Effects of Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer on the Rheological Properties of Cement-Based Composites

The effects of polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE) on the rheological properties and workability of cement-based composites were investigated by testing parameters such as static yield stress, dynamic yield stress, plastic viscosity, slump flow, bleeding rate, and penetration depth.The correlation between the dosage of PCE and the rheological parameters of fresh cement-based composites was analyzed.The results indicated that with an increase in the PCE dosage, the static yield stress, dynamic yield stress, and plastic viscosity of fresh cement-based composites decreased, demonstrating that PCE can improve the rheological properties of these composites.As the PCE dosage increased, the slump flow and bleeding rate of fresh cement-based composites also increased, but the rate of change decreased at higher dosages.Additionally, with an increase in PCE dosage, the penetration depth gradually increased, while the penetration depth difference (H) decreased.Furthermore, the compressive strength of cement-based composite cubes slightly decreased with an increase in PCE dosage.