Mechanical force method for the preparation of starch-based water reducer for concrete

Water reducing agent is a kind of the concrete admixture that has a dispersing effect on cement particles and can reduce the mixing water consumption. In this paper, starch sulfate water reducing agent (SAS) was prepared in one step by mechanical force method using starch as raw material. The mechanical force method has the advantages of no solvent, efficient reaction and simple operation. The mechanism of the reaction conditions on the substitution degree, molecular weight, surface morphology and elemental composition of the SAS was investigated by using FT-IR, XRD, UV–vis, GPC, SEM and EDS. SAS was found to have excellent water reduction properties through cement net flow experiments, and the water reduction mechanism of SAS was analyzed in depth. As a new biomass-based high-efficiency water reducing agent, SAS has great potential to replace commercially available water reducing agents and support the high quality development of the construction industry.