Effects of modified ultrafine powder on dispersion and pore structure in cement-based materials

Abstract To address the poor dispersibility of rubber particles in cement-based materials, this study employed fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (AEO-9) for the pretreatment of ultrafine rubber powder. Through contact angle analysis, 3D reconstruction, and computed tomography (CT) scanning, the mechanisms of AEO-9 in modulating hydrophilicity, dispersibility, and pore structure were systematically investigated. The results demonstrate that a 10 g/L AEO-9 solution effectively enhances the surface hydrophilicity of rubber particles and optimizes their dispersion within the cement matrix. Three-dimensional reconstruction confirmed that pretreated rubber particles achieved a more homogeneous spatial distribution in the cement paste.