1 Adsorption of polyelectrolytes and rheology of suspensions of calcium carbonate

This study focuses on the superplasticizers which allow to increase the concentration of the particles (cement) of a concrete while maintaining good handling. The superplasticizerss analyzed here are polyelectrolytic: polymethacrylates grafted with side polyethyleneoxide chains (PEO) of different lengths. We present a study of these molecules in solution, including the influence of OH- ions on the PEO chains. We analyse the effect of the superplasticizers on the rheology of suspensions of CaCO3 particles of micron and nanometer size ranges.