A Novel Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer Synthesized by Photo-ATRP for Enhanced Cement Performance

Kuran Ö., Akyel C., Ciftci M., Kaya Y., Mardani A., Kaya Y.

Polymer-Plastics Technology and Materials, cilt.65, sa.7, ss.1-13, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

Özet

The durability of reinforced concrete in seismic zones depends on achieving low water-to-cement(w/c) ratios without sacrificing workability. Polycarboxylate ether-based (PCE) superplasticizers arewidely used for their water-reducing and slump-retaining capabilities at low dosages. However,conventional free-radical polymerization yields broad molecular weight distributions, limitingreproducibility and performance. Controlled/living radical polymerization (CLRP), particularlyatom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), offers precise control over polymer architecture. Yet,traditional ATRP requires high temperatures and is prone to catalyst oxidation. Photo-ATRP over-comes these issues by enabling controlled polymerization under mild conditions. In this study,PEG-containing copolymers were synthesized via photo-ATRP using tert-butyl acrylate (tBA) andPEG-based monomers (PEGA, PEGMA), followed by hydrolysis to acrylic acid units. Theoreticalcalculations (Gaussian 09) showed that poly(AA-co-PEGMA) had the highest Ca2+ adsorptionenergy. Experimental results from Marsh-funnel and mini-slump tests confirmed its superiorrheological performance, consistent with computational predictions. These findings highlightphoto-ATRP – synthesized poly(AA-co-PEGMA) as a highly effective, low-dosage water-reducingadmixture that improves workability and reduces w/c ratio. This contributes to lower cementusage, energy demand, and CO2 emissions, promoting sustainable construction.