The properties of cement systems superplasticized with methacrylic ester-based polycarboxylates

•Metacrylic ester-based polycarboxylate superplasticizers were synthesized.•SP action in cement suspensions were tested in terms of rheology.•Shear-thickening was observed as a rheological behaviour.•Cement system properties (strength, setting time, fluidity etc.) were determined.•Copolymers of mPEGMA-co-MAA provided high performances to cement-based materials. Methacrylic ester-based polycarboxylate superplasticizers of methoxypolyethylene glycol metacrylate-co-methacrylic acid (mPEGMA-co-MAA) with various side-chain density and side-chain length were synthesized, characterized and their impacts on workability, rheology, setting time and mechanical strengths of cement systems were studied. The results showed that, synthesized copolymers change the rheological behaviour of cement suspensions to shear thickening and, SPs with low side chain densities increase fluidity, fluidity retention and strengths of samples higher than their counterparts. Additionally, polycarboxylates retard the hydration of cement and low triethanol-amine dosages can be preferred as an accelerator for cold weather applications or for early mechanical strengths of cement systems.