Synthesis of a High-Performance VPEG-Based Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer via Copolymerization and Its Effects on Cement Performance
- 1Guilin University of Electronic Technology , , ,
- 2Guilin Huayue Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd , ,
Abstract
A high-performance polycarboxylate superplasticizer (VAP-MHC) was developed via free-radical copolymerization of 4-hydroxybutyl vinyl polyoxyethylene ether (VPEG) and acrylic acid (AA), a process critically mediated by a redox initiation system (H2O2/ascorbic acid) and 3-mercaptopropionic acid as a chain transfer agent, with polyethylene glycol-600 incorporated as a nonreactive polymeric additive. This copolymerization strategy, distinct from conventional homopolymerization or simple blending approaches, enables precise architectural control over the polymer backbone, affording the VAP-MHC superplasticizer with exceptional dispersibility and robust slump retention. Under optimized conditions, the synthesized VAP-MHC achieved a cement paste flow of 273 mm and a 28-day compressive strength of 59.7 MPa, significantly outperforming commercial counterparts in both initial fluidity and mechanical development. The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic interplay between the VPEG-AA copolymer architecture and the multifunctional additive system, which effectively addresses the persistent trade-off between water reduction and workability loss─a challenge that continues to limit conventional superplasticizers in practical applications.
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BibTeX
@article{zhu2026synthesis,
title = {{Synthesis of a High-Performance VPEG-Based Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer via Copolymerization and Its Effects on Cement Performance}},
author = {Houqi Zhu and Xiaoxiao Xing and Cuili Xiang and Yongjin Zou and Heng Wang and Lixian Sun},
journal = {ACS Omega},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1021/acsomega.6c08342},
url = {https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c08342/5466416/Synthesis-of-a-High-Performance-VPEG-Based},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Synthesis of a High-Performance VPEG-Based Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer via Copolymerization and Its Effects on Cement Performance
AU - Houqi Zhu
AU - Xiaoxiao Xing
AU - Cuili Xiang
AU - Yongjin Zou
AU - Heng Wang
AU - Lixian Sun
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/09
JO - ACS Omega
DO - 10.1021/acsomega.6c08342
UR - https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c08342/5466416/Synthesis-of-a-High-Performance-VPEG-Based
AB - A high-performance polycarboxylate superplasticizer (VAP-MHC) was developed via free-radical copolymerization of 4-hydroxybutyl vinyl polyoxyethylene ether (VPEG) and acrylic acid (AA), a process critically mediated by a redox initiation system (H2O2/ascorbic acid) and 3-mercaptopropionic acid as a chain transfer agent, with polyethylene glycol-600 incorporated as a nonreactive polymeric additive. This copolymerization strategy, distinct from conventional homopolymerization or simple blending approaches, enables precise architectural control over the polymer backbone, affording the VAP-MHC superplasticizer with exceptional dispersibility and robust slump retention. Under optimized conditions, the synthesized VAP-MHC achieved a cement paste flow of 273 mm and a 28-day compressive strength of 59.7 MPa, significantly outperforming commercial counterparts in both initial fluidity and mechanical development. The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic interplay between the VPEG-AA copolymer architecture and the multifunctional additive system, which effectively addresses the persistent trade-off between water reduction and workability loss─a challenge that continues to limit conventional superplasticizers in practical applications.
SN - 2470-1343
ER -