Effect of Some Acrylate—Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Copolymers as Superplasticizers on the Mechanical and Surface Properties of Portland Cement Pastes

Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) pastes with added superplasticizer were made using water/cement weight ratios of standard consistency. Three types of superplasticizer based on acrylate—poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers were used. The pastes were hydrated for various time lengths and the mechanical characteristics of the hardened cement pastes were studied and related to their pore structures. It was found that the addition of the superplasticizers to OPC improved the mechanical properties of the hardened pastes for all hydration lengths. The addition of such superplasticizers to OPC resulted in a decrease in the specific surface areas and total pore volumes of the hardened superplasticized cement pastes relative to the corresponding hardened neat cement pastes.