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To make effective use of plant leaves as an environment-friendly heat-insulating building material, our research group has tested five poplar leaf modification methods to improve compatibility between leaf fibres and cement-based materials. The work involved testing water absorption of before and after modification of leaf fibres, the setting time and hydration heat of the fibre–cement paste, and analysed the mechanisms and effect of fibre modification methods on compatibility between fibres and cement-based materials. The results show that processing of fibres with surface coating and dipping methods improved compatibility between fibres and cement-based materials to some extent and in different aspects. Overall, the following three methods gave superior performance: pure acrylic polymer emulsion spraying, sodium silicate solution spraying and water dipping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Several kinds of leaves and leaf concrete hydrated products were tested and analyzed with SEM–EDS. [•] The micro-morphology of leaf concrete is greatly different from that of ordinary concrete. [•] The heat-isolating property of test specimens with different micro-morphologies was tested. [•] With the increase in dosage of leaves, heat-insulation effect of leaf concrete is enhanced. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• The construction of inherent reactive XPSF surface by ultraviolet-zone. • The fabrication of covalently bonded XPSF/mortar interfaces. • The thorough investigation of the reactions between APTES and XPSF surface. The inert surface of extruded polystyrene foams (XPSF) was activated by ultraviolet-ozone (UVO) for the first time to improve the interfacial compatibility with mortar. From the structural analysis (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) and contact angle (CA)), it was suggested that a 10 min UVO exposure was efficient enough to introduce oxygen-contained elements (such as carboxyl groups) upon the obtained UVO-XPSF surface, leading to the increased bonding strength (BS) from 0.058 MPa of neat XPSF/mortar composites to 0.088 MPa. Then, 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES) was selected as the promoter to further enhance the BS value of XPSF/mortar composites. The presence of the silane was confirmed by CA, Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR) and XPS. By optimizing the reaction conditions (activation and reaction time: 7 and 3 min, concentration of APTES: 2% and pH value of the silane solution: 10), a maximum BS of 0.168 MPa could be obtained. Through the mechanism analysis, it was demonstrated that APTES acted as a chemical bridge that covalently jointed XPSF by the formation of amide peptide and inorganic mortar by the condensation of silanols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tertiary alkanolamines play an essential role in the hydration of cement-based materials as one of the main components of cement grinding aids and concrete admixtures. Although the field has been well-studied, the significant effects of slight variations in alkanolamine type and dosage make it imperative for researchers to fully understand alkanolamines before using them. Therefore, it is necessary to understand in detail the mechanism of different alkanolamines affecting the hydration of cement-based materials and their effects on setting and hardening. Based on the synthesis and chemical characteristics of alkanolamines, the complexation between alkanolamine and metal ions is discussed in this paper. The influence of alkanolamines on hydration of cement-based materials and the role of complexation in hydration are studied. Various properties of cement-based materials in the presence of alkanolamines are rigorously reviewed. The synergistic effects of alkanolamine and other admixtures are also considered in this review. The research findings prove that the complexation of alkanolamines plays an essential role in hydration and further interferes the microstructure and properties of the cement-based materials. Variations in the molecular structure and dosage of alkanolamines can lead to significant differences in hydration. The modification of alkanolamines at the molecular level and their use in combination with other admixtures are the future research directions. The working mechanism of alkanolamines in the hydration process of cement-based materials still needs to be further explored. • Complexation of alkanolamines significantly affects cement hydration. • Different alkanolamines have different effects on mineral phase hydration. • Alkanolamines significantly affect the morphology of C-S-H gels and Ca(OH) 2. • The right dosage of alkanolamine could improve compressive strength. • TEA has a significant effect on setting time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact on hydration of four kinds of alkanolamines (triethanolamine (TEA), triisopropanolamine (TIPA), diethanol-isopropanolamine (DEIPA) and methyldiethanolamine (MDEA)) in a steel slag cementitious system was reviewed. Isothermal calorimetry studies provided information on the hydration heat release rate and the cumulative energy released by blend cement systems. Mortar strength, quantitative X-ray diffractometry, mercury intrusion pore size distribution analysis, scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis were used to analyze the mechanism of strength enhancement and micro-structure of hydrates that were impacted by alkanolamines. Alkanolamines prolonged the hydrated induction period in the steel slag–cement system, and enhanced the second exothermic peak of hydration at dosages of 0.01%, 0.03% and 0.05%. The second hydration rate was decreased by TEA, DEIPA and MDEA, and increased by TIPA at alkanolamine dosages of 0.1% and 0.2%. The compressive strength and non-evaporable water content were enhanced by the four types of alkanolamines (dosage of 0.03%) at 3 d, 7 d and 28 d, which allowed TEA and DEIPA to contribute to strength development and the hydration reaction over TIPA and MDEA. The CH content, porosity and pore size were decreased by alkanolamines at different ages. Alkanolamines promoted the formation of ettringite and an alumina–ferric oxide–monosulfate phase, and the C–S–H morphology was also changed by different kinds of alkanolamines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-heat Portland cement (LHPC) is an environmentally friendly, low-carbon cementitious material. However, its limited early mechanical properties significantly restricts its applications. This work aimed to improve the early mechanical properties of LHPC through the synergistic effect of diethanol-isopropanolamine (DEIPA) and gypsum (CaSO 4 ·2 H 2 O). The research investigated the effects of DEIPA and gypsum on the early mechanical properties, hydration kinetics, pore solution, hydration products, pore structure, and microstructure of LHPC. The results demonstrated that the addition of 0.03 % DEIPA alone (3D group) increased the compressive strength of LHPC at 1d but reduced the compressive strength at 3d and 7d. When 0.03 % DEIPA and 2 % gypsum (3D+2 G group) were co-added, the compressive strength of LHPC was significantly improved. The compressive strength of LHPC at 3d and 7d reached 23.0 MPa and 31.7 MPa, respectively, which were 8.49 % and 12.01 % higher than those of the reference group (REF group). When 0.03 % DEIPA and 3 % gypsum (3D+3 G group) were co-added, the compressive strength of LHPC at 3d and 7d increased to 23.5 MPa and 31.4 MPa, respectively, which were 10.85 % and 10.95 % higher than that of the REF group. After DEIPA and gypsum were co-added, the hydration shoulder peak of LHPC paste appeared later and broader compared with the 3D group, with a significant increase in cumulative heat release over 3d. At 3d and 7d of hydration, after co-adding DEIPA and gypsum, the amount of portlandite (CH) generated increased compared with the 3D group, the content of chemically bound water (CBW) significantly increased, and the degree of hydration significantly improved. The addition of gypsum further enhanced the effect of DEIPA on promoting the hydration of the ferrite phase (C 4 AF) in the LHPC paste. It alleviated the inhibitory effect of DEIPA on C 3 S hydration, accelerated the formation of hydration product monosulfoaluminate (AFm), optimized pore size distribution, and densified the microstructure, effectively improving the early mechanical properties of LHPC. This study provides a new approach to enhance the early reactivity of LHPC. • Co-addition of DEIPA and gypsum can effectively improve the early strength of LHPC. • Rising sulfate content enhances the effect of DEIPA in promoting C 4 AF hydration. • DEIPA and gypsum synergistically promote the formation of AFm. • Increased sulfate content alleviates the inhibitory effect of DEIPA on C 3 S hydration [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effective modification of extruded polystyrene foam (XPSF) by the ultraviolet-ozone. • Amphipathic silane coupling agents as the adhesion promoters between XPSF and mortar. • A significant improvement on the interfacial strength of XPSF/mortar. • The chemical linkages can be induced by different kinds of silanes. The inert surface of extruded polystyrene foam (XPSF) was activated by the ultraviolet-ozone (UVO) irradiation, followed by the surface coupling reactions with γ-mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane (MPTMS) and vinyl triethylsilane (VTEO) to improve the interfacial affinity between the organic XPSF and inorganic mortar. The reaction conditions (including reaction time, concentration and pH of the silanes) were thoroughly investigated in order to reach the maximum bonding strength (BS) of XPSF/mortar composites. It was suggested that the presence of MPTMS could increase the BS value from 0.04 MPa to 0.178 MPa (reaction time: 10 min, concentration of MPTMS: 2% and pH value of the silane solution: 4). For VTEO, the maximum BS value reached to 0.140 MPa (activation and reaction time: 7 and 3 min, concentration of VTEO: 5% and pH value of the silane solution: 7). According to the mechanism analysis, the thiol groups in MPTMS have the strongest reactivity with activated XPSF surface after UVO exposure, leading to the maximized interfacial strength between the organic insulation materials and inorganic mortar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the side chain ionizability (the adsorption group density and adsorption space are changed) of polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE) serve as the key structural parameter in affecting the cement hydration, its effect on cement hydration is unclear. Based on PCE with nonionizable side chain (NSC-PCE) and the PCE with ionizable side chain (ISC-PCE), the influence of the side chain ionizability of PCE on the hydration behavior of cement was studied. Compared with NSC-PCE, ISC-PCE has a stronger ability to change the migration of water and ions, thus delaying the crystal nucleation and growth of cement hydration (better morphology and distribution, the crystal size was reduced by more than 20 %), increasing the crystal growth index (tendency toward spherical growth), prolonging the phase boundary reaction (reduce micro-cracks), which was conducive to the formation of more uniform and dense crystals (good strength, ISC-PCE: 50.0 MPa > NSC-PCE: 49.2 MPa > Blank: 48.7 MPa). These findings provide the design basis and theoretical guidance for the innovative development of PCE. [Display omitted] • ISC-PCE decreases the hydration rate and hydration degree of cement. • The effect of PCE on the hydration process was studied by the hydration kinetics model. • ISC-PCE has a stronger ability to change the migration of water and ions. • Proposes working mechanism in viewpoints of dissolution-precipitation equilibrium. • Tailoring the side chain ionizability was a new strategy to tune the performance of PCE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the impacts of CO 2 -absorbed triethanolamine solutions (TEA-CO 2) on the mechanical property, phase composition and micro-structure of cement mortars were investigated. The results showed that TEA-CO 2 addition increased the 1d, 3d, and 28d compressive strength by 47%, 19%, and 4%, respectively, which suggests a synergistic effect of triethanolamine and absorbed CO 2 on strength development of cement mortars. The enhancement is due to TEA-CO 2 accelerates hydration of aluminate and silicate phases in early age. TEA-CO 2 facilitated CaCO 3 formation to increase cement hydration degree and modify the pore structures. However, the hydration of silicate phases was delayed slightly by TEA-CO 2 at 28d. The above results provide theoretical support for further utilization of CO 2 in cementitious materials. • Effect of TEA-CO 2 on strength development of mortars was investigated. • TEA-CO 2 addition increases flexural and compressive strength of mortars. • TEA-CO 2 accelerates the hydration of aluminate phase and silicate phase at early age. • A synergism of cement hydration and carbonation in the presence of TEA-CO 2 was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study fabricated a kind of novel phase change microcapsules with a metal-polymer hybrid capsule shell for applying in gypsum materials to reduce building energy consumption. The microstructure, composition and thermal characteristics of the microcapsules were investigated by using techniques such as the scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Their impact on the thermal regulation characteristics of gypsum composite materials was also analyzed through the heating plate test and simulated room experiment. Results show the microcapsules with inner organic polymer and outer copper layer were successfully fabricated. And they exhibited a phase change temperature between 22.3 ℃ and 23.3 ℃ and latent heat between 82.2 J/g to 139.5 J/g. Meanwhile, the thermal inertia and thermal storage capacity of gypsum composites were enhanced by incorporating the final microcapsules. After heated for 40 min, the gypsum composite board with MPCM-Cu shows the ability to reduce the room temperature fluctuation. Furthermore, the thermal performance of MPCM-Cu remains stable after 250 thermal cycles. These results indicate that final microcapsules exhibit the potential for building energy conservation. [Display omitted] • MPCM-Cu with binary esters as core and polyurea-copper hybrid shell are synthesised. • The phase change temperature of MPCM-Cu is within the human comfort temperature range. • Higher MPCM-Cu content results in lower temperature fluctuation of gypsum composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UV curable organic-inorganic hybrid (OIH) coatings were used to modify the extruded polystyrene foam (XPSF) surfaces to increase the bonding strengthen (BS) of XPSF/mortar composite (XMC). OIH coatings contained polyurethane acrylate, hexanediol and nanoparticles with different dimensions. With the addition of nano-SiO 2 and halloysite nanotubes, the BS-D (BS in dry state) & BS-W-2H/7D (BS in wet state after 2-hour/7-day drying) values for modified XMC were increased from 0.050 & 0.039/0.047 MPa to 0.245 & 0.196/0.356 and 0.312 & 0.233/0.323 MPa. The chemical bonding between SiO 2 /-COOH from UV coating and hydration products in mortar improved the bonding state. [Display omitted] • Modification of XPSF surface by UV curable organic-inorganic hybrid coating. • The fabrication of chemical bonding for XPSF/mortar interfaces. • The investigation of the reactions between mortar and modified XPSF surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The hydration of glass is heterogeneous due to phase-separation structure; • The heterogeneous hydration of glass impact the formation of calcium hydroxide; • The hydration rate advantage of calcium-rich and silicon-rich phase can be reversed; • The heterogeneous hydration is suitable for thermodynamic simulation of cement paste; Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) affect the hydration process and long-term properties of cementitious systems. Since a large percentage of SCMs belong to alkaline-earth aluminosilicate glasses that possess a phase-separated structure, further research into their hydration characteristics is essential. This study investigated the effects of the hydration characteristics of synthetic glasses with various phase-separated structure on the phase evolution of cementitious systems by combining simulations with experiments. The results showed that with the increasing degree of phase separation, the hydration of synthetic glass transitions from homogeneous to heterogeneous hydration. The phase evolution of hardened paste, particularly for calcium hydroxide, is influenced by the difference in hydration rates among each separated glassy phase. Compared to homogeneous hydration, the rapid hydration of the Ca-rich phase reduced the consumption of calcium hydroxide, while the rapid hydration of the Si-rich phase accelerated calcium hydroxide consumption. For glasses exhibiting phase separation characteristics, the consistency between thermodynamic simulations employing a heterogeneous hydration model and experimental results exhibits a notable enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A certain dosage of DEA or TEA helps to increase the application performance of accelerator. • The complexation effect of DEA and TEA in accelerator have a significant difference. • DEA in accelerator promote the C 3 S hydration in the initial stage of hydration. • High dosage of TEA in accelerator increases the formation rate of AFt and inhibit the hydration of C 3 A and C 3 S. • Transformation of DEA-Al to DEA-Ca occurred in the cement hydration when accelerator containing DEA. In this study, diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA) were used to prepare a series of liquid alkali-free accelerators to investigate the different effects of complexation of DEA and TEA in accelerators towards the initial stage of cement hydration. Two types of accelerators respectively containing DEA (dosages of 0, 6, 8, 10, 12%) and TEA (dosages of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 8%) were prepared, and after addition, the setting time of cement pastes and compressive strength of mortars were tested. The result showed that the optimum dosage of DEA and TEA in accelerators was 8% and 0.25% respectively, and the early-strength effect of TEA was stronger than that of DEA. The mechanisms of DEA and TEA in accelerators were further revealed in terms of complexation capacity, concentration of Ca2+, and hydration products and microstructure morphology of cement pastes. DEA and TEA complexed with Al3+ in accelerators and promoted the formation of ettringite (AFt) in cement pastes, and the complexation capacity of TEA to Al3+ was stronger than that of DEA, causing that high dosage of TEA in accelerator promoted the formation of AFt more than DEA and covered at the surfaces of C 3 A and C 3 S, which inhibited the hydration. DEA in accelerator could promote the hydration of C 3 S in the initial stage due to the transformation of complex DEA-Al to DEA-Ca. This study aims to interpret the different influences of complexation effects of DEA and TEA in accelerators on the properties of cement-based materials and their working mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the problem of high viscosity for fresh concrete especially high-grade concrete, a novel viscosity-reducing type of polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE) was synthesized based on innovative design of molecular structure, and also was characterized to confirm the designed molecular structure. The rheological performances of cement paste and fresh concrete containing synthesized PCE were probed, which were analyzed by means of surface tension, adsorption behavior and zeta potential. The plastic viscosity showed a good correlation with T50 and V-funnel time according to mesomechanics process model. Moreover, the investigation of working mechanism interestingly showed that lowering molecular weight and side chain length and introducing hydrophobic groups can achieve improved dispersion capacity and viscosity-reduction effectiveness. The aim of this study is to provide a promising avenue to synthesize PCE with superior workability and viscosity-reducing performance in fresh concrete. This new type of PCE can be used as a viscosity-reducing agent in concrete engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The construction of reactive hydrophilic XPSF surface by the surface curing of UV curable adhesives. • The fabrication of chemical bonded XPSF/mortar interfaces. • The thorough investigation of the reactions between cured UV adhesive coating and XPSF surface. The hydrophobic surface of extruded polystyrene foams (XPSF) was modified by UV curable adhesives to enhance the interfacial bonding strength (BS) with mortar. The UV adhesive contained epoxy acrylate resin, acrylic acid and butyl acrylate (denoted as EAB). After EAB modification, the BS value in dry state (BS-D) increased from 0.050 MPa of unmodified XPSF with mortar to 0.210 MPa. Then, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) was further introduced into EAB to form the water-resistant coatings (denoted as EABT) to enhance the BS value in wet state (BS-W). By optimizing the composition, the maximum BS-D and BS-W of 0.216 and 0.158 MPa in 7-day curing were obtained. The bonding mechanism illustrated that the modified XPSF was chemically bonded with mortar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • EDIPA greatly improves compressive strength and shortens setting time of SS paste. • Chelation of EDIPA promotes the formation of monocarboaluminate (C(A,F) C ¯ H) • The chelating ability of EDIPA to Al3+ and Fe3+ is stronger than that of Ca2+. • The chelation of EDIPA changes the crystal structure and morphology of Ca(OH) 2. The low cementitious activity of steel slag (SS) limits its application in cement-based materials. The effects of ethanol-diisopropanolamine (EDIPA) on the hydration and mechanical properties of pure basic oxygen furnace SS were investigated. The hydration kinetics and pore structure of SS pastes incorporated with EDIPA and the chelation of EDIPA were analyzed to reveal the working mechanism of EDIPA. The results show that EDIPA improves the compressive strength of the hardened SS paste and greatly shortens the setting time of SS paste, which is related to the chelation of EDIPA. EDIPA could chelate with Ca2+, Al3+, and Fe3+ to form metal chelates, and the chelating ability of EDIPA to Al3+ and Fe3+ is stronger than that of Ca2+. The chelation of EDIPA simultaneously promotes the hydration and carbonation of aluminate and ferrite phases (C 3 A, C 12 A 7 , and C 2 F), resulting in a large amount of monocarboaluminate (C(A,F) C ¯ H), thus improves the hydration degree of SS paste. EDIPA could refine the pore structure of hardened SS paste, which is mainly manifested as the decrease in the amount of macropores and pore size, and the increase in the amount of small pores. The chelation of EDIPA changes the crystal structure and morphology of Ca(OH) 2 , which is potentially helpful to weaken the negative effect of Ca(OH) 2 on strength. This study reveals the effect of chelation of EDIPA on the hydration of SS, which is a valuable guide for the resource utilization of SS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • PU-UF MPCMs with binary esters as core and double-layered shell are synthesized. • The performance of PU-UF MPCMs in cement composites is investigated. • PU-UF MPCMs exhibit potential for enhancing energy savings and thermal comfort of buildings. In this study, novel microencapsulated phase change materials (PU-UF MPCMs) with methyl palmitate and methyl stearate as core and double-layered shell structure were designed for building energy conservations. Their composition, microstructure and thermal performances were determined by techniques including optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Effects of PU-UF MPCMs on the thermal performance of cementitious composites were also investigated. Results show that PU-UF MPCMs with spherical shape and double-layered shell structure were successfully prepared. DSC results show that the latent heat of PU-UF MPCMs is 137.6 J/g and the melt temperature of cores in PU-UF MPCMs is 24.2 °C. 5%-15% PU-UF MPCMs addition increases the thermal storage capacity of cement pastes through a phase transition process, among which 15% PU-UF MPCMs leads to the highest thermal storage capacity. Those results suggest that PU-UF MPCMs exhibit the potential for enhancing energy savings and thermal comfort of buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The accelerated self-healing of cracks in cement mortars containing TEA was investigated. • The size of portlandite are greatly decreased by the addition of TEA in cement mortars. • The accelerated formation of CaCO 3 is responsible for the accelerated crack healing in TEA containing mortars. Mechanism of accelerated self-healing behavior of cement mortars incorporating triethanolamine (TEA) was investigated. The crack width in cement mortar specimens and the healing efficiency of cracks during immersion in water were quantitatively measured according to the Poiseuille's law. To reveal the working mechanism of TEA in the accelerated self-healing of cracks in cement mortars during water immersion, multi-techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG), nitrogen sorption isotherm and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to determine the changes in composition and microstructure of hydration products in the presence of TEA before and after water immersion. In addition, carbonation process of synthesized CH powder was studied. Results show that self-healing of the cracks in cement mortars during water penetration is a result of the continuous formation of CaCO 3 on the fractured surfaces. TEA addition visibly enhances the self-healing performance of cement mortars and a higher dosage of TEA leads to a higher self-healing efficiency, because of the accelerated precipitation of CaCO 3 on the fractured surface in mortars. TEA addition results in great morphological changes and increasing the surface area of portlandite as the second major hydration product of cement. Thus the carbonation process is notably accelerated in the mortars containing TEA. Moreover, the TEA-Ca2+complexation may promote the decalcification of C-S-H. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel sulfonate-modified PCE was synthesized based on innovative molecular design. • Sulfonate modification on the side chains of PCE can enhance the sulfate tolerance. • Effects of competitive adsorption, ionic strength and conformation were studied. • Good performance retention and stability were shown for solving compatibility problem. • Many quantitative evaluation indexes for sulfate tolerance of PCE were established. A novel polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE) was synthesized by graft copolymerization between acrylic acid (AA) and end-functionalized poly (allyl sulfonate) (PALS) to produce comb polymer, i.e. PAA-g-PALS. The molecular structure was confirmed by Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) and 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR), and the molecular properties were characterized by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC). The conventional PCE with comb structure using isobutenyl polyethylene glycol (IPEG) as side chains (i.e. PAA-g-IPEG) was also synthesized to explore the effect of the side chain on the PCE performances. The fluidity and its retention, rheological properties, hydrodynamic radii (R h), adsorption behavior and zeta potential of the cement pastes containing PAA-g-PALS or PAA-g-IPEG were comparatively tested. It was found that this designed "sulfonate modified PCE" exhibited stronger dispersing stability and sulfate tolerance to cement paste and less sensitive to the sulfate competitive adsorption and the increase in ionic strength. Based on the above results, the evaluation method (the sulfate resistance index of PAA-g-PALS was increased by 24% as compared to that of PAA-g-IPEG) was innovatively established and the mechanism of sulfate resistance was clarified in detail. The purpose of this research is to offer an avenue with great potentials to synthesize a novel PCE with excellent workability retention and sulfate tolerance in fresh cement pastes. This sulfonate-modified polycarboxylate superplasticizer has great potentials as a viable alternative to conventional PCE, especially in some harsh cement systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]