Development History of Polycarboxylic Acid Water Reducing Agents

Polycarboxylate superplasticizer is a high-performance cement admixture that can significantly reduce the water-cement ratio of concrete and improve its flowability and workability. Its development history can be traced back to the early 20th century.

In the early 20th century, people began to study the use of organic substances to improve the workability of concrete. The earliest organic admixtures were lignosulfonates and protein sulfonates, which could improve the flowability of concrete by adsorbing on the surface of cement particles.

In the 1940s, sulfonate compounds began to be used as water reducers. These compounds could improve the flowability of concrete by reacting with the surface of cement particles. However, these compounds were prone to decomposition in high-temperature environments, limiting their application range.

In the 1960s, polycarboxylate superplasticizers began to emerge. These water reducers are made from polycarboxylic acids and their derivatives, and have excellent water-reducing effects and stability. Polycarboxylate superplasticizers can form stable dispersion systems by adsorbing on the surface of cement particles, thereby improving the flowability of concrete.

With the development of science and technology, the performance of polycarboxylate superplasticizers has continuously improved. Modern polycarboxylate superplasticizers can significantly reduce the water-cement ratio of concrete and improve its flowability and workability. In addition, polycarboxylate superplasticizers can also improve the crack resistance, durability, and wear resistance of concrete.

In summary, the development history of polycarboxylate superplasticizers has gone through a process from lignosulfonates  and protein sulfonates to sulfonate compounds, and then to modern polycarboxylate superplasticizers. With the continuous progress of science and technology, the performance of polycarboxylate superplasticizers has been continuously improved, providing better solutions for concrete engineering.|