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Based on monovinyl β-CD monomer (GCD), random copolymers (PTCDs) were first synthesized by AA, TPEG, and GCD, and characterized by FTIR and GPC. The application performances of PTCDs as superplasticizers in cement and concrete were investigated considering dispersion, adsorption, setting times, and compressive strength. The results indicated that PTCDs had more excellent applied performance compared with AA-co-GCD copolymers, and the outstanding feature is that PTCDs had a mild tunable retarding effect. When with certain amount of CD pendants and PEO side chains, PTCD2had the best dispersion and mild retarding performances, which were mainly attributed to the joint steric hindrance effect provided by CD pendants and PEO side chains. This study offers a new type of superplasticizer from CD and its derivatives with excellent dispersion and retarding performances to concrete engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] MA and SMAS were introduced into the TPEG-type PCEs to improve the dispersion and flow retention abilities. [•] This paper discussed the dispersion and adsorption effects of TPEG-type PCEs compared with conventional MPEG-type PCEs. [•] PCE2 has excellent water-reducing and flow-retaining abilities, which is attributed to the synergistic effects of steric hindrance and electrostatic repulsive force. [•] Application results showed that PCE2 can be used as high-range water reducer in practical applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] The synthetic processes of β-cyclodextrin (CD) based functional monomers were improved and characterized in detail. [•] Based on the monovinyl CD based monomer, a new copolymer (PCDs) bearing CD pendants was synthesized and used as superplasticizer. [•] PCDs behaved excellent dispersion ability and strong retarding effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(amino acid)-type macromolecules (PAAs), poly(ethylene glycol) -b- poly(aspartic acid) (PEG-PAAs), and poly(ethylene glycol)- b -poly(glutamic acid) (PEG-PGAs) were synthesized, and their states in aqueous solutions were studied. PEG-PAAs and PEG-PGAs were first used as novel polycarboxylate superplasticizers, and their dispersion and adsorption behaviors were investigated in cement slurries in the absence and presence of montmorillonite (MMT) clay. The results demonstrated that both PEG-PAAs and PEG-PGAs not only showed excellent water reducing and fluidity retention capabilities but also exhibited remarkable MMT clay tolerance. In contrast to the stretched molecular conformation of traditional polycarboxylate superplasticizers (PCEs), the hydrophobic main chain and the side methylene and ethylene linkers connected to the carboxylic groups of PAA and PGA segments resulted in self-assembly of the PEG-PAAs and PEG-PGAs in aqueous solutions, and the self-assembled nanosized aggregates exhibited relatively uniform spherical morphologies with average sizes of 30–100 nm. Carboxylic groups located on the periphery of the nanoaggregates acted as anchors and adsorbed on the surfaces of the cement particles. The nanoaggregates and the stretched hydrophilic PEG side chains, which jointly produced and enhanced the steric hindrance to prevent cement particle aggregation and hydration, resulted in notable dispersion capabilities. Total organic carbon (TOC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetry–differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) analyses revealed that the adsorption between the MMT clay and PAA nanoaggregates was surface adsorption (rather than interlayer adsorption), and this significant finding could be ascribed to the enlarged steric hindrance of the PAA nanoaggregates, which prevented the interlamination adsorption consumption of MMT clay to PAAs and revealed the outstanding clay insensitivity. This study provides a new perspective and strategy to design novel poly(amino acid)-type superplasticizers (PAAs) with excellent dispersion performances and improved clay tolerance. [Display omitted] • Poly(amino acid)-type superplasticizers (PAAs) with enhanced dispersing performance for cement doped with clay impurities. • The self-assembled nanoaggregates of PAAs enhanced steric hindrance and resulted in notable dispersion capabilities. • The enlarged steric hindrance of PAAs prevented interlamination adsorption and revealed outstanding clay insensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]