Polyether Macromonomer Advantage in Concrete Water Reducing

With the rapid development of polycarboxylic acid superplasticizer industry, China's polyether macromonomer industry has also been greatly developed. The production and capacity of polyether macromonomers in China are increasing continuously, reaching the highest level in history in 2017.

And among the polyether macromonomers, HPEG and TPEG are the main types. Horizon Chemical focus on the research and production for them, also the polycarboxylate superplasticizer based on them.

Compared with conventional water reducer products, polycarboxylic acid water reducer is characterized by its molecular structure and designability. In water reducer molecule, unsaturated double bonds of macromonomer end group form polycarboxylic acid main chain through polymerization reaction, which is directly linked with molecular straight chain-COO-Na, -SO3-Na groups, forming multi-point anchorage and adsorbing on the surface of cement particles; and polyethylene glycol branch chain of macromonomer forms solvation polymer chain layer on the surface of cement particles through hydrogen bonding with water molecules, using steric hindrance. The effect is to disperse cement particles.

In the application of polyether macromonomers and polycarboxylate superplasticizer, there are also some problems, such as unsuitability to concrete raw materials and sensitivity to mud content in sand and gravel. We need to do continious research on it.