Water soluble air controlling agents for cementitious compositions

Abstract

Water soluble air controlling agents can be admixed with dispersant for cementitious compositions to provide an admixture for cementitious compositions that is stable over time. The water soluble air controlling agents are compatible with water based dispersants. Suitable water soluble air controlling agents include alkoxylated polymers. A cementitious composition is provided that includes cement, water, a dispersant for cementitious compositions, and a water soluble air controlling agent. A method is provided for making a cementitious composition that includes mixing cement, water, a dispersant for cementitious compositions, and a water soluble air controlling agent.

Description

BACKGROUND

Hydraulic cements, such as Portland cement, are used to form structural formations. Hydraulic cements can be mixed with aggregate to form mortars, which additionally include small aggregate and water, or concrete, which are mortars which additionally include large aggregate.

When working with hydraulic cements, it is desired to increase the slump and flow properties of the initially formed hydraulic cement composition to aid in placement of the composition and to extend the period of flowability in order to provide working time to finish the placement of the structure. Admixtures can be added to hydraulic cement that increase the slump and workability. Additionally, admixtures can be added that also reduce the amount of water required and to produce flowable cementitious compositions. The reduced water content increases the strength of the resulting hydraulic cement formation.

One admixture for increasing the flowability and reducing the water content is a polycarboxylate dispersant. Polycarboxylate dispersants are polymers with a carbon backbone with pendant side chains, wherein at least a portion of the side chains are attached to the backbone through a carboxyl group or an ether group. Polycarboxylate dispersants are very effective at dispersing and reducing the water content in hydraulic cements.

One drawback to polycarboxylate dispersants is that they have a tendency to entrain air in the cementitious composition during mixing. While some entrained air may be desired for particular applications, such as providing freeze-thaw durability to the cementitious composition, an excess of entrained air is detrimental to the compressive strength of the resulting hydraulic formation. Also, some insoluble defoamers, or contamination, can cause unpredictable air contents over time.

Generally in the construction industry, non-air entrained cementitious compositions having an air content of less than 3% is desired, with an air content of less than 2% being preferred. Air entraining admixtures are sometimes used to provide purposeful air contents of 5-8% which improves the freeze thaw durability of the cementitious mixture. When this is the case, it is desirable to be able to adjust the air content by changing the air entrainer dosage and to have the resulting air remain stable over time.

To overcome the excess entraining of air in cementitious compositions due to polycarboxylate dispersants, defoamers have been added to the cementitious mix to reduce the air content to a desired level. Defoamers typically have been included with the polycarboxylate admixture. However, the defoamers used in the prior art have been non-water-soluble compositions. Because the polycarboxylate dispersants are generally water soluble the problem with non-water-soluble defoamers is that they give an inadequate long term storage stability to the admixture. When a non-water-soluble defoamer is used in conjunction with a water soluble dispersant, the mixture separates over time. This requires that the mixture be mixed prior to use.

Another technique used in the prior art has been the grafting of the defoamer onto the dispersant molecule.

What is needed in the industry is an air controlling agent that can produce controllable air contents in non-air entrained and air entrained cementitious compositions in the presence of a dispersant for cementitious compositions.

SUMMARY

Water soluble air controlling agents can be mixed with a dispersant for cementitious compositions to provide an admixture for cementitious compositions that is stable over time. The water soluble air controlling agents are compatible with water based dispersants for cementitious compositions. The resulting compatible admixture has long term storage stability so that the admixture does not need to be mixed prior to use at the work site. The water soluble air controlling agent in the presence of a dispersant for cementitious compositions provides controllable air contents in non-air entrained and air entrained cementitious compositions.

An admixture for cementitious compositions is provided which comprises a water soluble air controlling agent and a dispersant for cementitious compositions.

A cementitious composition is provided which comprises cement, water, a water soluble air controlling agent, and a dispersant for cementitious compositions.

A method of making a cementitious composition is provided, wherein the method comprises mixing cement, water, a water soluble air controlling agent, and a dispersant for cementitious compositions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The term air controlling agent (ACA) refers to any material that functions to regulate the air content in cementitious compositions in a predictable manner.

The term dispersant for cementitious compositions throughout this specification includes polycarboxylate dispersants and oligomeric dispersants.

The term polycarboxylate dispersant throughout this specification refers to polymers with a carbon backbone with pendant side chains, wherein at least a portion of the side chains are attached to the backbone through a carboxyl group, ether group, ester linkage, amide linkage, or imide linkage. The term dispersant is also meant to include those chemicals which also function as a plasticizer, water reducer, fluidizer, antiflocculating agent, or superplasticizer for cementitious compositions. Examples of polycarboxylate dispersants can be found in U.S. Ser. No. 09/937,810, U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,814, U.S. Pat. No. 6,290, 770, U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,143, U.S. Pat. No. 6,211,317, U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,841, U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,996, U.S. Pat. No. 6,008,275, U.S. Pat. No. 6,136,950, U.S. Pat. No. 6,284,867, U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,681, U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,516; U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,929, U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,626, U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,195, U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,206, U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,566, U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,402, U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,425, U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,396, U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,184, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,912,284, U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,114, U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,744, U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,207, U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,657 , U.S. Pat. No. 5,703,174, U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,158, U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,978, U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,298, U.S. Pat. No. 5,583,183, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,343, which are incorporated herein by reference.

The term oligomeric dispersant throughout this specification refers to oligomers that are a reaction product of a component A, optionally component B, and component C that are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,133,347, U.S. Pat. No. 6,451,881, U.S. Ser. No. 09/629,724 filed on Jul. 31, 2000, and U.S. Ser. No. 10/244,253 filed on Sep. 16, 2002, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The dispersants used in combination with the air controlling agents are at least one of:

a) a dispersant of Formula (I):

• • wherein in Formula (I)
  • X is at least one of hydrogen, an alkali earth metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, ammonium ion, or amine;
  • R is at least one of C₁ to C₆ alkyl(ene) ether or mixtures thereof or C₁ to C₆ alkyl(ene) imine or mixtures thereof;
  • Q is at least one of oxygen, NH, or sulfur;
  • p is a number from 1 to about 300 resulting in at least one of a linear side chain or branched side chain;
  • R₁ is at least one of hydrogen, C₁ to C₂₀ hydrocarbon, or functionalized hydrocarbon containing at least one of —OH, —COOH, an ester or amide derivative of —COOH, sulfonic acid, an ester or amide derivative of sulfonic acid, amine, or epoxy;
  • Y is at least one of hydrogen, an alkali earth metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, ammonium ion, amine, a hydrophobic hydrocarbon or polyalkylene oxide moiety that functions as a defoamer;
  • m, m′, m″, n, n′, and n″ are each independently 0 or an integer between 1 and about 20;
  • Z is a moiety containing at least one of i) at least one amine and one acid group, ii) two functional groups capable of incorporating into the backbone selected from the group consisting of dianhydrides, dialdehydes, and di-acid-chlorides, or iii) an imide residue; and
  • wherein a, b, c, and d reflect the mole fraction of each unit wherein the sum of a, b, c, and d equal one, wherein a, b, c, and d are each a value greater than or equal to zero and less than one, and at least two of a, b, c, and d are greater than zero;

b) a dispersant of Formula (II):

• • wherein in Formula (III):
  • A is COOM or optionally in the “y” structure an acid anhydride group (—CO—O—CO—) is formed in place of the A groups between the carbon atoms to which the A groups are bonded to form an anhydride;
  • B is COOM
  • M is hydrogen, a transiot ional ion, the residue of a hydrophobic polyalkylene glycol or polysiloxane, an alkali metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, ferrous ion, aluminum ion, (alkanol)ammonium ion, or (alkyl)ammonium ion;
  • R is a C_2-6 alkylene radical;
  • R1 is a C_1-20 alkyl, C_6-9 cycloalkyl, or phenyl group;
  • x, y, and z are a number from 0.01 to 100;
  • m is a number from 1 to 100; and
  • n is a number from 10 to 100;

c) a dispersant comprising at least one polymer or a salt thereof having the form of a copolymer of

• • i) a maleic anhydride half-ester with a compound of the formula RO(AO)_mH, wherein R is a C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, A is a C_2-4 alkylene group, and m is an integer from 2-16; and
  • ii) a monomer having the formula CH₂=CHCH₂—(OA)_nOR, wherein n is an integer from 1-90 and R is a C_1-20 alkyl group;

d) a reaction product formed by reacting a polycarboxylic acid with a nitrogeneous acrylic polymer;

e) a dispersant obtained by copolymerizing 5 to 98% by weight of an (alkoxy)polyalkylene glycol mono(meth)acrylic ester monomer (a) represented by the following general formula (1):

• • wherein R₁ stands for hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R₂O for one species or a mixture of two or more species of oxyalkylene group of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, providing two or more species of the mixture may be added either in the form of a block or in a random form, R₃ for a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and m is a value indicating the average addition mol number of oxyalkylene groups that is an integer in the range of 1 to 100, 95 to 2% by weight of a (meth)acrylic acid monomer (b) represented by the above general formula (2), wherein R₄ and R₅ are each independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and M₁ for a hydrogen atom, a monovalent metal atom, a divalent metal atom, an ammonium group, or an organic amine group, and 0 to 50% by weight of other monomer (c) copolymerizable with these monomers, provided that the total amount of (a), (b), and (c) is 100% by weight;

f) a graft polymer that is a polycarboxylic acid or a salt thereof, having side chains derived from at least one species selected from the group consisting of oligoalkyleneglycols, polyalcohols, polyoxyalkylene amines, and polyalkylene glycols;

g) a reaction product of component A, optionally component B, and component C;

• • wherein each component A is independently a nonpolymeric, multi-functional moiety or combination of mono or multifunctional moieties that adsorbs onto a cementitious particle, and contains at least one residue derived from a first component selected from the group consisting of phosphates, phosphonates, phosphinates, hypophosphites, sulfates, sulfonates, sulfinates, alkyl trialkoxy silanes, alkyl triacyloxy silanes, alkyl triaryloxy silanes, borates, boronates, boroxines, phosphoramides, amines, amides, quaternary ammonium groups, carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid esters, alcohols, carbohydrates, phosphate esters of sugars, borate esters of sugars, sulfate esters of sugars, salts of any of the preceding moieties, and mixtures thereof;
  • wherein component B is an optional moiety, where if present, each component B is independently a nonpolymeric moiety that is disposed between the component A moiety and the component C moiety, and is derived from a second component selected from the group consisting of linear saturated hydrocarbons, linear unsaturated hydrocarbons, saturated branched hydrocarbons, unsaturated branched hydrocarbons, alicyclic hydrocarbons, heterocyclic hydrocarbons, aryl, phosphoester, nitrogen containing compounds, and mixtures thereof; and
  • wherein component C is at least one moiety that is a linear or branched water soluble, nonionic polymer substantially non-adsorbing to cement particles, and is selected from the group consisting of poly(oxyalkylene glycol), poly(oxyalkylene amine), poly(oxyalkylene diamine), monoalkoxy poly(oxyalkylene amine), monoaryloxy poly(oxyalkylene amine), monoalkoxy poly(oxyalkylene glycol), monoaryloxy poly(oxyalkylene glycol), poly(vinyl pyrrolidones), poly(methyl vinyl ethers), poly(ethylene imines), poly(acrylamides), polyoxazoles, and mixtures thereof; and

h) a dispersant of Formula (III):

wherein in Formula (IV):

D=a component selected from the group consisting of the structure dl, the structure d2, and mixtures thereof;

X=H, CH3, C2 to C6 Alkyl, Phenyl, p-Methyl Phenyl, or Sulfonated Phenyl;

Y=H or —COOM;

R=H or CH3;

Z=H, —SO₃M, —PO3M, —COOM, —O(CH₂)_nOR₃ where n=2 to 6, —COOR₃, or —(CH₂)_nOR₃ where n=0 to 6, —CONHR₃, —CONHC(CH₃)₂CH₂SO₃M, —COO(CHR₄)_nOH where n=2 to 6, or —O(CH₂)_nOR₄ wherein n=2 to 6;

R₁, R₂, R₃, R₅ are each independently —(CHRCH₂O)_mR₄ random copolymer of oxyethylene units and oxypropylene units where m=10 to 500 and wherein the amount of oxyethylene in the random copolymer is from about 60% to 100% and the amount of oxypropylene in the random copolymer is from 0% to about 40%;

R₄=H, Methyl, C₂ to about C₆ Alkyl, or about C₆ to about C₁₀ aryl;

M=H, Alkali Metal, Alkaline Earth Metal, Ammonium, Amine, triethanol amine, Methyl, or C₂ to about C₆ Alkyl;

a=0 to about 0.8;

b=about 0.2 to about 1.0;

c=0 to about 0.5;

d=0 to about 0.5; and

wherein a, b, c, and d represent the mole fraction of each unit and the sum of a, b, c, and d is 1.0;

i) a dispersant of Formula (IV):

• • wherein in Formula (V):
  • the “b” structure is one of a carboxylic acid monomer, an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, or maleic anhydride wherein an acid anhydride group (—CO—O—CO—) is formed in place of the groups Y and Z between the carbon atoms to which the groups Y and Z are bonded respectively, and the “b” structure must include at least one moiety with a pendant ester linkage and at least one moiety with a pendant amide linkage;

X=H, CH₃, C₂ to C₆ Alkyl, Phenyl, p-Methyl Phenyl, p-Ethyl Phenyl, Carboxylated Phenyl, or Sulfonated Phenyl;

Y=H, —COOM, —COOH, or W;

W=a hydrophobic defoamer represented by the formula R₅O—(CH₂CH₂O)_s—(CH₂C(CH₃)HO)_t—(CH₂CH₂O)_u where s, t, and u are integers from 0 to 200 with the proviso that t>(s+u) and wherein the total amount of hydrophobic defoamer is present in an amount less than about 10% by weight of the polycarboxylate dispersant;

Z=H, —COOM, —O(CH₂)_nOR₃ where n=2 to 6, —COOR₃, —(CH₂)_nOR₃ where n=0 to 6, or —CONHR₃;

R₁=H, or CH₃;

R₂, R₃, are each independently a random copolymer of oxyethylene units and oxypropylene units of the general formula —(CH(R₁)CH₂O)_mR₄ where m=10 to 500 and wherein the amount of oxyethylene in the random copolymer is from about 60% to 100% and the amount of oxypropylene in the random copolymer is from 0% to about 40%;

R₄=H, Methyl, or C₂ to C₈ Alkyl;

R₅=C₁ to C₁₈ alkyl or C₆ to C₁₈ alkyl aryl;

M=Alkali Metal, Alkaline Earth Metal, Ammonia, Amine, monoethanol amine, diethanol amine, triethanol amine, morpholine, imidazole;

a=0.01-0.8;

b=0.2-0.99;

c=0-0.5; and

wherein a, b, c represent the mole fraction of each unit and the sum of a, b, and c, is 1;

j) a random copolymer corresponding to the following Formula (V) in free acid or salt form having the following monomer units and numbers of monomer units:

• • wherein A is selected from the moieties (i) or (ii)
  • wherein R₁ and R₃ are selected from substituted benzene, C_1-8 alkyl, C_2-8 alkenyl, C_2-8 alkylcarbonyl, C_1-8 alkoxy, carboxyl, hydrogen, and a ring, R₂ and R₄ are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C_1-4 alkyl, wherein R₁ and R₃ can together with R₂ and/or R₄ when R₂ and/or R₄ are C_1-4 alkyl form the ring;;
  • R₇, R₈, R₉, and R₁₀ are individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C_1-6 alkyl, and a C_2-8 hydrocarbon chain, wherein R₁ and R₃ together with R₇ and/or R₈, R₉, and R₁₀ form the C_2-8 hydrocarbon chain joining the carbon atoms to which they are attached, the hydrocarbon chain optionally having at least one anionic group, wherein the at least one anionic group is optionally sulfonic;
  • M is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and the residue of a hydrophobic polyalkylene glycol or a polysiloxane, with the proviso that when A is (ii) and M is the residue of a hydrophobic polyalkylene glycol, M must be different from the group —(R₅O)_mR₆;
  • R₅ is a C_2-8 alkylene radical;
  • R₆ is selected from the group consisting of C_1-20 alkyl, C_6-9 cycloalkyl and phenyl;
  • n, x, and z are numbers from 1 to 100;
  • y is 0 to 100;
  • m is 2 to 1000;
  • the ratio of x to (y+z) is from 1:10 to 10:1 and the ratio of y:z is from 5: 1 to 1:100;

k) a copolymer of oxyalkyleneglycol-alkenyl ethers and unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, comprising:

• • i) 0 to 90 mol % of at least one component of the formula Ia or Ib:
  • wherein M is a hydrogen atom, a mono- or divalent metal cation, an ammonium ion or an organic amine residue, a is 1, or when M is a divalent metal cation a is ½;
  • wherein X is —OM_a,
    • —O—(C_mH_2mO)_n—R¹ in which R¹ is a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing 5 to 8 carbon atoms or an optionally hydroxyl, carboxyl, C_1-14 alkyl, or sulphonic substituted aryl radical containing 6 to 14 carbon atoms, m is 2 to 4, and n is 0 to 100,
    • —NHR₂, —N(R²)₂ or mixtures thereof in which R²=R¹ or —CO—NH₂; and
  • wherein Y is an oxygen atom or —NR²;
  • ii) 1 to 89 mol % of components of the general formula:
  • wherein R₃ is a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, p is 0 to 3, and R₁ is hydrogen, an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing 5 to 8 carbon atoms or an optionally hydroxyl, carboxyl, C_1-14 alkyl, or sulfonic substituted aryl radical containing 6 to 14 carbon atoms, m is 2 to 4, and n is 0 to 100, and
  • iii) 0.1 to 10 mol % of at least one component of the formula IIIa or IIIb:
  • wherein S is a hydrogen atom or —COOM_a or —COOR₅, T is —COOR₅, —W—R₇, —CO—[—NH—(CH₂)3)-]_s-W—R₇, —CO—O—(CH₂)_z—W—R₇, a radical of the general formula:
  • or —(CH₂)_z—V—(CH₂)_z—CH═CH—R₁, or when S is —COOR₅ or —COOM_a, U₁ is —CO—NHM—, —O— or —CH₂O, U₂ is —NH—CO—, —O— or —OCH₂, V is —O—CO—C₆H₄—CO—O— or —W—, and W is
  • R₄ is a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical, R₅ is an aliphatic 10 hydrocarbon radical containing 3 to 20 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing 5 to 8 carbon atoms or an aryl radical containing 6 to 14 carbon atoms, R⁶=R¹ or
  • r is 2 to 100, s is 1 or 2, x is 1 to 150, y is o to 15 and z is 0 to 4;
  • iv) 0 to 90 mol % of at least one component of the formula IVa, IVb, or IVc:
  • wherein M is a hydrogen atom, a mono- or divalent metal cation, an ammonium ion or an organic amine residue, a is 1, or when M is a divalent metal cation a is ½;
  • wherein X is —OM_a,
    • —O—(C_mH_2mO)_n—R¹ in which R¹ is a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing 5 to 8 carbon atoms or an optionally hydroxyl, carboxyl, C_1-14 alkyl, or sulphonic substituted aryl radical containing 6 to 14 carbon atoms, m is 2 to 4, and n is 0 to 100,
    • —NH—(C_mH_2mO)_n—R¹,
    • —NHR₂, —N(R²)₂ or mixtures thereof in which R²=R¹ or —CO—NH₂; and
  • wherein Y is an oxygen atom or —NR²;

l) a copolymer of dicarboxylic acid derivatives and oxyalkylene glycol-alkenyl ethers, comprising:

• • i) 1 to 90 mol. % of at least one member selected from the group consisting of structural units of Formula Ia and Formula Ib:
  • wherein M is H, a monovalent metal cation, a divalent metal cation, an ammonium ion or an organic amine;
  • a is ½ when M is a divalent metal cation or 1 when M is a monovalent metal cation;
  • wherein R¹ is —OM_a, or
    • —O—(C_mH_2mO)_n—R² wherein R² is H, a C_1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon, a C_5-8 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, or a C_6-14 aryl that is optionally substituted with at least one member selected from the group consisting of [—COOM_a, —(SO₃)M_a, and —(PO₃)M_a2];
  • m is 2 to 4;
  • n is 1 to 200;
  • ii) 0.5 to 80 mol. % of the structural units of Formula II:
  • wherein R³ is H or a C_1-5 aliphatic hydrocarbon;
  • p is 0 to 3;
  • R² is H, a C_1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon, a C_5-8 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, or a C_6-14 aryl that is optionally substituted with at least one member selected from the group consisting of [—COOM_a, —(SO₃)M_a, and —(PO₃)M_a2];
  • m is 2 to 4;
  • n is 1 to 200;
  • iii) 0.5 to 80 mol. % structural units selected from the group consisting of Formula IIIa and Formula IIIb:
  • wherein R⁴ is H, C_1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon that is optionally substituted with at least one hydroxyl group, —(C_mH_2mO)_n—R², —CO—NH—R², C_5-8 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, or a C_6-14 aryl that is optionally substituted with at least one member selected from the group consisting of [—COOM_a, —(SO₃)M_a, and —(PO₃)M_a2];
  • M is H, a monovalent metal cation, a divalent metal cation, an ammonium ion or an organic amine;
  • a is ½ when M is a divalent metal cation or 1 when M is a monovalent metal cation;
  • R² is H, a C_1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon, a C_5-8 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, or a C_6-14 aryl that is optionally substituted with at least one member selected from the group consisting of [—COOM_a, —(SO₃)M_a, and —(PO₃)M_a2];
  • m is 2 to 4;
  • n is 1 to 200;
  • iv) 1 to 90 mol. % of structural units of Formula IV
  • wherein R⁵ is methyl, or methylene group, wherein R⁵ forms one or more 5 to 8 membered rings with R⁷;
  • R⁶ is H, methyl, or ethyl;
  • R⁷ is H, a C_1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon, a C_6-14 aryl that is optionally substituted with at least one member selected from the group consisting of [—COOM_a, —(SO₃)M_a, and —(PO₃)M_a2], a C_5-8 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, —OCOR⁴, —OR⁴, or —COOR⁴, wherein R⁴ is H, a C_1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon that is optionally substituted with at least one —OH, —(C_mH_2mO)_n—R², —CO—NH—R², C_5-8 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, or a C_6-14 aryl residue that is optionally substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of [—COOM_a, —(SO₃)M_a, —(PO₃)M_a2].

In formula (g) the word “derived” does not refer to derivatives in general, but rather to any polycarboxylic acid/salt side chain derivatives of oligoalkyleneglycols, polyalcohols and polyalkylene glycols that are compatible with dispersant properties and do not destroy the graft polymer.

The preferred substituents in the optionally substituted aryl radical of formula (m), containing 6 to 14 carbon atoms, are hydroxyl, carboxyl, C_1-14 alkyl, or sulfonate groups.

The preferred substituents in the substituted benzene are hydroxyl, carboxyl, C_1-14 alkyl, or sulfonate groups.

As used herein, the term cement refers to any hydraulic cement. Hydraulic cements are materials which set when mixed with water. Suitable examples of hydraulic cements include, but are not limited to, portland cement, masonry cement, alumina cement, refractory cement, magnesia cement, calcium sulfoaluminate cement, oil well cement, and mixtures thereof.

Pastes are defined as mixtures composed of a hydraulic cement binder, either alone or in combination with pozzolans such as fly ash, silica fume, calcined clay, or blast furnace slag, and water. Mortars are defined as pastes that additionally include fine aggregate. Concretes additionally include coarse aggregate.

A water soluble air controlling agent can be combined with. a dispersant for cementitious compositions to form an admixture for cementitious compositions. The combination of a water soluble air controlling agent with a dispersant for cementitious compositions provides an admixture that is stable over time in that there is little or no phase separation between the dispersant and air controlling agent.

The amount of water soluble air controlling agent that is present in the admixture ranges from about 0.25 weight % to about 40 weight % based on the weight of the dispersant for cementitious compositions. Preferably, the amount of water soluble air controlling agent that is present in the admixture ranges from about 0.5 weight % to about 20 weight % based on the weight of the dispersant for cementitious compositions.

Examples of the water soluble air controlling agent include, but are not limited to, compounds of alkoxylated R, where R could be: a hydrocarbonpolyalkylene oxide, sorbitan, , fatty acid, fatty alcohol, or C₈-C₂₂ alkyl amine. The hydrocarbon preferably contains from 1 to about 22 carbons, and the fatty acid and fatty alcohol preferably contain from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms. Preferred alkoxylates are molecules containing ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide. Most preferred alkoxylates are molecules containing ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. One group of these air controlling agent (ACA) materials are poly(alkylene oxides) where the alkylene group is derived from C_2-18 groups and the polymer molecular weight is about 200 to about 25,000, preferably about 1,000 to about 7,500, with a hydrophobe content of at least about 25%, and preferably at least about 35%. The water soluble air controlling agents can be used in combination with other water soluble air controlling agents. Illustrative examples of these types of water soluble air controlling agents include, but are not limited to those set forth below.

Block copolymers of ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO), such as PLURONIC® products available from BASF, are examples of water soluble air controlling agents. Standard PLURONIC® products are EO-PO-EO based copolymers. PLURONIC® products with an R in the product name are PO-EO-PO based. The basic structures are given below:

Specific PLURONIC® product names are based on the EO and PO content and the molecular weight. The specific product. name indicates the molecular weight of the hydrophobe, the propylene oxide, and the percent of the hydrophile, the ethylene oxide, in the molecule. The first two digits multiplied by 300 gives the hydrophobe molecular weight, and the last digit multiplied by 10 gives the percent hydrophile. For PLURONIC® R products, the numbers before the R multiplied by 100 gives the molecular weight of the combined PO blocks, and the number after the R multiplied by 10 gives the EO percentage. The solubility of the polymer is based on the hydrophile lipophile balance (HLB) value. Generally, as the HLB value increases the ability of the polymer to be solubilized by making micelles increases.

The SURFYNOL® 400 series of products are acetylenic diols. The last two digits of the product number indicate the percentage of ethylene oxide by weight. Some of the SURFYNOL® 400 series of products are water insoluble; however, SURFYNOL® 465 and SURFYNOL® 485 are water soluble. The basic structure of SURFYNOL® 400 series products is given by the following structure:

TERGITOL® NP, from Union Carbide Company, is a polymer of ethylene oxide and nonylphenol (ethoxylated nonylphenol) and is represented by the following structure:

JEFFOX® chemicals, from Huntsman Chemical Company, are mono alkyl polyoxyalkylenes. Preferred is a 50/50 ethylene oxide/propylene oxide random polymer with a mono-butyl terminal group[Bu—O—(PO)_x(EO)_x—H].

One measure of a product's emulsification characteristics is the hydrophile lipophile balance (HLB). As the HLB increases, there are more hydrophilic groups in the surfactant and the more the surfactant is water soluble. Generally, an HLB of 3-6 indicates a water in oil emulsifier, an HLB of 7-9 indicates a wetting agent, an HLB of 8-18 indicates an oil in water emulsifier, an HLB of 13-15 indicates a detergent, and an HLB of 15-22 indicates a solubilizer. The following references provide more information about HLB: The Atlas HLB System, 4^th printing, Wilmington, Del., Atlas Chemical Industries, 1963; “Emulsions”, Ullmans's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 5^th ed 1987; Fox, C., “Rationale for the Selection of Emulsifying Agents”, Cosmetics & Toiletries 101.11 (1986), 25-44; Graciaa, A., J. Lachaise, and G. Marion, “A Study of the Required Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance for Emulsification”, Langmuir 5 (1989):1215-1318; and Griffin, W. C. “Emulsions”, Kirk Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3^rd ed 1979.

Generally, materials with an HLB up to 4 have strong defoaming properties and little if any solubility. As the HLB value increases, the defoaming capabilities decrease and foaming capabilities increase. In the present invention, the air controlling agents generally have an HLB value ranging from about 5 to about 22.

The admixture of the present invention can be used in combination with any other admixture or additive for cement. Other cement admixtures and additives include, but are not limited to, set retarders, set accelerators, air-entraining or air detraining agents, corrosion inhibitors, any other dispersants for cement, pigments, wetting agents, water soluble polymers, strength enhancing agents, rheology modifying agents, water repellents, and any other admixture or additive that does not adversely affect the properties of the admixture of the present invention.

Other dispersants for cement include, but are not limited to, calcium lignosulfonates, beta naphthalene sulfonates, sulfonated melamine formaldehyde condensates, and any other chemical that functions as a dispersant or water reducer or superplasticizer for cement, and mixtures thereof.

Listed below are several examples of admixtures and additives that can be used with the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,209 to Bury et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, contains a detailed description of different types of admixtures.

The term air entrainer includes any chemical that will entrain air in cementitious compositions. Air entrainers can also reduce the surface tension of a composition at low concentration. Air-entraining admixtures are used to purposely entrain microscopic air bubbles into concrete. Air-entrainment dramatically improves the durability of concrete exposed to moisture during cycles of freezing and thawing. In addition, entrained air greatly improves a concrete's resistance to surface scaling caused by chemical deicers. Air entrainment also increases the workability of fresh concrete while eliminating or reducing segregation and bleeding. Materials used to achieve these desired effects can be selected from salts of wood resin; (Vinsol resin); some synthetic detergents; salts of sulfonated lignin; salts of petroleum acids; salts of proteinaceous material; fatty and resinous acids and their salts; alkylbenzene sulfonates; and salts of sulfonated hydrocarbons. Air entrainers are added in an amount to yield a desired level of air in a cementitious composition. Generally, the amount of air entrainers in a cementitious composition ranges from about 0.2 to about 5.0 fluid ounces per hundred pounds of cement. But this can vary widely due to variations in materials, mix proportion, temperature, and mixing action.

Retarding, or delayed-setting, admixtures are used to retard, delay, or slow the rate of setting of concrete. They can be added to the concrete mix upon initial batching or sometime after the hydration process has begun. Retarders are used to offset the accelerating effect of hot weather on the setting of concrete, or delay the initial set of concrete or grout when difficult conditions of placement occur, or problems of delivery to the job site, or to allow time for special finishing processes or to aid in the reclamation of concrete left over at the end of the work day. Most retarders also act as water reducers and can also be used to entrain some air into concrete. The retarder used in the admixture of the present invention can include, but is not limited to an oxy-boron compound, lignin, a polyphosphonic acid, a carboxylic acid, a hydroxycarboxylic acid, polycarboxylic acid, fumaric, itaconic, malonic, borax, gluconic, and tartaric acid, lignosulfonates, ascorbic acid, isoascorbic acid, sulphonic acid-acrylic acid copolymer, and their corresponding salts, polyhydroxysilane, polyacrylamide, carbohydrates and mixtures thereof. Illustrative examples of retarders are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,427,617 and 5,203,919, incorporated herein by reference. A further example of a retarder particularly suited for use in the present invention is a hydration control admixture sold under the trademark DELVO® by Master Builders Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio.

Air detrainers are used to decrease the air content in the mixture of concrete. Tributyl phosphate, dibutyl phthalate, octyl alcohol, water-insoluble esters of carbonic and boric acid, and silicones are some of the common materials that can be used to achieve this effect.

Alkali-reactivity reducers can reduce the alkali-aggregate reaction and limit the disruptive expansion forces in hardened concrete. Pozzolans (fly ash, silica fume), blast-furnace slag, salts of lithium and barium are especially effective.

Bonding admixtures are usually added to portland cement mixtures to increase the bond strength between old and new concrete and include organic materials such as rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, acrylics, styrene butadiene copolymers, and other powdered polymers.

Water-reducing admixtures are used to reduce the amount of mixing water required to produce concrete of a certain slump, to reduce the ratio of water and cement, or to increase slump. Typically, water reducers will reduce the water content of the concrete mixture by approximately up to 15%.

Superplasticizers are high-range water reducers, or water-reducing admixtures. They are added to concrete to make high-slump, flowing concrete, and thus reduce the water-cement ratio. These admixtures produce large water reduction or great flowability without causing undue set retardation or entrainment of air in mortar or concrete. Among the materials that can be used as superplasticizers are sulfonated melamine formaldehyde condensates, sulfonated naphthalene formaldehyde condensates, certain organic acids, lignosulfonates, and/or blends thereof.

Natural and synthetic admixtures are used to color concrete for aesthetic and safety reasons. These coloring admixtures are usually composed of pigments and include carbon black, iron oxide, phthalocyanine, umber, chromium oxide, titanium oxide and cobalt blue.

Corrosion inhibitors in concrete serve to protect embedded reinforcing steel from corrosion. The high alkaline nature of the concrete causes a passive and noncorroding protective oxide film to form on the steel. However, carbonation or the presence of chloride ions from deicers or seawater can destroy or penetrate the film and result in corrosion. Corrosion-inhibiting admixtures chemically arrest this corrosion reaction. The materials most commonly used to inhibit corrosion are calcium nitrite, sodium nitrite, sodium benzoate, certain phosphates or fluorosilicates, fluoroaluminates, amines, organic based water repelling agents, and related chemicals.

Dampproofing admixtures reduce the permeability of concrete that have low cement contents, high water-cement ratios, or a deficiency of fines in the aggregate. These admixtures retard moisture penetration into dry concrete and include certain soaps, stearates, and petroleum products.

Grouting agents, such as air-entraining admixtures, accelerators, retarders, and non-shrink and workability agents, adjust grout properties to achieve a desired result for specific applications. For example, portland cement grouts are used for a variety of different purposes, each of which may require a different agent to stabilize foundations, set machine bases, fill cracks and joints in concrete work, cement oil wells, fill cores of masonry walls, and grout pre-stressing tendons and anchor bolts, and fill the voids in pre-placed aggregate concrete.

Gas formers, or gas-forming agents, are sometimes added to concrete and grout in very small quantities to cause a slight expansion prior to hardening. The amount of expansion is dependent upon the amount of gas-forming material used and the temperature of the fresh mixture. Aluminum powder, resin soap and vegetable or animal glue, saponin or hydrolyzed protein can be used as gas formers.

Permeability reducers are used to reduce the rate at which water under pressure is transmitted through concrete. Silica fume, fly ash, ground slag, natural pozzolans, water reducers, and latex can be employed to decrease the permeability of the concrete. Pozzolan is a siliceous or siliceous and aluminous material, which in itself possesses little or no cementitious value. However, in finely divided form and in the presence of moisture, pozzolan will chemically react with calcium hydroxide at ordinary temperatures to form compounds possessing cementitious properties.

Pumping aids are added to concrete mixes to improve pumpability. These admixtures thicken the fluid concrete, i.e., increase its viscosity, to reduce de-watering of the paste while it is under pressure from the pump. Among the materials used as pumping aids in concrete are organic and synthetic polymers, hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) or HEC blended with dispersants, organic flocculents, organic emulsions of paraffin, coal tar, asphalt, acrylics, bentonite and pyrogenic silicas, natural pozzolans, fly ash and hydrated lime.

Bacteria and fungal growth on or in hardened concrete may be partially controlled through the use of fungicidal, germicidal, and insecticidal admixtures. The most effective materials for these purposes are polyhalogenated phenols, dialdrin emulsions, and copper compounds.

Fresh concrete can sometimes be harsh because of faulty mixture proportions or certain aggregate characteristics such as particle shape and improper grading. Under these conditions, entrained air which acts like a lubricant, can be used as a workability improving agent. Other workability agents are water reducers and certain finely divided admixtures.

Finely divided mineral admixtures are materials in powder or pulverized form added to concrete before or during the mixing process to improve or change some of the plastic or hardened properties of portland cement concrete. Portland cement, as used in the trade, means a hydraulic cement produced by pulverizing clinker, consisting essentially of hydraulic calcium silicates, all usually containing one or more of the forms of calcium sulfate as an interground addition with ASTM types, I, II, III, IV, or V. The finely divided mineral admixtures can be classified according to their chemical or physical properties as: cementitious materials; pozzolans; pozzolanic and cementitious materials; and nominally inert materials. Cementitious materials are materials that alone have hydraulic cementing properties, and set and harden in the presence of water. Included in cementitious materials are ground granulated blast-furnace slag, natural cement, hydraulic hydrated lime, and combinations of these and other materials. As discussed above, pozzolan is a siliceous or aluminosiliceous material that possesses little or no cementitious value but will, in the presence of water and in finely divided form, chemically react with the calcium hydroxide released by the hydration of portland cement to form materials with cementitious properties. Diatomaceous earth, opaline cherts, clays (including calcined clays), shales, fly ash, silica fume, volcanic tuffs and pumicites are some of the known pozzolans. Certain ground granulated blast-furnace slags and high calcium fly ashes possess both pozzolanic and cementitious properties. Natural pozzolan is a term of art used to define the pozzolans that occur in nature, such as volcanic tuffs, pumices, trasses, diatomaceous earths, opaline, cherts, and some shales. Nominally inert materials can also include finely divided raw quartz, dolomites, limestones, marble, granite, and others. Fly ash is defined in ASTM C-618.

In the construction field, many methods of strengthening concrete have been developed through the years. One modern method involves distributing fibers throughout a fresh concrete mixture. Upon hardening, this concrete is referred to as fiber-reinforced concrete. Fibers can be made of zirconium materials, steel, fiberglass, or synthetic materials, e.g., polypropylene, nylon, polyethylene, polyester, rayon, high-strength aramid, (i.e. KEVLAR®), or mixtures thereof.

A cementitious composition can be formed which comprises cement, water, and a water soluble air controlling agent and a dispersant for cementitious compositions. The cementitious composition can also include fine aggregates, coarse aggregates, pozzolans, air (either entrapped or purposefully entrained), clay, and pigments.

The fine aggregates are materials that pass through a Number 4 sieve (ASTM C125 and ASTM C33), such as natural or manufactured sand. The coarse aggregates are materials that are retained on a Number 4 sieve (ASTM C125 and ASTM C33), such as silica, quartz, crushed round marble, glass spheres, granite, limestone, calcite, feldspar, alluvial sands, or any other durable aggregate, and mixtures thereof.

A method of controlling air in a cementitious composition is also provided which comprises mixing cement, water, a water soluble air controlling agent, and a dispersant for cementitious compositions.

The amount of water added to the cementitious composition is calculated based on a desired water to cement (W/C) ratio. The water to cement ratio typically ranges from about 0.2 to about 0.7 with the water and cement being measured by weight.

The air controlling agent can be added to a cementitious composition separately or it can be included with an admixture which is added to the cementitious composition, such as with the dispersant for cementitious compositions.

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Samples of cementitious compositions were prepared using a polycarboxylate dispersant, comprising a polymeric carboxylate backbone with polyether side chains, and tested as detailed below.

The following tests were used: Slump (ASTM C143), Air content (ASTM C231), Set time (ASTM C403), % Flow (ASTM C-230). Aggregates met the specifications of ASTM C33. The term W/C refers to the water to cement ratio in a cementitious mixture. The term S/A refers to the sand to aggregate ratio by volume.

Air entraining agents used in the following examples were MB AE® 90 or MB VRO from Master Builders, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. Typical properties of the air controlling agents (ACA) used in the examples below are:

		Water
Air controlling agent	HLB	Solubility
Polyoxyalkylene - PLURONIC ® L-61	3	insoluble
Polyoxyalkylene - PLURONIC ® L-31	5	soluble >10%
Polyoxyalkylene - PLURONIC ® 17R2	6	soluble >10%
Polyoxyalkylene -PLURONIC ® L-43	12	soluble >10%
Ethoxylated acetylenic diol -SURFYNOL ® 420	4	insoluble
Ethoxylated acetylenic diol -SURFYNOL ® 440	8	slightly
		soluble <1%
Ethoxylated acetylenic diol -SURFYNOL ® 465	13	soluble >1%
Alkyl aryl alkoxylate - TERGITOL ® NP-6	10.9	soluble
Mono alkyl polyoxyethylene (MW 1400)	N/A	soluble >10%
Mono alkyl polyoxyethylene (MW 2400)	N/A	soluble >10%

EXAMPLE 1

Different polyoxyalkylene additives ranging in HLB from 1 to 19, listed below in Table 1, were tested in combination with a polycarboxylate dispersant. The reference dispersant was a polymeric carboxylate backbone with polyether side chains. The dispersant was added at 0.2 grams per hundred grams of cement. The amount of polyoxyalkylene additive was based on the active amount of dispersant added and was 1% for all mixtures.

The mortar mix contained 540 g of Medusa Type I cement, 1455 grams of sand, and 190 grams of water. The W/C ratio was 0.35. The results are listed below in Table 1.

	TABLE 1
	Flow (%)	Air (%)
Mix	ACA	HLB	3 min	6 min	9 min	3 min	6 min	9 min
1-1	No ACA	N/A	98	99	94	16.7	18.9	18.5
1-2	PLURONIC ®	1	110	103	86	1.8	2.6	3.0
	L-101
1-3	PLURONIC ®	2	111	97	84	1.7	1.9	1.9
	L-81
1-4	PLURONIC ®	3	104	97	80	1.3	2.1	1.7
	L-61
1-5	PLURONIC ®	5	113	104	80	1.5	1.7	1.7
	L-31
1-6	PLURONIC ®	7	110	99	—	1.7	1.5	—
	17R2
1-7	PLURONIC ®	14	109	99	85	2.5	3.0	3.4
	L-10
1-8	PLURONIC ®	19	120	116	108	10.4	12.2	10.9
	L-35

The results shown in Table 1 demonstrate that materials with HLB values as high as 19 reduce air contents in cementitious mixtures containing polycarboxylate dispersants, and that materials with HLB values ≧5, which are beyond the range generally expected for defoamers, unexpectedly reduce air content in non-air entrained mixtures to acceptable levels. In addition, air contents do not significantly change with mix time and this produces predictable performance in practice.

EXAMPLE 2

Different polyoxyalkylenes ranging in HLB from 1 to 14, listed below in Table 2, were tested in combination with a polycarboxylate dispersant and an air entraining agent, MB VR®. The reference dispersant was a polymeric carboxylate backbone with polyether side chains. The dispersant was added at 0.2 grams per hundred grams of cement. The amount of polyoxyalkyelene was based on the active amount of dispersant added and was 1% for all mixtures. The air entrainer amount was present at about one fluid ounce per hundred weight of cement.

The mortar mix design contained 540 g of Medusa Type I cement, 1455 grams of sand, and 190 grams of water. The W/C ratio was 0.35. The results are listed below in Table 2.

	TABLE 2
	Admixture
	with ACA,
	dispersant, and
	air entrainer	Flow (%)	Air (%)
Mix	(AE)	HLB	3 min	6 min	9 min	3 min	6 min	9 min
2-1	No ACA or AE	N/A	107	107	100	19.7	19.9	18.8
2-2	No ACA	N/A	97	96	94	29.1	30.3	29.1
2-3	PLURONIC ®	1	105	96	94	19.8	28.4	29.2
	L-101
2-4	PLURONIC ®	3	124	110	94	6.6	7.1	6.5
	L-61
2-5	PLURONIC ®	5	105	109	101	14.5	15.5	13.8
	L-31
2-6	PLURONIC ®	7	108	101	91	7.2	7.8	7.2
	17R2
2-7	PLURONIC ®	12	112	104	100	19.6	20.5	19.9
	L-43
2-8	PLURONIC ®	14	118	109	99	13.1	13.9	11.2
	L-10
2-9	PLURONIC ®	14	116	108	85	2.6	2.3	3.5
	L-10 without
	AE

Mix 2-1 shows high and stable air contents over time due to the polycarboxylate dispersant. Mix 2-2 shows that the combination of polycarboxylate dispersant and air entrainer produces even higher air contents that are stable over time. Mix 2-3 demonstrates unstable air contents over time in the presence of an air-entrainer and an insoluble, low HLB defoaming agent. The other mix results demonstrate that with higher HLB air controlling agents, stable and predictable air contents can be achieved with the combination of polycarboxylate dispersant and air entraining agent.

Examples 3, 4, and 5 contain the results for air controlling agents in non-air entrained concrete. Concrete mixture proportions for the examples shown in Table 3 contained 658 lb./yd³ cement content using a Type I portland cement, a sand:aggregate ratio (S/A) of 0.429 using limestone coarse aggregate, sand, and sufficient water to obtain a slump of 6″ to 8″. Concrete mixture proportions for the examples shown in Tables 4 and 5 contained a 600 lb./yd³ cement content using a Type I portland cement, a S/A of 0.433 using limestone coarse aggregate, sand, and sufficient water to obtain a slump of 6″ to 8″.

Examples 6 and 7 contain the results for air controlling agents in purposefully air-entrained concrete. Concrete mixture proportions contained a 600 lb./yd³ cement content using a Type I portland cement, a S/A ratio of 0.440 using limestone coarse aggregate, sand, and sufficient water to obtain a slump of 6″ to 8″.

EXAMPLE 3

Air controlling agents were tested at different levels in combination with a polycarboxylate dispersant. The reference dispersant was a polymeric carboxylate backbone with polyether side chains. The dispersant was added at 0.2 lbs. per hundred weight of cement. The types of air controlling agent tested were polyoxyalkylenes ranging in HLB from 1 to 12, PLURONIC® L-101, PLURONIC® L-61, PLURONIC® 17R₂, and PLURONIC® L-43 from BASF, and a soluble alkyl aryl alkoxylate, TERGITOL® NP-6 from Union Carbide Company. The amount of air controlling agent was based on the active amount of dispersant added. The dispersant and the other air controlling agents were added with the sand, except 3-6 and 3-7, which were added with the water. The results are listed below in Table 3.

	TABLE 3
	W/C	Slump	Air	Compressive Strength (psi)
Mix	Admixture	HLB	ratio	(inches)	(%)	1 day	7 days	28 days
3-1	Dispersant only		0.334	9.25	8.5	2540	5400	6490
3-2	Dispersant + 17R2	7	0.334	9.25	1.4	3250	6550	6980
	@1%
3-3	Dispersant + L43	12	0.334	9	1.8	3325	5770	9040
	@2%
3-4	Dispersant + L101	1	0.334	9	1.4	3360	6720	7970
	@1%
3-5	Dispersant + L61	3	0.334	8.75	1.6	3230	6740	8250
	@1%
3-6	Dispersant + NP-	10.9	0.334	8.75	1.8	3030	6590	7540
	6@1%

The results in Table 3 show that the polyoxyalkylene and alkyl aryl alkoxylate type air controlling agents can effectively lower the air content of a concrete mixture containing a polycarboxylate dispersant. Similar to the results found in Example 1, the soluble air controlling agents having an HLB≧5 were 5 equally and unexpectedly as effective at lowering the air as traditional defoamers having an HLB≦4.

EXAMPLE 4

Air controlling agents were tested at different levels in combination with a polycarboxylate dispersant. The reference dispersant was a polymeric carboxylate backbone with polyether side chains. The dispersant was added at 0.2 lbs. per hundred weight of cement. The types of air controlling agent tested were polyoxyalkylenes ranging in HLB from 5 to 12 (PLURONIC® L-31, PLURONIC® 17R₂, and PLURONIC® L-43 from BASF) and monoialkoxyalkoxylates (JEFFOX® WL-5000 and JEFFOX® WL-660 from Huntsman Chemical Co). Two insoluble defoamers, a polyoxyalkylene, PLURONIC® L-61 (HLB=3), and SURFYNOL® DF-75, (a non-silicone proprietary mixture) from Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., were included for comparison. The amount of air controlling agent stated was based on the active amount of dispersant added, and the dispersant and air controlling agent were added together with the water. The composition test results are listed below in Table 4.

	TABLE 4
	Compressive
	Strength (psi)
		W/C	Slump	Air			28
Mix	Admixture	ratio	(inches)	(%)	1 day	7 days	days
4-1	Plain	0.525	7.25	1.1	1360	3980	5960
4-2	Dispersant	0.363	7.75	4.2	2640	5710	7380
4-3	Dispersant + L31	0.367	7.75	1.9	2940	6440	8440
	@1%
4-4	Dispersant + L31	0.360	7.5	2.6	2870	6100	7780
	@0.25%
4-5	Dispersant + L61	0.363	6.25	2.3	3050	6830	8680
	@1%
4-6	Dispersant + L61	0.363	7.5	3.3	2910	5630	8210
	@0.25%
4-7	Dispersant +	0.363	7	2.5	2830	6700	8250
	17R2
	@1%
4-8	Dispersant +	0.360	8.5	7.2	2670	5870	7050
	17R2
	@0.25%
4-9	Dispersant + L43	0.363	7.5	2.8	3210	6090	8010
	@1%
4-10	Dispersant +	0.363	8	2.6	2720	6210	7990
	WL5000
	@4%
4-11	Dispersant +	0.363	8	2.1	2660	6010	7880
	WL660
	@4%
4-12	Dispersant + DF-	0.367	7.75	1.9	2720	6370	8020
	75@0.5%

Example 4 shows a comparison of air controlling agents and insoluble defoamers in non-air-entrained cementitious mixtures. Unexpectedly, the soluble air controlling agent/polycarboxylate admixtures (4-3, 4-4, 4-7, 4-8, 4-9, 4-10, 4-11) performed as effectively as the known insoluble defoamer/dispersant combination. However, the soluble air controlling agent/polycarboxylate dispersant admixtures are more stable over time as compared to the insoluble defoamer mixtures.

EXAMPLE 5

Air controlling agents were tested at different levels in combination with a polycarboxylate dispersant. The reference dispersant was a polymeric carboxylate backbone with polyether side chains. The dispersant was added at 0.2 lbs. per hundred weight of cement. The type of air controlling agent tested was an ethoxylated acetylenic diol, SURFYNOL® 465, SURFYNOL® 440, compared to insoluble defoamers such as SURFYNOL® 420 from Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. The dispersant and air controlling agent or defoamer were added together with the water. The amount of air controlling agent or defoamer was based on the active amount of dispersant added. The SURFYNOL® 440 and 465 were stirred into the dispersant. The SURFYNOL® 420 was dispersed into the dispersant using a high shear propeller mixer operating at 1300 rpm for 2 minutes. The test results are listed below in Table 5.

	TABLE 5
	Compressive
	Strength (psi)
		W/C	Slump	Air			28
Mix	Admixture	ratio	(inches)	(%)	1 day	7 days	days
5-1	Plain	0.514	7.25	0.9	1300	4100	5970
5-2	Dispersant	0.332	8	3.7
5-3	Dispersant + 420	0.339	7.75	1.9	3380	6670	8180
	@1%
5-4	Dispersant + 420	0.332	8.25	2.9	3070	5950	7340
	@0.5%
5-5	Dispersant + 440	0.343	7.75	1.4	3450	6560	8350
	@1%
5-6	Dispersant + 440	0.336	8	1.7	3290	6560	8330
	@0.5%
5-7	Dispersant + 465	0.343	8	2.2	3310	6340	8090
	@1%
5-8	Dispersant + 465	0.343	8.25	2.1	3360	6480	8120
	@0.5%

Example 5 shows a comparison of acetylenic diol air controlling agents with various degrees of solubility. The insoluble defoamer and soluble air controlling agents performed similarly. Unexpectedly, the soluble air controlling agent/polycarboxylate admixtures (5-5, 5-6, 5-7 and 5-8) performed as effectively as the known insoluble defoamer/dispersant combination. However, the soluble air controlling agent/polycarboxylate dispersant admixtures are more stable over time as compared to the insoluble defoamer mixtures.

The results in Tables 3, 4, and 5 demonstrate that any number of soluble polyoxyalkylenes, mono alkyl polyoxyalkylenes, or alkyl aryl alkoxylates may be used to control air contents of non-air entrained concrete mixtures containing a polycarboxylate dispersant.

EXAMPLES 6-1 THROUGH 6-6

Cement mixes were prepared that varied the amount of an insoluble polyoxyalkylene defoamer (HLB=3), PLURONIC® L-61, and the amount and type of an air entraining agent. The air entraining agents were proprietary mixtures MB VR® or MB AE® 90 from Master Builders, Inc. The air entrainer amounts are listed as fluid ounces per hundred weight of cement. All samples contained a dispersant, which comprised a polymeric carboxylate backbone with polyether side chains. The dispersant was added at 0.2 lbs. per hundred weight of cement. The amount of defoamer was based on the active amount of dispersant added. The dispersant and defoamer were added together with the water, and the air entraining agent was added with the sand. The test results are listed below in Table 6.

Examples 6-1 to 6-6 show the performance of a defoamer that demonstrates desired performance characteristics in air-entrained concrete; however, it is insoluble. The mixtures had typical dosages of air-entraining agents, which were stable over time.

EXAMPLES 6-7 TO 6-12

Concrete mixes were prepared that varied the amount of soluble polyoxyalkylene (HLB=5) air controlling agent, PLURONIC® L-31, the amount of air entraining agent, MB AE® 90, and the amount of dispersant. The air entrainer amount is listed as fluid ounces per hundred weight of cement. The dispersant was a polymeric carboxylate backbone with polyether side chains. The amount of air controlling agent was based on the active amount of dispersant added. The dispersant and air controlling agent were added together with the water and the air entraining agent was added with the sand, except for Mix 6-12, which had the air entrainer added first, then the dispersant and air controlling agent added two minutes later. The test results are listed below in Table 6.

EXAMPLES 6-13 TO 6-17

Concrete mixes were prepared with the same air controlling agent as in examples 6-7 to 6-12 and a lower dosage of air entraining agent, MB AE® 90, and a varied amount of dispersant. A second air entrainer, MB VR®, was included for comparison. The air entrainer amounts are listed as fluid ounces per hundred weight of cement. The dispersant was a polymeric carboxylate backbone with polyether side chains. The amount of air controlling agent was based on the active amount of dispersant added. The dispersant and air controlling agent were added together with the water and the air entraining agent was added with the sand. The test results are listed below in Table 6.

EXAMPLES 6-18 TO 6-23

Concrete mixes were prepared that varied the amount of soluble polyoxyalkylene air controlling agent (HLB=12), PLURONIC® L-43, and the amount of an air entraining agent, MB AE® 90. The air entrainer amount is listed as fluid ounces per hundred weight of cement. All samples contained a dispersant, which was a polymeric carboxylate backbone with polyether side chains. The dispersant was added at 0.2 lbs. per hundred weight of cement. The amount of air controlling agent was based on the active amount of dispersant added. The dispersant and air controlling agent were added together with the water. The air entraining agent was added with the sand. The test results are listed below in Table 6.

EXAMPLES 6-24 TO 6-28

Concrete mixes were prepared that varied the amount of soluble polyoxyalkylene air controlling agent (HLB=7), PLURONIC® 17R₂, and the amount of an air entraining agent, MB AE® 90. The air entrainer amount is listed as fluid ounces per hundred weight of cement. All samples contained a dispersant, which was a polymeric carboxylate backbone with polyether side chains. The dispersant was added at 0.2 lbs. per hundred weight of cement. The amount of air controlling agent was based on the active amount of dispersant added. The dispersant and air controlling agent were added together with the water and the air entraining agent was added with the sand. The test results are listed below in Table 6.

EXAMPLES 6-29 TO 6-32

Concrete mixes were prepared that varied the amount of soluble polyoxyalkylene air controlling agent (HLB=15), PLURONIC® L-64, and the amount of air entraining agent, MB AE® 90, and the amount of dispersant. The air entrainer amount is listed as fluid ounces per hundred weight of cement. The dispersant was a polymeric carboxylate backbone with polyether side chains. The amount of air controlling agent was based on the active amount of dispersant added. The dispersant and air controlling agent were added together with the water and the air entraining agent was added with the sand. The test results are listed below in Table 6.

	TABLE 6
	W/C	Slump (inches)	Air (%)
Mix	Admixture	ratio	5 min	10 min	15 min	5 min	10 min	15 min
6-1	ACA - 2%	0.358	6.25	5	3.5	7.2	8.3	7.5
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.9
6-2	ACA - 4%	0.358	8	7.25	3.5	6.1	7.1	6.4
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.9
6-3	ACA - 6%	0.358	8.25	6.25	3.75	4.7	5.4	5.4
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.9
6-4	ACA - 2%	0.351	8.25	7.25	3	5.6	6.2	5.0
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.45
6-5	ACA - 6%	0.343	8.25	7.25	3.5	4.6	5.9	6.6
	MB AE ® 90 - 1.35
6-6	ACA - 4%	0.358	8.25	7.5	3.75	4.8	5.2	4.6
	MB VR ® —0.9
6-7	No dispersant	0.513	8	—	—	7.2	—	—
	No ACA
	MB AE ® 90 - 1.2
6-8	Dispersant - 0.2	0.361	7.5	6.75	5.25	9.3	11.0	10.5
	ACA - 2%
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.9
6-9	Dispersant - 0.2	0.368	8.25	7	4.25	8.2	12.0	10.4
	ACA - 4%
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.9
6-10	Dispersant - 0.08	0.469	7.75	6.5	5.5	8.4	8.5	7.4
	ACA - 6.538%
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.7
6-11	Dispersant - 0.08	0.443	8.25	6.5	4.75	10.1	8.7	7.4
	ACA - 13.09%
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.7
6-12	Dispersant - 0.08	0.458	9	7.75	6	8.5	9.0	7.6
	ACA - 6.538%
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.7
6-13	Dispersant - 0.2	0.366	8.5	5.5	3	5.8	7.4	6.6
	ACA - 2%
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.5
6-14	Dispersant - 0.08	0.463	8.25	6	4.25	6.5	6.2	5.6
	ACA - 6.54%
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.45
6-15	Dispersant - 0.2	0.369	8.5	7.5	4.25	7.7	9.5	8.6
	ACA - 2%
	MB VR ® 90 - 1.0
6-16	Dispersant - 0.08	0.463	7.75	6.75	4.75	6.6	6.7	6.1
	ACA - 6.54%
	MB VR ® 90 - 0.7
6-17	Dispersant - 0.2	0.369	8.5	7.5	5.75	7.6	9.8	9.2
	ACA - 2.62%
	MB VR ® 90 - 1
6-18	ACA - 3%	0.352	9.25	7	3.5	9.8	10.5	8.4
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.9
6-19	ACA - 6%	0.352	9.25	7.75	3.5	7.5	9.0	8.0
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.9
6-20	ACA - 9%	0.352	10	8.5	5.25	6.5	10.0	8.6
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.9
6-21	ACA - 6%	0.356	9.25	8.75	4.25	7.4	8.5	7.7
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.7
6-22	ACA - 6%	0.360	9.25	5.75	3	4.8	5.8	5.2
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.4
6-23	ACA - 3%	0.356	9.5	6.5	3	5.6	6.6	5.6
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.4
6-24	ACA - 2%	0.348	7.25	6.75	5.25	10.0	12.9	12.2
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.9
6-25	ACA - 4%	0.366	7.5	7	5.5	6.8	9.0	8.7
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.9
6-26	ACA - 6%	0.381	7.5	6	4.75	5.3	6.6	6.7
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.9
6-27	ACA - 3%	0.366	6	5.5	4	5.0	6.1	6.3
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.45
6-28	ACA - 9%	0.370	7	6.5	4	5.0	6.0	6.4
	MB AE ® 90 - 1.35
6-29	Dispersant - 0.2	0.379	7.75	5	3.25	5.9	6.5	5.9
	ACA - 9%
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.9
6-30	Dispersant - 0.08	0.433	8	7	4	9.5	9.0	7.7
	ACA - 29%
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.9
6-31	Dispersant - 0.08	0.440	8	7.5	3.75	7.8	6.2	5.3
	ACA - 29%
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.55
6-32	Dispersant - 0.2	0.367	8.5	8	4.5	5.6	7.8	7.6
	ACA - 29%
	MB AE ® 90 - 1.8

Table 6 shows the results of water soluble polyoxyalkylene air controlling agents (6-7 to 6-32) compared to an insoluble polyoxyalkylene defoamer. Examples 6-1 through 6-6 pertain to the insoluble polyoxyalkylene reference and show controlled and predictable air contents over time. Examples 6-7 through 6-12 show that a soluble air controlling agent can provide similarly predictable air contents over time. Examples 6-13 through 6-17 demonstrate that air contents can be adjusted by changing the dosage of the air entraining agent. Examples 6-18 through 6-23, 6-24 through 6-28, and 6-29 through 6-32 demonstrate that as the solubility (HLB) increases, that similar and predictable air contents can be obtained by increasing the percentage of the air controlling agent in the polycarboxylate dispersant, adjusting the air entraining agent dosage, or both.

EXAMPLE 7

Concrete mixes were prepared that varied the amount of SURFYNOL® 440 and SURFYNOL®465, the amount of air entraining agent, MB AE® 90, and the amount of dispersant. The air entrainer amount is listed as fluid ounces per hundred weight of cement, and the dispersant was added as percent by weight of cement. The dispersant was a polymeric carboxylate backbone with polyether side chains. The amount of air controlling agent was based on the active amount of dispersant added. The dispersant and air controlling agent were added together with the water and the air entraining agent was added with the sand. The test results are listed below in Table 7.

	TABLE 7
	W/C	Slump (inches)	Air (%)
Mix	Admixture	ratio	5 min	10 min	15 min	5 min	10 min	15 min
7-1	Dispersant - 0.2	0.407	4.25	4.25	2.5	3.7	3.6	3.4
	SURFYNOL ® 440 - 6%
	MB AE ® 90 - 1
7-2	Dispersant - 0.2	0.392	7	6.5	4.25	7.6	8.1	7.2
	SURFYNOL ® 465 - 10.3%
	MB AE ® 90 - 1.0
7-3	Dispersant - 0.08	0.501	7.25	6	4.75	3.4	3.0	2.9
	SURFYNOL ® 440 - 20.3%
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.8
7-4	Dispersant - 0.08	0.479	7.5	7.25	6	9.0	9.4	9.0
	SURFYNOL ® 465 - 34.89%
	MB AE ® 90 - 0.8

Table 7 shows that predictable air contents were obtained with the various levels of dispersant and soluble, ethoxylated acetylenic diol air controlling agent, which was similar to the reference of the same chemistry.

EXAMPLE 8

Concrete mixtures were prepared at a ready mix plant to confirm the effectiveness of a water soluble air controlling agent in practice under field conditions, such as truck mixing. Mixes 8-1 and 8-3 represent a soluble air controlling agent (HLB=5), PLURONIC® L-31. Mix 8-2 represents an insoluble defoamer (HLB=3), PLURONIC® L-6 1. Mix 8-4 represents the non-silicone proprietary mixture as in Example 4-12, SURFYNOL® DF-75.

The air controlling agent and reference defoamers were tested in combination with a polycarboxylate dispersant and an air entraining agent, MB AE® 90. The reference dispersant was a polymeric carboxylate backbone with polyether side chains. The dispersant amount is listed as % per hundred weight of cement. The amount of air controlling agent was based on the active amount of dispersant added. The air entrainer amount is listed as fluid ounces per hundred weight of cement. The concrete mix proportions are listed in Table 8 below. For examples 8-1 and 8-2, the dispersant and air controlling agent or reference defoamer combination was added to a concrete mix having a 2-3.5″ slump. Examples 8-3 and 8-4 had the combination added immediately after batching all of the ingredients.

	TABLE 8
	Mix
	8-1	8-2	8-3	8-4
ACA level	12.48	19.6	4.0	0.5
Dispersant level	0.08	0.08	0.2	0.2
Air Entrainer dose	0.5	1.0	0.6	0.6
Cement (lb./yd3)	607	600	615	582
Sand (lb./yd3)	1174	1167	1239	1180
Stone (lb./yd3)	1760	1742	1736	1637
Water (lb./yd3)	278	271	217	219
W/C	0.458	0.452	0.353	0.376
S/A	0.400	0.401	0.416	0.419
Slump (inches)
Initial	2	3.5
After dispersant added	7.75	7.75	8.25	9
30 minutes	5	4.75	9	8.25
60 minutes	3.5	3.25	9
Air(%)
Initial	4.1	7.4
After dispersant added	5.4	6.5	7	11.8
30 minutes	4.3	4.8	6.3	13.1
60 minutes	3.6	4.3	6.4

The results shown in Table 8 demonstrate that the water soluble air controlling agent is effective under field conditions, and that it provided predictable air contents that were maintained over a 60 minute time frame. A similar air content response was observed for the soluble air controlling agent and insoluble defoamer when used with a dispersant level of 0.08%. The non-silicone proprietary mixture reference was found to have high and unpredictable air contents over time.

EXAMPLE 9

The mortar mixtures contained 540 g of Ashgrove Type I cement, 1,455 g of standard graded lab sand (ASTM C-109) and 250 g of water. The polycarboxylate (PC) dispersant was added at 0.2 g per hundred grams of cement and the additive was 1% based on active dispersant for all mixes.

Included in this example are high molecular weight poly(alkylene oxides) having molecular weights within the range of 100,000 to 8,000,000. Specifically, the materials tested in this example were poly(ethylene oxides) having molecular weights of 100,000 and 4,000,000. Also included in this example were two low molecular weight ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO)—EO/PO type polymers L31 with a molecular weight of 1,100 and hydrophobe content (PO) of 90% and 17R2 with a molecular weight 2,150 and hydrophobe content of 80%. Another EO/PO type polymer was tested that had a low hydrophobe content of 20% and a molecular weight of 11,400 (F88).

TABLE 9
Mix	Additive	Flow %	Air Content %
9-1	None	114	22.7
9-2	Pluronic L31	55	7.1
9-3	Pluronic 17R2	52	6.3
9-4	Tergitol NP-6	74	11.2
9-5	Surfynol 465	74	11.1
9-6	Jeffox WL5000	48	7.4
9-7	Pluronic F88	112	21.3
9-8	PEG 17,000	106	21.5
9-9	PEG 100,000	104	20.5
9-10	PEG 4,000,000	109	19.7

Results of the testing show the ability of all the ACA's of the present invention to lower air content, with the lowest demonstrating a 50% reduction in air content (TERGITOL and SURFYNOL) as compared with the PEG's. Specifically, the results show that the poly(alkylene oxides) in the present invention, as described above, are effective in controlling air contents—6.3 and 7.1. This is in contrast to the high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxides) which were found to have little air controlling effectiveness 20.5 to 21.5 air content. Additionally, the F88 material which contains a hydrophobe content of 20%, demonstrates that a hydrophobe content of about 25% or less is not as effective in providing air control.

Therefore, an admixture is provided containing a dispersant and a water soluble air controlling agent for controlling the amount of air in a predictable manner in cementitious compositions, and which is stable over time.

Also provided is a cementitious composition comprising cement, water, dispersant, and a water soluble air controlling agent for controlling the amount of air in a predictable manner in the cementitious composition.

Also provided is a method of making a cementitious composition comprising mixing cement, water, dispersant, and a water soluble air controlling agent, for controlling the amount of air in a predictable manner in cementitious compositions.

Also provided is a water soluble air controlling agent to be used in conjunction with a dispersant that is as effective at controlling the air content in cementitious compositions.

It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but includes variations, modifications and equivalent embodiments defined by the following claims.

Further all embodiments disclosed are not necessarily in the alternative, various embodiments of the invention may be combined to provide the desired characteristics.

Claims

1. An admixture for cementitious compositions comprising a dispersant and a water soluble air controlling agent, wherein said water soluble air controlling agent containing ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, wherein the ethylene oxide is present in an amount from 10% to 50% by weight of the block copolymer, wherein the block copolymer having a molecular weight of about 900 to about 3300, and wherein the propylene oxide has a number average molecular weight of from about 900 to about 3800.

2. The admixture of claim 1, wherein said admixture is stable over time with little or no phase separation between said dispersant and said water soluble air controlling agent.

3. The admixture of claim 1, wherein said air controlling agent comprises a block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.

4. The admixture of claim 1, wherein the dispersant is at least one of: a) a dispersant of Formula (I): wherein in Formula (I) X is at least one of hydrogen, an alkali earth metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, ammonium ion, or amine; R is at least one of C1 to C6 alkyl(ene) ether or mixtures thereof or C1 to C6 alkyl(ene) imine or mixtures thereof; Q is at least one of oxygen, NH, or sulfur; p is a number from 1 to about 300 resulting in at least one of a linear side chain or branched side chain; R1 is at least one of hydrogen, C1 to C20 hydrocarbon, or functionalized hydrocarbon containing at least one of —OH, —COOH, an ester or amide derivative of —COOH, sulfonic acid, an ester or amide derivative of sulfonic acid, amine, or epoxy; Y is at least one of hydrogen, an alkali earth metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, ammonium ion, amine, a hydrophobic hydrocarbon or polyalkylene oxide moiety that functions as a defoamer; m, m′, m″, n, n′, and n″ are each independently 0 or an integer between 1 and about 20; Z is a moiety containing at least one of i) at least one amine and one acid group, ii) two functional groups capable of incorporating into the backbone selected from the group consisting of dianhydrides, dialdehydes, and di-acid-chlorides, or iii) an imide residue; and wherein a, b, c, and d reflect the mole fraction of each unit wherein the sum of a, b, c, and d equal one, wherein a, b, c, and d are each a value greater than or equal to zero and less than one, and at least two of a, b, c, and d are greater than zero; b) a dispersant of Formula (II): wherein in Formula (III): A is COOM or optionally in the “y” structure an acid anhydride group (—CO—O—CO—) is formed in place of the A groups between the carbon atoms to which the A groups are bonded to form an anhydride; B is COOM M is hydrogen, a transition metal cation, the residue of a hydrophobic polyalkylene glycol or polysiloxane, an alkali metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, ferrous ion, aluminum ion, (alkanol)ammonium ion, or (alkyl)ammonium ion; R is a C2-6alkylene radical; R1 is a C1-20 alkyl, C6-9 cycloalkyl, or phenyl group; x, y, and z are a number from 0.01 to 100; m is a number from 1 to 100; and n is a number from 10 to 100; c) a dispersant comprising at least one polymer or a salt thereof having the form of a copolymer of i) a maleic anhydride half-ester with a compound of the formula RO(AO)mH, wherein R is a C1-C20 alkyl group, A is a C2-4 alkylene group, and m is an integer from 2-16; and ii) a monomer having the formula CH2=CHCH2—(OA)nOR, wherein n is an integer from 1-90 and R is a C1-20 alkyl group; d) a reaction product formed by reacting a polycarboxylic acid with a nitrogeneous acrylic polymer; e) a dispersant obtained by copolymerizing 5 to 98% by weight of an (alkoxy)polyalkylene glycol mono(meth)acrylic ester monomer (a) represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1 stands for hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R2O for one species or a mixture of two or more species of oxyalkylene group of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, providing two or more species of the mixture may be added either in the form of a block or in a random form, R3 for a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and m is a value indicating the average addition mol number of oxyalkylene groups that is an integer in the range of 1 to 100, 95 to 2% by weight of a (meth)acrylic acid monomer (b) represented by the above general formula (2), wherein R4 and R5 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and M1 for a hydrogen atom, a monovalent metal atom, a divalent metal atom, an ammonium group, or an organic amine group, and 0 to 50% by weight of other monomer (c) copolymerizable with these monomers, provided that the total amount of (a), (b), and (c) is 100% by weight; f) a graft polymer that is a polycarboxylic acid or a salt thereof, having side chains derived from at least one species selected from the group consisting of oligoalkyleneglycols, polyalcohols, polyoxyalkylene amines, and polyalkylene glycols; g) a reaction product of component A, optionally component B, and component C; wherein each component A is independently a nonpolymeric, multi-functional moiety or combination of mono or multifunctional moieties that adsorbs onto a cementitious particle, and contains at least one residue derived from a first component selected from the group consisting of phosphates, phosphonates, phosphinates, hypophosphites, sulfates, sulfonates, sulfinates, alkyl trialkoxy silanes, alkyl triacyloxy silanes, alkyl triaryloxy silanes, borates, boronates, boroxines, phosphoramides, amines, amides, quaternary ammonium groups, carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid esters, alcohols, carbohydrates, phosphate esters of sugars, borate esters of sugars, sulfate esters of sugars, salts of any of the preceding moieties, and mixtures thereof; wherein component B is an optional moiety, where if present, each component B is independently a nonpolymeric moiety that is disposed between the component A moiety and the component C moiety, and is derived from a second component selected from the group consisting of linear saturated hydrocarbons, linear unsaturated hydrocarbons, saturated branched hydrocarbons, unsaturated branched hydrocarbons, alicyclic hydrocarbons, heterocyclic hydrocarbons, aryl, phosphoester, nitrogen containing compounds, and mixtures thereof; and wherein component C is at least one moiety that is a linear or branched water soluble, nonionic polymer substantially non-adsorbing to cement particles, and is selected from the group consisting of poly(oxyalkylene glycol), poly(oxyalkylene amine), poly(oxyalkylene diamine), monoalkoxy poly(oxyalkylene amine), monoaryloxy poly(oxyalkylene amine), monoalkoxy poly(oxyalkylene glycol), monoaryloxy poly(oxyalkylene glycol), poly(vinyl pyrrolidones), poly(methyl vinyl ethers), poly(ethylene imines), poly(acrylamides), polyoxazoles, and mixtures thereof; and h) a dispersant of Formula (III): wherein in Formula (IV): D=a component selected from the group consisting of the structure d1, the structure d2, and mixtures thereof; X=H, CH3, C2 to C6 Alkyl, Phenyl, p-Methyl Phenyl, or Sulfonated Phenyl; Y=H or —COOM; R=H or CH3; Z=H, —SO3M, —PO3M, —COOM, —O(CH2)nOR3 where n=2 to 6, —COOR3, or —(CH2)nOR3 where n=0 to 6, —CONHR3, —CONHC(CH3)2 CH2SO3M, —COO(CHR4)nOH where n=2 to 6, or —O(CH2)nOR4 wherein n=2 to 6; R1, R2, R3, R5 are each independently —(CHRCH20)mR4 random copolymer of oxyethylene units and oxypropylene units where m=10 to 500 and wherein the amount of oxyethylene in the random copolymer is from about 60% to 100% and the amount of oxypropylene in the random copolymer is from 0% to about 40%; R4=H, Methyl, C2 to about C6 Alkyl, or about C6 to about C10 aryl; M=H, Alkali Metal, Alkaline Earth Metal, Ammonium, Amine, triethanol amine, Methyl, or C2 to about C6 Alkyl; a=0 to about 0.8; b=about 0.2 to about 1.0; C=0 to about 0.5; d=0 to about 0.5; and wherein a, b, c, and d represent the mole fraction of each unit and the sum of a, b, c, and d is 1.0; i) a dispersant of Formula (IV): wherein in Formula (V): the “b” structure is one of a carboxylic acid monomer, an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, or maleic anhydride wherein an acid anhydride group (—CO—O—CO—) is formed in place of the groups Y and Z between the carbon atoms to which the groups Y and Z are bonded respectively, and the “b” structure must include at least one moiety with a pendant ester linkage and at least one moiety with a pendant amide linkage; X=H, CH3, C2 to C6 Alkyl, Phenyl, p-Methyl Phenyl, p-Ethyl Phenyl, Carboxylated Phenyl, or Sulfonated Phenyl; Y=H, —COOM, —COOH, or W; W=a hydrophobic defoamer represented by the formula r5o—(CH2CH2O)s—(CH2C(CH3)HO)t—(CH2CH2O)u where s, t, and u are integers from 0 to 200 with the proviso that t>(s+u) and wherein the total amount of hydrophobic defoamer is present in an amount less than about 10% by weight of the polycarboxylate dispersant; Z=H, —COOM, —O(CH2)nOR3 where n=2 to 6, —COOR3, —(CH2)nOR3 where n=0 to 6, or —CONHR3; R1 H, or CH3; R2, R3, are each independently a random copolymer of oxyethylene units and oxypropylene units of the general formula —(CH(R1)CH2O)mR4 where m=10 to 500 and wherein the amount of oxyethylene in the random copolymer is from about 60% to 100% and the amount of oxypropylene in the random copolymer is from 0% to about 40%; R4=H, Methyl, or C2 to C8 Alkyl; R5=C1 to C18 alkyl or C6 to C18 alkyl aryl; M=Alkali Metal, Alkaline Earth Metal, Ammonia, Amine, monoethanol amine, diethanol amine, triethanol amine, morpholine, imidazole; a=0.01-0.8; b=0.2-0.99; c=0-0.5; and wherein a, b, c represent the mole fraction of each unit and the sum of a, b, and c, is 1; j) a random copolymer corresponding to the following Formula (V) in free acid or salt form having the following monomer units and numbers of monomer units: wherein A is selected from the moieties (i) or (ii) wherein R1 and R3 are selected from substituted benzene, C1-8 alkyl, C2-8 alkenyl, C2-8 alkylcarbonyl, C1-8 alkoxy, carboxyl, hydrogen, and a ring, R2 and R4 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-4 alkyl, wherein R1 and R3 can together with R2 and/or R4 when R2 and/or R4 are C1-4 alkyl form the ring;; R7, R8, R9, and R10 are individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, and a C2-8 hydrocarbon chain, wherein R1 and R3 together with R7 and/or R8, R9, and R10 form the C2-8 hydrocarbon chain joining the carbon atoms to which they are attached, the hydrocarbon chain optionally having at least one anionic group, wherein the at least one anionic group is optionally sulfonic; M is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and the residue of a hydrophobic polyalkylene glycol or a polysiloxane, with the proviso that when A is (ii) and M is the residue of a hydrophobic polyalkylene glycol, M must be different from the group —(R5O)mR6; R5 is a C2-8 alkylene radical; R6 is selected from the group consisting of C1-20 alkyl, C6-9 cycloalkyl and phenyl; n, x, and z are numbers from 1 to 100; y is 0 to 100; m is 2 to 1000; the ratio of x to (y+z) is from 1:10 to 10:1 and the ratio of y:z is from 5:1 to 1:100; k) a copolymer of oxyalkyleneglycol-alkenyl ethers and unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, comprising: i) 0 to 90 mol % of at least one component of the formula Ia or Ib: wherein M is a hydrogen atom, a mono- or divalent metal cation, an ammonium ion or an organic amine residue, a is 1, or when M is a divalent metal cation a is ½; wherein X is —OMa, —O—(CmH2mO)n—R1 in which R1 is a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing 5 to 8 carbon atoms or an optionally hydroxyl, carboxyl, C1-14 alkyl, or sulphonic substituted aryl radical containing 6 to 14 carbon atoms, m is 2 to 4, and n is 0 to 100, —NHR2, —N(R2)2 or mixtures thereof in which R2=R1 or —CO—NH2; and wherein Y is an oxygen atom or —NR2; ii) 1 to 89 mol % of components of the general formula: wherein R3 is a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, p is 0 to 3, and R1 is hydrogen, an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing 5 to 8 carbon atoms or an optionally hydroxyl, carboxyl, C1-14 alkyl, or sulfonic substituted aryl radical containing 6 to 14 carbon atoms, m is 2 to 4, and n is 0 to 100, and iii) 0.1 to 10 mol % of at least one component of the formula IIIa or IIIb: wherein S is a hydrogen atom or —COOMa or —COOR5, T is —COOR5, —W—R7, —CO—[—NH—(CH2)3)-]s-W—R7, —CO—O—(CH2)z—W—R7, a radical of the general formula: or —(CH2)z-V—(CH2)z—CH═CH—R1, or when S is —COOR5 or —COOMa, U1 is —CO—NHM-, —O— or —CH2O, U2 is —NH—CO—, —O— or —OCH2, V is —O—CO—C6H4—CO—O— or —W—, and W is R4 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical, R5 is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing 3 to 20 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing 5 to 8 carbon atoms or an aryl radical containing 6 to 14 carbon atoms, R6=R1 or r is 2 to 100, s is 1 or 2, x is 1 to 150, y is o to 15 and z is 0 to 4; iv) 0 to 90 mol % of at least one component of the formula IVa, IVb, or IVc: wherein M is a hydrogen atom, a mono- or divalent metal cation, an ammonium ion or an organic amine residue, a is 1, or when M is a divalent metal cation a is ½; wherein X is —OMa, —O—(CmH2mO)n—R1 in which R1 is a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing 5 to 8 carbon atoms or an optionally hydroxyl, carboxyl, C1-14 alkyl, or sulphonic substituted aryl radical containing 6 to 14 carbon atoms, m is 2 to 4, and n is 0 to 100, —NH—(CmH2mO)n—R1, —NHR2, —N(R2)2 or mixtures thereof in which R2=R1 or —CO—NH2; and wherein Y is an oxygen atom or —NR2; l) a copolymer of dicarboxylic acid derivatives and oxyalkylene glycol-alkenyl ethers, comprising: i) 1 to 90 mol. % of at least one member selected from the group consisting of structural units of Formula Ia and Formula Ib: wherein M is H, a monovalent metal cation, a divalent metal cation, an ammonium ion or an organic amine; a is ½ when M is a divalent metal cation or 1 when M is a monovalent metal cation; wherein R1 is —OMa, or —O—(CmH2mO)n—R2 wherein R2 is H, a C1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon, a C5-8 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, or a C6-14 aryl that is optionally substituted with at least one member selected from the group consisting of [—COOMa, —(SO3)Ma, and —(PO3)Ma2]; m is 2 to 4; n is 1 to 200; ii) 0.5 to 80 mol. % of the structural units of Formula II: wherein R3 is H or a C1-5 aliphatic hydrocarbon; p is 0 to 3; R2 is H, a C1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon, a C5-8 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, or a C6-14 aryl that is optionally substituted with at least one member selected from the group consisting of [—COOMa, —(SO3)Ma, and —(PO3) Ma2]; m is 2 to 4; n is 1 to 200; iii) 0.5 to 80 mol. % structural units selected from the group consisting of Formula IIIa and Formula IIIb: wherein R4 is H, C1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon that is optionally substituted with at least one hydroxyl group, —(CmH2mO)n—R2, —CO—NH—R2, C5-8 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, or a C6-14 aryl that is optionally substituted with at least one member selected from the group consisting of [—COOMa, —(SO3)Ma, and —(PO3)Ma2]; M is H, a monovalent metal cation, a divalent metal cation, an 15 ammonium ion or an organic amine; a is ½ when M is a divalent metal cation or 1 when M is a monovalent metal cation; R2 is H, a C1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon, a C5-8 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, or a C6-14 aryl that is optionally substituted with at least one member selected from the group consisting of [—COOMa, —(SO3)Ma, and —(PO3)Ma2]; m is 2 to 4; n is 1 to 200; iv) 1 to 90 mol. % of structural units of Formula IV wherein R5 is methyl, or methylene group, wherein R5 forms one or more 5 to 8 membered rings with R7; R6 is H, methyl, or ethyl; R7 is H, a C1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon, a C6-14 aryl that is optionally substituted with at least one member selected from the group consisting of [—COOMa, —(SO3)Ma, and —(PO3)Ma2], a C5-8 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, —OCOR4, —OR4, or —COOR4, wherein R4 is H, a C1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon that is optionally substituted with at least one —OH, —(CmH2mO)n—R2, —CO—NH—R2, C5-8 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, or a C6-14 aryl residue that is optionally substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of [—COOMa, —(SO3)Ma, —(PO3)Ma2].

5. The admixture of claim 1, wherein the water soluble air controlling agent is at least one of an alkoxylated R, wherein R is at least one of a hydrocarbon or polyalkylene oxide.

6. The admixture of claim 1, further comprising an air entrainer.

7. The admixture of claim 1, further comprising at least one of set accelerators, set retarders, air detraining agents, foaming agents, dampproofing admixtures, pumping aids, fungicidal admixtures, insecticidal admixtures, germicidal admixtures, alkali activity reducers, bonding admixtures, corrosion inhibitors, and pigments.

8. The admixture of claim 1, wherein the block copolymer has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 7,500.

9. The admixture of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobe content of the water soluble air controlling agent is at least about 25%.

10. The admixture of claim 1, wherein the block copolymer is initiated with an initiator containing reactive glycol groups capable of adding to C2-C4 epoxides.

11. The admixture of claim 1, wherein the hydrophile lipophile balance of the water soluble air controlling agent is about 5 to about 22.

12. The admixture of claim 1, wherein the water soluble air controlling agent is present in an amount from about 0.25% to about 40% based on the weight of the dispersant for cementitious compositions.

13. The admixture of claim 12, wherein the water soluble air controlling agent is present in an amount from about 0.5% to about 20% based on the weight of the dispersant for cementitious compositions.

14. A cementitious composition comprising cement, water, and an admixture, wherein said admixture comprises a dispersant and a water soluble air controlling agent, wherein said water soluble air controlling agent containing ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, wherein the ethylene oxide is present in an amount from 10% to 50% by weight of the block copolymer, wherein the block copolymer has a molecular weight of about 900 to about 3800, and wherein the propylene oxide has a number average molecular weight of from about 900 to about 3000.

15. The cementitious composition of claim 14, wherein said admixture is stable over time with little or no phase separation between said dispersant and said water soluble air controlling agent.

16. The cementitious composition of claim 14, wherein said air controlling agent comprises a block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.

17. The cementitious composition of claim 14, wherein the dispersant is at least one of: a) a dispersant of Formula (I): wherein in Formula (I) X is at least one of hydrogen, an alkali earth metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, ammonium ion, or amine; R is at least one of C1 to C6 alkyl(ene) ether or mixtures thereof or C1 to C6 alkyl(ene) imine or mixtures thereof; Q is at least one of oxygen, NH, or sulfur; p is a number from 1 to about 300 resulting in at least one of a linear side chain or branched side chain; R1 is at least one of hydrogen, C1 to C20 hydrocarbon, or functionalized hydrocarbon containing at least one of —OH, —COOH, an ester or amide derivative of —COOH, sulfonic acid, an ester or amide derivative of sulfonic acid, amine, or epoxy; Y is at least one of hydrogen, an alkali earth metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, ammonium ion, amine, a hydrophobic hydrocarbon or polyalkylene oxide moiety that functions as a defoamer; m, m′, m″, n, n′, and n″ are each independently 0 or an integer between 1 and about 20; Z is a moiety containing at least one of i) at least one amine and one acid group, ii) two functional groups capable of incorporating into the backbone selected from the group consisting of dianhydrides, dialdehydes, and di-acid-chlorides, or iii) an imide residue; and wherein a, b, c, and d reflect the mole fraction of each unit wherein the sum of a, b, c, and d equal one, wherein a, b, c, and d are each a value greater than or equal to zero and less than one, and at least two of a, b, c, and d are greater than zero; b) a dispersant of Formula (II): wherein in Formula (III): A is COOM or optionally in the “y” structure an acid anhydride group (—CO—O—CO—) is formed in place of the A groups between the carbon atoms to which the A groups are bonded to form an anhydride; B is COOM M is hydrogen, a transition metal cation, the residue of a hydrophobic polyalkylene glycol or polysiloxane, an alkali metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, ferrous ion, aluminum ion, (alkanol)ammonium ion, or (alkyl)ammonium ion; R is a C2-6 alkylene radical; R1 is a C1-20 alkyl, C6-9 cycloalkyl, or phenyl group; x, y, and z are a number from 0.01 to 100; m is a number from 1 to 100; and n is a number from 10 to 100; c) a dispersant comprising at least one polymer or a salt thereof having the form of a copolymer of i) a maleic anhydride half-ester with a compound of the formula RO(AO)mH, wherein R is a C1-C20 alkyl group, A is a C2-4 alkylene group, and m is an integer from 2-16; and ii) a monomer having the formula CH2=CHCH2—(OA)nOR, wherein n is an integer from 1-90 and R is a C1-20 alkyl group; d) a reaction product formed by reacting a polycarboxylic acid with a nitrogeneous acrylic polymer; e) a dispersant obtained by copolymerizing 5 to 98% by weight of an (alkoxy)polyalkylene glycol mono(meth)acrylic ester monomer (a) represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1 stands for hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R2O for one species or a mixture of two or more species of oxyalkylene group of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, providing two or more species of the mixture may be added either in the form of a block or in a random form, R3 for a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and m is a value indicating the average addition mol number of oxyalkylene groups that is an integer in the range of 1 to 100, 95 to 2% by weight of a (meth)acrylic acid monomer (b) represented by the above general formula (2), wherein R4 and R5 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and M1 for a hydrogen atom, a monovalent metal atom, a divalent metal atom, an ammonium group, or an organic amine group, and 0 to 50% by weight of other monomer (c) copolymerizable with these monomers, provided that the total amount of (a), (b), and (c) is 100% by weight; f) a graft polymer that is a polycarboxylic acid or a salt thereof, having side chains derived from at least one species selected from the group consisting of oligoalkyleneglycols, polyalcohols, polyoxyalkylene amines, and polyalkylene glycols; g) a reaction product of component A, optionally component B, and component C; wherein each component A is independently a nonpolymeric, multi-functional moiety or combination of mono or multifunctional moieties that adsorbs onto a cementitious particle, and contains at least one residue derived from a first component selected from the group consisting of phosphates, phosphonates, phosphinates, hypophosphites, sulfates, sulfonates, sulfinates, alkyl trialkoxy silanes, alkyl triacyloxy silanes, alkyl triaryloxy silanes, borates, boronates, boroxines, phosphoramides, amines, amides, quaternary ammonium groups, carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid esters, alcohols, carbohydrates, phosphate esters of sugars, borate esters of sugars, sulfate esters of sugars, salts of any of the preceding moieties, and mixtures thereof; wherein component B is an optional moiety, where if present, each component B is independently a nonpolymeric moiety that is disposed between the component A moiety and the component C moiety, and is derived from a second component selected from the group consisting of linear saturated hydrocarbons, linear unsaturated hydrocarbons, saturated branched hydrocarbons, unsaturated branched hydrocarbons, alicyclic hydrocarbons, heterocyclic hydrocarbons, aryl, phosphoester, nitrogen containing compounds, and mixtures thereof; and wherein component C is at least one moiety that is a linear or branched water soluble, nonionic polymer substantially non-adsorbing to cement particles, and is selected from the group consisting of poly(oxyalkylene glycol), poly(oxyalkylene amine), poly(oxyalkylene diamine), monoalkoxy poly(oxyalkylene amine), monoaryloxy poly(oxyalkylene amine), monoalkoxy poly(oxyalkylene glycol), monoaryloxy poly(oxyalkylene glycol), poly(vinyl pyrrolidones), poly(methyl vinyl ethers), poly(ethylene imines), poly(acrylamides), polyoxazoles, and mixtures thereof; and h) a dispersant of Formula (III): wherein in Formula (I-V): D=a component selected from the group consisting of the structure d1, the structure d2, and mixtures thereof; X=H, CH3, C2 to C6 Alkyl, Phenyl, p-Methyl Phenyl, or Sulfonated Phenyl; Y=H or —COOM; R=H or CH3; Z=H, —SO3M, —PO3M, —COOM, —O(CH2).OR3 where n=2 to 6, —COOR3, or —(CH2).OR3 where n=0 to 6, —CONHR3, —CONHC(CH3)2 CH2SO3M, —COO(CHR4)nOH where n=2 to 6, or —O(CH2)nOR4 wherein n=2 to 6; R1, R2, R3, R5 are each independently —(CHRCH2O)mR4 random copolymer of oxyethylene units and oxypropylene units where m=10 to 500 and wherein the amount of oxyethylene in the random copolymer is from about 60% to 100% and the amount of oxypropylene in the random copolymer is from 0% to about 40%; R4=H, Methyl, C2 to about C6 Alkyl, or about C6 to about C10 aryl; M=H, Alkali Metal, Alkaline Earth Metal, Ammonium, Amine, triethanol amine, Methyl, or C2 to about C6 Alkyl; a=0 to about 0.8; b=about 0.2 to about 1.0; c=0 to about 0.5; d=0 to about 0.5; and wherein a, b, c, and d represent the mole fraction of each unit and the sum of a, b, c, and d is 1.0; i) a dispersant of Formula (IV): wherein in Formula (V): the “b” structure is one of a carboxylic acid monomer, an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, or maleic anhydride wherein an acid anhydride group (—CO—O—CO—) is formed in place of the groups Y and Z between the carbon atoms to which the groups Y and Z are bonded respectively, and the “b” structure must include at least one moiety with a pendant ester linkage and at least one moiety with a pendant amide linkage; X=H, CH3, C2 to C6 Alkyl, Phenyl, p-Methyl Phenyl, p-Ethyl Phenyl, Carboxylated Phenyl, or Sulfonated Phenyl; Y=H, —COOM, —COOH, or W; W=a hydrophobic defoamer represented by the formula R5O—(CH2CH2O)s—(CH2C(CH3)HO)t—(CH2CH2O)u where s, t, and u are integers from 0 to 200 with the proviso that t>(s+u) and wherein the total amount of hydrophobic defoamer is present in an amount less than about 10% by weight of the polycarboxylate dispersant; Z=H, —COOM, —O(CH2)nOR3 where n=2 to 6, —COOR3, —(CH2)nOR3 where n=0 to 6, or —CONHR3; R1=H, or CH3; R2, R3, are each independently a random copolymer of oxyethylene units and oxypropylene units of the general formula —(CH(R1)CH2O)mR4 where m=10 to 500 and wherein the amount of oxyethylene in the random copolymer is from about 60% to 100% and the amount of oxypropylene in the random copolymer is from 0% to about 40%; R4=H, Methyl, or C2 to C8 Alkyl; R5=C1 to Ci8 alkyl or C6 to C18 alkyl aryl; M=Alkali Metal, Alkaline Earth Metal, Ammonia, Amine, monoethanol amine, diethanol amine, triethanol amine, morpholine, imidazole; a=0.01-0.8; b=0.2-0.99; c=0-0.5; and wherein a, b, c represent the mole fraction of each unit and the sum of a, b, and c, is 1; j) a random copolymer corresponding to the following Formula (V) in free acid or salt form having the following monomer units and numbers of monomer units: wherein A is selected from the moieties (i) or (ii) wherein R1 and R3 are selected from substituted benzene, C1-8 alkyl, C2-8 alkenyl, C2-8 alkylcarbonyl, C1-8 alkoxy, carboxyl, hydrogen, and a ring, R2 and R4 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-4 alkyl, wherein R1 and R3 can together with R2 and/or R4 when R2 and/or R4 are C1-4 alkyl form the ring;; R7, R8, R9, and Rio are individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, and a C2-8 hydrocarbon chain, wherein R1 and R3 together with R7 and/or R8, R9, and R10 form the C2-8 hydrocarbon chain joining the carbon atoms to which they are attached, the hydrocarbon chain optionally having at least one anionic group, wherein the at least one anionic group is optionally sulfonic; M is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and the residue of a hydrophobic polyalkylene glycol or a polysiloxane, with the proviso that when A is (ii) and M is the residue of a hydrophobic polyalkylene glycol, M must be different from the group —(R5O)mR6; R5 is a C2-8 alkylene radical; R6 is selected from the group consisting of C1-20 alkyl, C6-9 cycloalkyl and phenyl; n, x, and z are numbers from 1 to 100; y is 0 to 100; m is 2 to 1000; the ratio of x to (y+z) is from 1:10 to 10:1 and the ratio of y:z is from 5:1 to 1:100; k) a copolymer of oxyalkyleneglycol-alkenyl ethers and unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, comprising: i) 0 to 90 mol % of at least one component of the formula Ia or Ib: wherein M is a hydrogen atom, a mono- or divalent metal cation, an ammonium ion or an organic amine residue, a is 1, or when M is a divalent metal cation a is ½; wherein X is —OMa, —O—(CmH2mO)n—R1 in which R1 is a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing 5 to 8 carbon atoms or an optionally hydroxyl, carboxyl, C1-14 alkyl, or sulphonic substituted aryl radical containing 6 to 14 carbon atoms, m is 2 to 4, and n is 0 to 100, —NHR2, —N(R2)2 or mixtures thereof in which R2=R1 or —CO—NH2; and wherein Y is an oxygen atom or —NR2; ii) 1 to 89 mol % of components of the general formula: wherein R3 is a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, p is 0 to 3, and R1 is hydrogen, an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing 5 to 8 carbon atoms or an optionally hydroxyl, carboxyl, C1-14 alkyl, or sulfonic substituted aryl radical containing 6 to 14 carbon atoms, m is 2 to 4, and n is 0 to 100, and iii) 0.1 to 10 mol % of at least one component of the formula IIIa or IIIb: wherein S is a hydrogen atom or —COOMa or —COOR5, T is —COOR5, —W—R7, —CO—[—NH—(CH2)3)-]s-W—R7, —CO—O—(CH2)z—W—R7, a radical of the general formula: or —(CH2)z—V—(CH2)z—CH═CH—R1, or when S is —COOR5 or —COOMa, U1 is —CO—NHM—, —O— or —CH2O, U2 is —NH—CO—, —O— or —OCH2, V is —O—CO—C6H4—CO—O— or —W—, and W is R4 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical, R5 is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing 3 to 20 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing 5 to 8 carbon atoms or an aryl radical containing 6 to 14 carbon atoms, R6=R1 or r is 2 to 100, s is 1 or 2, x is 1 to 150, y is o to 15 and z is 0 to 4; iv) 0 to 90 mol % of at least one component of the formula IVa, IVb, or IVc: wherein M is a hydrogen atom, a mono- or divalent metal cation, an ammonium ion or an organic amine residue, a is 1, or when M is a divalent metal cation a is ½; wherein X is —OMa, —O—(CmH2mO)n—R1 in which R1 is a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing 5 to 8 carbon atoms or an optionally hydroxyl, carboxyl, C1-14 alkyl, or sulphonic substituted aryl radical containing 6 to 14 carbon atoms, m is 2 to 4, and n is 0 to 100, —NH—(CmH2mO)n—R1, —NHR2, —N(R2)2 or mixtures thereof in which R2=R1 or —CO—NH2; and wherein Y is an oxygen atom or —NR2; l) a copolymer of dicarboxylic acid derivatives and oxyalkylene glycol-alkenyl ethers, comprising: i) 1 to 90 mol. % of at least one member selected from the group consisting of structural units of Formula Ia and Formula Ib: wherein M is H, a monovalent metal cation, a divalent metal cation, an ammonium ion or an organic amine; a is ½ when M is a divalent metal cation or 1 when M is a monovalent metal cation; wherein R1 is —OMa, or —O—(CmH2mO)n—R2 wherein R2 is H, a C1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon, a C5-8 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, or a C6-14 aryl that is optionally substituted with at least one member selected from the group consisting of [—COOMa, —(SO3)Ma, and —(PO3)Ma2l; m is 2 to 4; n is 1 to 200; ii) 0.5 to 80 mol. % of the structural units of Formula II: wherein R3 is H or a C1-5 aliphatic hydrocarbon; p is 0 to 3; R2 is H, a C1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon, a C5-8 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, or a C6-14 aryl that is optionally substituted with at least one member selected from the group consisting of [—COOMa, —(SO3)Ma, and —(PO3) Ma2]; m is 2 to 4; n is 1 to 200; iii) 0.5 to 80 mol. % structural units selected from the group consisting of Formula IIIa and Formula IIIb: wherein R4 is H, C1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon that is optionally substituted with at least one hydroxyl group, —(CH2mO)n—R2, —CO—NH—R2, C5-8 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, or a C6-14 aryl that is optionally substituted with at least one member selected from the group consisting of [—COOMa, —(SO3)Ma, and —(PO3)Ma2]; M is H, a monovalent metal cation, a divalent metal cation, an ammonium ion or an organic amine; a is ½ when M is a divalent metal cation or 1 when M is a monovalent metal cation; R2 is H, a C1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon, a C5-8 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, or a C6-14 aryl that is optionally substituted with at least one member selected from the group consisting of [—COOMa, —(SO3)Ma, and —(PO3)Ma2]; m is 2 to 4; n is 1 to 200; iv) 1 to 90 mol. % of structural units of Formula IV wherein R5 is methyl, or methylene group, wherein R5 forms one or more 5 to 8 membered rings with R7; R6 is H, methyl, or ethyl; R7 is H, a C1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon, a C6-14 aryl that is optionally substituted with at least one member selected from the group consisting of [—COOMa, —(SO3)Ma, and —(PO3)Ma2], a C5-8 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, —OCOR4, —OR4, or —COOR4, wherein R4 is H, a C1-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon that is optionally substituted with at least one —OH, —(CmH2mO)n—R2, —CO—NH—R2, C5-8 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, or a C6-14 aryl residue that is optionally substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of [—COOMa, —(SO3)Ma, —(PO3)Ma2].

18. The cementitious composition of claim 14, wherein the water soluble air controlling agent is at least one of an alkoxylated R, wherein R is at least one of a hydrocarbon or polyalkylene oxide.

19. The cementitious composition of claim 14, wherein the block copolymer has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 7,500.

20. The cementitious composition of claim 14, wherein the hydrophobe content of the water soluble air controlling agent is at least about 25%

21. The cementitious composition of claim 14, wherein the block copolymer is initiated with an initiator containing reactive glycol groups capable of adding to C2-C4 epoxides.

22. The cementitious composition of claim 14, wherein the hydrophile lipophile balance of the water soluble air controlling agent is about 5 to about 22.

23. The cementitious composition of claim 14, wherein the cement is selected from the group consisting of portland cement, masonry cement, alumina cement, refractory cement, magnesia cement, calcium sulfoaluminate cement, oil well cement, and mixtures thereof.

24. The cementitious composition of claim 14, further comprising at least one of an accelerator, retarder, another cement dispersing agent, air detraining agent, foaming agent, corrosion inhibitor, shrinkage compensation agent, fiber, pigment, pozzolan, clay, strength enhancing agents, rheology modifying agents, water repellents, wetting agents, water soluble polymers, dampproofing admixtures, gas formers, permeability reducers, pumping aids, fungicidal admixtures, germicidal admixtures, insecticidal admixtures, finely divided mineral admixtures, alkali-reactivity reducer, bonding admixtures, aggregate and mixtures thereof.

25. The cementitious composition of claim 24, wherein the aggregate is at least one of silica, quartz, crushed round marble, glass spheres, granite, limestone, calcite, feldspar, alluvial sands, and sand.

26. The cementitious composition of claim 24, wherein the pozzolan is at least one of natural pozzolan, fly ash, silica fume, calcined clay, and blast furnace slag.

27. The cementitious composition of claim 14, wherein the water soluble air controlling agent is present in an amount from about 0.25% to about 40% based on the weight of the dispersant for cementitious compositions.

28. The cementitious composition of claim 27, wherein the water soluble air controlling agent is present in an amount from about 0.5% to about 20% based on the weight of the dispersant for cementitious compositions.

29. An admixture for cementitious compositions comprising a dispersant for cementitious compositions and a water soluble air controlling agent, wherein said admixture is stable over time with little or no phase separation between said dispersant and said water soluble air controlling agent.

30. A cementitious composition comprising cement, water and the admixture of claim 29.