Influence of Cellulose Ether Particle Size on Water Retention of Freshly-mixed Mortars

Cellulose ethers are polymers frequently introduced into mortar formulations in order to improve water retention capacity and workability of the freshly mixed materials. Cellulose derivatives can induce excellent water retention thanks to the possible superposition of two phenomena. Mortar rheology can impact water retention, increasing media viscosity. Other specific effects provided by cellulose ethers may improve water retention, though this effect remains misunderstood until now. These admixtures may act as a diffusion barrier, preventing water loss, or they can modify the porous network in the fresh state. Physico-chemical parameters of the admixtures (molecular weight, granulometry, etc) seem to have a strong influence on mortar water retention capacity.