Abstract: A non-ionic polyether-polyester copolymer for extending workability to a cementitious mixture containing hydraulic cement and water, wherein the copolymer includes residues of at least the following monomers: Component A including an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester monomer having a moiety hydrolysable in the cementitious mixture, wherein the hydrolyzed monomer residue has an active binding site for a component of the cementitious mixture; and, at least one of: Component B including an ethylenically unsaturated, carboxylic acid ester or alkenyl ether monomer having at least one C2-4 oxyalkylene side group of about 1 to 30 units; or, Component C including an ethylenically unsaturated, carboxylic acid ester or alkenyl ether monomer having at least one C2-4 oxyalkylene side group of 31 to about 350 units; wherein the molar ratio of Component A to the sum of the molar ratios of Component B and Component C is about 1:1 to about 10:1.

Abstract: Preparing a non-ionic copolymer having a hydrolysable monomer residue and a polyether macromonomer residue in a semicontinuous mode in a polymerization reactor associated with a metering device, including introducing polyether macromonomer and water into the reactor, wherein hydrolysable monomer which is added thereto forms a polymerization reaction mixture; introducing hydrolysable monomer into the metering device; adding hydrolysable monomer into the reactor from the metering device; passing a free radical polymerization initiator into the reactor before and/or during the addition of the hydrolysable monomer, the hydrolysable monomer and the polyether macromonomer reacting by free radical polymerization to form the non-ionic copolymer; and, subjecting the reaction mixture to polymerization while an addition rate of the hydrolysable monomer and/or at least a component of the polymerization initiator is varied stepwise or continuously.

Abstract: Preparing a non-ionic copolymer having a hydrolysable monomer residue and a polyether macromonomer residue in a semicontinuous mode in a polymerization reactor associated with a metering device, including introducing polyether macromonomer and water into the reactor, wherein hydrolysable monomer which is added thereto forms a polymerization reaction mixture; introducing hydrolysable monomer into the metering device; adding hydrolysable monomer into the reactor from the metering device; passing a free radical polymerization initiator into the reactor before and/or during the addition of the hydrolysable monomer, the hydrolysable monomer and the polyether macromonomer reacting by free radical polymerization to form the non-ionic copolymer; and, subjecting the reaction mixture to polymerization while an addition rate of the hydrolysable monomer and/or at least a component of the polymerization initiator is varied stepwise or continuously.

Abstract: Preparing a non-ionic copolymer having a hydrolysable monomer residue and a polyether macromonomer residue in a semicontinuous mode in a polymerization reactor associated with a metering device, including introducing polyether macromonomer and water into the reactor, wherein hydrolysable monomer which is added thereto forms a polymerization reaction mixture; introducing hydrolysable monomer into the metering device; adding hydrolysable monomer into the reactor from the metering device; passing a free radical polymerization initiator into the reactor before and/or during the addition of the hydrolysable monomer, the hydrolysable monomer and the polyether macromonomer reacting by free radical polymerization to form the non-ionic copolymer; and, subjecting the reaction mixture to polymerization while an addition rate of the hydrolysable monomer and/or at least a component of the polymerization initiator is varied stepwise or continuously.

Abstract: A non-ionic polyether-polyester copolymer for extending workability to a cementitious mixture containing hydraulic cement and water, wherein the copolymer includes residues of at least the following monomers: Component A including an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester monomer having a moiety hydrolysable in the cementitious mixture, wherein the hydrolyzed monomer residue has an active binding site for a component of the cementitious mixture; and, at least one of: Component B including an ethylenically unsaturated, carboxylic acid ester or alkenyl ether monomer having at least one C2-4 oxyalkylene side group of about 1 to 30 units; or, Component C including an ethylenically unsaturated, carboxylic acid ester or alkenyl ether monomer having at least one C2-4 oxyalkylene side group of 31 to about 350 units; wherein the molar ratio of Component A to the sum of the molar ratios of Component B and Component C is about 1:1 to about 10:1.

Abstract: Preparing a non-ionic copolymer having a hydrolysable monomer residue and a polyether macromonomer residue in a semicontinuous mode in a polymerization reactor associated with a metering device, including introducing polyether macromonomer and water into the reactor, wherein hydrolysable monomer which is added thereto forms a polymerization reaction mixture; introducing hydrolysable monomer into the metering device; adding hydrolysable monomer into the reactor from the metering device; passing a free radical polymerization initiator into the reactor before and/or during the addition of the hydrolysable monomer, the hydrolysable monomer and the polyether macromonomer reacting by free radical polymerization to form the non-ionic copolymer; and, subjecting the reaction mixture to polymerization while an addition rate of the hydrolysable monomer and/or at least a component of the polymerization initiator is varied stepwise or continuously.