Polysaccharides modify the rheological properties of cement based systems. Depending upon their chemistry, molecular architecture, and adsorption tendency, they have different modes of action. Some polysaccharides like diutan gum have strong effect on the fluid phase; others like starch strongly interact with particles. This paper presents effects of diutan gum and starches in presence of polycarboxylates. Rheometric investigations with varied particle volume fractions and increasing coarse aggregate diameters were conducted. The results show that starches have stronger influence on the rheology at high particle volume fractions than diutan gum. At lower particle volume fractions this trend is inverted. Experiments with aggregates sizes up to 16 mm (0.63 in.) indicate that stabilizing agent influences on the effects of aggregates on yield stress were small; however up to 1.0 mm (0.04 in.), a significant effect on the plastic viscosity could be observed, which levelled off at larger diameters.

One of the main problems associated with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), which are used as clinker or cement replacement, is the slow strength development compared to pure OPC. This is especially evident in the early stages of cement hydration and may cause significant problems for the customers. Therefore, the demand for new and powerful accelerators only having a marginal influence on the workability of the concrete, is rising. These types of accelerators may find their application in normal ready-mixed concrete but, much more evident, in precast applications. In this paper, a new accelerator is presented, which can significantly improve the early strength (up to 2 days) of concrete. In addition to this, the components of this new approach do not bear any potential risk of corrosion for steel, be it normal reinforcement or prestressed steel.

The impact of clinker grinding aids (GAs) based on amine, glycol, or phenol on static yield stress (t0) of cement pastes is not well understood. Results obtained from this project have shown that GA molecules remain active after the grinding process and provide variations in cement properties, whether in the fresh or hardened states. Flowability improved and t0 decreased when the cement is ground using increased GA concentrations. This was attributed to the adsorption of these molecules onto the cement grains and saturation of surface charges, thus creating repulsive forces between neighboring particles. The decrease in t0 was particularly pronounced when phenol-based GA was used, given the presence of polycarboxylate polymers that help dispersing cement particles upon mixing with water.

Superplasticizers are often used in conjunction with other additives and this can produce either an adverse or synergistic effect on rheology and setting properties of cementitious systems. These effects can be enhanced when temperatures are increased due to environmental changes or induced temperature as in hydrothermal curing. This research focuses on the compatibilities of different types of superplasticizer either sulfonated naphthalene or polycarboxylate based in combination with a lignosulphonate or hydroxycarboxylic acid type retarder. Rheological measurements were made using a rotational viscometer at temperatures from 25°C (77°F) to 120°C (248°F) under pressure, and plastic viscosity and yield point determined based on the Bingham Plastic model though in almost all cases it was noted that the Power Law or more so the Herschel-Buckley model gives a better fit. Zeta potential was used to characterize particle surface interactions to understand synergy of additive combinations. Setting properties, investigated using conduction calorimetry, were observed to be dominated by retarder response.

Slump loss of fresh concrete was a common issue in engineering construction, especially under high temperature and long distance transportation conditions. Therefore, slow-release polycarboxylate superplasticizers (PCEs) have been widely used to reduce the slump loss in various engineering projects. In this study, three kinds of PCEs with different proportions of hydroxyl ester groups (HEG) were synthesized and characterized by 1H-NMR and Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC). The effects of the HEG content on dispersion retention, adsorption kinetics and zeta potential of fresh cement suspensions were systematically investigated to figure out the mechanism. For PCEs with the same molar ratio of carboxyl group and reactive polyether, the dispersion retention ability of PCEs is improved with the increasing of HEG ratio. HEG in PCEs can be slowly converted to carboxyl groups in the alkaline environment of cement suspension, which could enhance the adsorption of PCE molecules onto the surface of cement particles. Despite major of the initially adsorbed-PCE molecules might have been embedded in hydration products, free PCE molecules with released carboxyl groups in the solution can continuously adsorb onto the surface of cement particles and play a role in dispersion. This explains why slow-release PCEs have a dispersion retention effect on cement particles within a certain time.