Superplasticizers (SPs), also known as high range water reducers, are additives used for making high-strength concrete or to place self-compacting concrete. Plasticizers are chemical compounds enabling the production of concrete with approximately 15% less water content. Superplasticizers allow reduction in water content by 30% or more. These additives are employed at the level of a few weight percent. Plasticizers and superplasticizers also retard the setting and hardening of concrete.[1]
According to their dispersing functionality and action mode, one distinguishes two classes of superplasticizers:
Ionic interactions (electrostatic repulsion): lignosulfonates (first generation of ancient water reducers), sulfonated synthetic polymers (naphthalene, or melamine, formaldehyde condensates) (second generation), and;
Superplasticizers are used when well-dispersed cement particle suspensions are required to improve the flow characteristics (rheology) of concrete. Their addition allows to decrease the water-to-cement ratio of concrete or mortar without negatively affecting the workability of the mixture. It enables the production of self-consolidating concrete and high-performance concrete. The water–cement ratio is the main factor determining the concrete strength and its durability. Superplasticizers greatly improve the fluidity and the rheology of fresh concrete. The concrete strength increases when the water-to-cement ratio decreases because avoiding to add water in excess only for maintaining a better workability of fresh concrete results in a lower porosity of the hardened concrete, and so to a better resistance to compression.[3]
The addition of SP in the truck during transit is a fairly modern development within the industry. Admixtures added in transit through automated slump management system,[4] allow to maintain fresh concrete slump until discharge without reducing concrete quality.
^Gerry Bye, Paul Livesey, Leslie Struble (2011). "Admixtures and Special Cements". Portland cement, Third edition. doi:10.1680/pc.36116.185 (inactive 31 January 2024). ISBN 978-0-7277-3611-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of January 2024 (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Lu, Bing; Weng, Yiwei; Li, Mingyang; Qian, Ye; Leong, Kah Fai; Tan, Ming Jen; Qian, Shunzhi (May 2019). "A systematical review of 3D printable cementitious materials". Construction and Building Materials. 207: 477–490. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.02.144. hdl:10356/142503. S2CID 139995838.
^Houst, Yves F.; Bowen, Paul; Perche, Francois; Kauppi, Annika; Borget, Pascal; Galmiche, Laurent; Le Meins, Jean-Francois; Lafuma, Francoise; Flatt, Robert J.; Schober, Irene; et al. (2008). "Design and function of novel superplasticizers for more durable high-performance concrete (Superplast project)". Cement and Concrete Research. 38 (10): 1197–1209. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2008.04.007.
^"In-transit concrete management system | GCP Applied Technologies".
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Caijun (2023-06-01). "Synthesis of a cross-linked polycarboxylate ether superplasticizer and its effects on the properties of cement paste containing montmorillonite"...
Polycarboxylate ether superplasticizer (PCE) or just polycarboxylate (PC), work differently from sulfonate-based superplasticizers, giving cement dispersion...
monitoring and measurement systems. Flow table test Plasticity (physics) Superplasticizer Gambhir, M. L. (2004). Concrete technology. Tata McGraw-Hill. pp. 127...
Jiaheng (2008-12-01). "The synthesis technique of polyacrylic acid superplasticizer". Journal of Wuhan University of Technology-Mater. Sci. Ed. 23 (6):...
hydration) and can be modified by adding chemical admixtures, like superplasticizer. Raising the water content or adding chemical admixtures increases...
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new class of superplasticizers. However, presently, phosphonates are not commercially available as superplasticizers. Superplasticizers are concrete admixtures...
so improves the durability of concrete gives a better finish to surfaces (due to all of the above) Plasticizer Superplasticizer Cement Admixture v t e...
crystal growth of calcite. Polycarboxylate ethers (PCE) are used as superplasticizers in concrete production. Polycarboxylates are poorly biodegradable...
fabrication of concrete where they serve as water reducer, or concrete superplasticizer, to decrease the water-cement ratio (w/c) of fresh concrete while preserving...
also is used in the fabrication of melamine polysulfonate, used as a superplasticizer for making high-resistance concrete. Sulfonated melamine formaldehyde...
bleaching and dyeing operations. Some naphthalenesulfonate polymers are superplasticizers used for the production of high strength concrete. They are produced...
importance are the alkylnaphthalene sulfonates, which are used as superplasticizers in concrete. They are produced on a large scale by condensation of...
treatment). Lignosulfonate was also the first family of water reducers or superplasticizers to be added in the 1930s as admixture to fresh concrete in order to...
in over 80 ongoing pipeline projects. One notable innovation is the superplasticizer MasterCO2re, facilitating the use of clinker-reduced cement types in...
Concrete". The Physics Factbook. "Use of Water Reducers, Retarders, and Superplasticizer". www.engr.psu.edu. Retrieved 24 October 2023. David Hambling (13 April...
G.; Flatt, R.J. (2016), "Working mechanisms of water reducers and superplasticizers", Science and Technology of Concrete Admixtures, Elsevier, pp. 257–278...
F.; Plank, J. (2010). "Interaction of cement model systems with superplasticizers investigated by atomic force microscopy, zeta potential, and adsorption...
temperatures, SAP's pore system remains stable regardless of consistency, superplasticizer addition, or placement method. SAP is a reliable alternative for achieving...
polycarboxylate ether (PCE), the last generation of chemically tailored superplasticizer specifically designed to increase the workability of concrete while...
ease of mixing and application. To avoid these undesired effects, superplasticizers are typically added to decrease the apparent yield stress and the...
Among the new nanoengineered polymers, there are highly efficient superplasticizers for concrete and high-strength fibers with exceptional energy absorbing...
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