Slump retaining agent

Abstract

A polymeric composition which reduces the loss of flowability of a cementitious composition comprises at least one polymer as a salt thereof having the form of a copolymer of (a) a maleic anhydride half-ester with a compound of the formula I RO(AO).sub.m H (I) where R is a C.sub.1-20 alkyl group, A is a C.sub.2-4 alkylene group and m is an integer from 2-16; and (b) a monomer having the formula II CH.sub.2 .dbd.CHCH.sub.2 -(OA).sub.n OR (II) where n is an integer from 1-90. In a preferred embodiment, there is present a polycarboxylate salt which is at least one polymer or copolymer comprising at least one of the monomers acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic anhydride, maleic acid and maleic acid monoester, polymer and polycarboxylate salt being blended in the proportion of 0.1-10 parts of weight of polymer per part of polycarboxylate salt. Cementitious compositions such as concrete in which such polymeric compositions are included maintain their slump properties.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.