Synthesis, Characterization, and Cement Application of Vinyl Acetate Water-Soluble Graft Polymers

Abstract: Three different composition ratios of polyvinyl acetate-g-polyoxyethylene monomethylether (MPOE-g-PVAc) were prepared in the presence of benzoyl peroxide as an initiator using a macroradical initiator technique. The grafted copolymers were characterized through Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and ultraviolet (UV) spectronomy; the rheological properties expressed as viscometry and creep analysis were also studied. The solutions of MPOE-g-PVAc are Newtonian in nature and by increasing the monomer content in the composition, the viscosity of the solution decreases. The creep analysis demonstrates that the resultant strain increases by increasing the monomer composition ratio.The effect of grafted copolymers on the physicomechanical properties of ordinary portland cement (OPC) pastes was investigated. The results showed that the addition of water mixed to the cement with graft copolymer improves most of the specific characteristics of OPC. As the concentration of the grafted copolymer increases, the water-to-cement (WC) ratio as well as setting time decreases. The combined water content increases with the addition of copolymer to the mixing water. The compressive strength was sharply increased at nearly all hydration ages.