Rheology of low‐clinker suspensions: Multiscale comparison of the effect of PCE on thixotropy

Addressing climate change requires reducing the carbon footprint of cement‐based building materials on a global scale. One promosing approach involves decreasing the clinker content by incorporating fine supplementary cementitious materials (SCM), which, however, can increase the stickiness of fresh concrete. Along with viscosity, thixotropic structural build‐up is a critical rheological parameter that impacts the stickiness of the SCM‐rich suspensions. Thus, it is essential to gain a precise understanding of how the molecular structure and mode of addition of polycarboxylate ethers (PCE) affect the thixotropic structural build‐up in low‐clinker suspensions. To address this issue, we investigate key parameters affecting thixotropy, specifically PCE adsorption and early hydration kinetics at the cement paste and mortar level, using a multiscale approach. In an application‐oriented concept, we maintain a constant yield stress by varying the PCE dosage to achieve constant workability. Our results demonstrate that higher thixotropy correlates with increased PCE charge density and direct addition in cement pastes and mortars. Moreover, it is indicated that increasing specific surface area and ettringite contents promote additional thixotropy‐enhancing mechanisms.