Comparative study of PCE superplasticizers with different anchoring groups in low water-to-binder ratio cementitious material

•Effectiveness of PCEs with different anchor groups in low W/C cement paste is studied.•Adsorption properties, Ca2+ binding capacity and zeta-potential are performed.•Flowability of cement pastes with different binder compositions is compared.•FA-PCE exhibits better dispersion efficiency compared to MAH-PCE and IA-PCE. Polycarboxylate ether (PCE) superplasticizers with three different anchoring groups were synthesized by copolymerizing allyl polyoxyethylene ether with trans-butadiene (FA), cis-butenedioic anhydride (MAH), and itaconic acid (IA), respectively. The interactions between PCEs and cementitious materials were revealed by adsorption properties, Ca2+ binding capacity of PCE, and zeta-potential of paste. The effects of anchoring groups in PCEs on the flowability and rheological properties of cementitious pastes were studied. Results indicated that the density and local configuration of –COO– groups in PCEs significantly affect their adsorption behavior and dispersibility in cementitious pastes. Most of the –COO– groups are isolated on the backbone of FA-PCE, while for the MAH-PCE, only pairs of –COO– groups present the backbone. All the –COO– groups directly connect to the main chains in FA- and MAH- PCEs, whereas half of the –COO– groups in IA-PCE indirectly connect to the main chains through hydrophobic methylene, which has a potential to curl and reduce its “accessible” –COO– groups. FA-PCE with a large specific charge density exhibit excellent flowability and rheological properties in cementitious pastes.