Preparation and clay tolerance research of a polycarboxylate superplasticizer modified by phosphonate group

At present, controlling the workability of concrete with high clay content sand presents a significant engineering challenge. A novel phosphonate group-modified polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PHS-PCE) was synthesized by using 2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl phosphate (MOEP), isobutyl alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (IPEG) and acrylic acid (AA). Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), 31 P nuclear magnetic resonance ( 31 P NMR) spectroscopy and elemental analysis measurements were conducted to characterize the molecular structure of PHS-PCE showing successful incorporation of the phosphonate group with high polymer purity. Despite the relatively low reactivity of MOEP, approximately 65 wt% monomer was incorporated into the copolymer. PHS-PCE exhibited superior flowability and stronger retardation effect than the conventional polycarboxylate superplasticizer (C-PCE), due to the increased negative charge density and enhanced complexing capacity with calcium ion imparted by the phosphonate group. In the presence of clay, the maximum variation of PHS-PCE adsorption on cement particle was 18%, whereas that of C-PCE was 25%. The phosphonate group facilitates adsorption of a portion of PHS-PCE on the clay particle edges, thereby preventing intercalation and improving the clay tolerance.