Dispersing performance of different kinds of polycarboxylate (PCE) superplasticizers in cement blended with a calcined clay

This study investigates the dispersing effectiveness of purposely selected methacrylate ester (MPEG), isoprenol ether (IPEG) and methallyl ether (HPEG) based polycarboxylate (PCE) superplasticizers of different molecular structures in cements blended with 0-50 wt% of a calcined clay (CC) rich in meta illite-smectite. It was found that the water demand of the composite cements increases lineraly with the rate of clinker substitution, and that PCE dosages also increase proportionally with the amount of CC, namely approximately doubled at 50% clinker substitution. Among the PCEs, HPEG polymers proved most effective while MPEG and especially IPEG PCEs required higher dosages. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.