Adsorption characteristics of superplasticizers on cement component minerals

Adsorption characteristics of various superplasticizers on portland cement component minerals were investigated. Adsorption isotherms of various types of superplasticizers and ζ-potentials of cement component minerals at the maximum adsorption of the superplasticizers were measured. The value of the adsorption isotherm was calculated from the amount of the superplasticizer adsorbed on a cement component mineral in an equilibrated solution. The maximum amounts of adsorption and the adsorption isotherms varied with types of component mineral and superplasticizer. For all types of superplasticizers, a larger amount of superplasticizer was adsorbed on C₃A and C₄AF than C₃S and C₂S. However, the equilibrated concentration of each superplasticizer at the maximum adsorption was not influenced by types of superplasticizer. Without superplasticizer, C₃S and C₂S had negative ζ-potential. On the contrary, C₃A and C₄AF had positive ζ-potential. Therefore, accelerated coagulation of cement particles might occur due to their electrostatic potentials that are opposite each other. However, all component minerals of cement had negative ζ-potential when they were mixed with any superplasticizer. Fluidity of fresh cement paste is improved due to electrostatic repulsion acting between particles.