side bone molecular weight, but it was recovered in the days after.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.18 no.4 s.94
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• pp.569-576
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• 2006

PC-type copolymers were synthesized using MPEG(polyethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate, Mn=2080) to different mole ratios of mono-carboxylic acid(AA : acylic acid). The mole ratios of AA were 2, 3, 4 and PC-type terpolymers were synthesized using mono-, dicarboxylic acid(ITA : itaconic acid MAL : maleic acid) with the same graft chain. To investigate effects of PC-type co-, ter-polymers on the hydration of cement experiments involving FT-IR, XRD, DSC, SEM have been analysed with cement paste specimens to 1, 3, 28 day. The hydration reaction rate of cement paste was slightly delayed at 1 day, due to increase in molar ratio of [AA]/[MPEG], it was recovered in the days after and the copolymer was more active than the terpolymer, because of low carboxylic acid content PC-type copolymers applied 2AA-type were fastest copolymer on hydration reaction of cement paste to 3 day and the more AA mole ratios increased, the more hydration was retarded.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.261-267
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• 2018

This paper discusses a study of cement mortar reinforced with Graphene Oxide (GO) flakes carried out at the University of Plymouth. Over 60 specimens were prepared and tested to obtain the tensile, compressive and flexural strengths of cement mortar with/without 0.5% GO flakes by weight of cement. The dispersion of the GO flakes and the effect of the use of polycarboxylate ether superplasticizer (0.2% by weight of cement) on the material strength are discussed. Images of the particle sizes of GO are presented from the transmission electron microscopy analysis. In addition, the images from the field emission scanning electron microscope analysis are also presented to show the difference of the microscopic structure of cement mortar with/without GO. The results of the strength tests are presented. It is shown that the inclusion of the GO flakes in general led to positive results, which suggest that GO improved the tensile, compressive and flexural strengths of cement mortar.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.18 no.4 s.94
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• pp.489-496
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• 2006

Graft copolymerized polycarboxylate(PC)-type superplasticizers which have carboxylic acid with $\pi$ bond among the molecular structure and polyethyleneglycol methyl ether methacrylate(PMEM) were synthesized by free radical reaction. To investigate their chemical structures and molecular weights, PCs were analyzed by FT-IR(fourier transform spectrometer), C-NMR(nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer) and GPC(gel permeation chromatograpy). When types of carboxylic acids(methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, maleic anhydride, and itaconic acid) and molar ratios of carboxylic acid/PMEM) were varied, adsorptive and fluid characteristics in cement paste were discussed. As the molar ratio of carboxylic acid/PMEM) was higher, amount adsorbed on the cement particles and the fluidity of cement paste by mini-slump spread testing method were increased. When main chain of PC was methacrylic acid, a larger amount was adsorbed on the cement particles. PCs with acrylic acid as main chain showed higher dispersing power. However, it was confirmed that PCs with dicarboxylic acids(maleic anhydride, itaconic acid) didn't have good adsorption and dispersibility.