Polycarboxylates

Polycarboxylate, shown here as a copolymer.

Polycarboxylates are linear polymers that have a large number of carboxy groups (formerly carboxyl groups ).

use

In detergents

Polycarboxylates are used as so-called builders in detergents to improve washing performance. They are polymers of acrylic acid or copolymers of acrylic acid and maleic acid . The polymer is used as the sodium salt.

The high polarity reduces deposits on the laundry and inhibits the crystal growth of lime ( Threshold effect ). Complexing agents and carriers (transport aid) of Ca and Mg ions to zeolite A ensure the ion exchange there .

In the sewage treatment plant , the polymer remains largely in the sludge and is thus separated from the wastewater.

As a superplasticizer

In the production of concrete are polycarboxylate ether (PCE) as a flow agent used.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Entry on polycarboxylates. In: Römpp Online . Georg Thieme Verlag, accessed on August 17, 2016.
2. ↑ Susanne Palecki: High-performance concrete under alternating freeze-thaw loads : Damage and transport mechanisms . Cuvillier Verlag, 2006, ISBN 978-3-86537-725-8 , pp. 20 ( Google Books ).