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The Effects of Ester and Ether Polycarboxylate Superplasticizers on the Fluidity and Setting Behavior of
Yong Jic Kim1, Sung Choi2, Sung Rok Oh3
1Division of Smart Construction and Environmental Engineering, Daejin University, Pocheon 11159, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
This study aims to investigate the comparative performance of ester- and ether-based polycarboxylate superplasticizers in maintaining the fluidity and controlling the setting time of alkali-activated slag (AAS) paste. The experiments employed rheological tests, mini-slump tests, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) measurements, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis. The results indicate that ether-based superplasticizers maintain fluidity approximately 25% longer than their ester-based counterparts and extend the setting time by about 30%. The enhanced performance of ether-based superplasticizers is attributed to their superior molecular stability in highly alkaline environments, which mitigates early polymer degradation. Additionally, the Na2O/SiO2 ratio was maintained at 1:1 throughout the experiments to ensure consistency in the activation process. The relationship between fluidity loss and the onset of setting occurs more rapidly in AAS paste than in conventional cement-based systems. These findings provide valuable insights for the development of environmentally friendly construction materials by optimizing the use of superplasticizers in alkali-activated systems.
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