Effect of polycarboxylate-type superplasticizer on the paste fluidity based on the water film thickness of flocs

The excess water film theory and the properties of flocs are integrated to examine the effect of the polycarboxylate-type superplasticizer on the paste fluidity. The theory states that excess water can surround the flocs rather than the particles and that the cell consists of a floc and a superficial water film. Experiments on limestone powder pastes were conducted to verify the theory. The superplasticizer dosage (sp%) and the water-powder ratio by volume (V _w /V _p ) were systematically varied. A sedimentation balance method was used to measure the size distribution of the flocs in the limestone powder pastes. The water film thickness (WFT) of flocs was then calculated and shown to determine the paste fluidity. Based on this WFT of flocs, the effect of the sp on the paste fluidity was determined and then compared with the effect of water.