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Abstract Polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE) is the most widely used admixture in concrete. To enable the engineering application of crystal nucleation accelerators in concrete, it is essential to investigate their compounding effects with PCE. Based on this, five commercially available PCEs were compounded with a crystal nucleation accelerator to analyze their effects on concrete performance and clarify the influencing mechanisms. The results indicate that the addition of the crystal nucleation accelerator improved concrete slump, significantly shortened the setting time, and enhanced the early-age compressive strength. Notably, the more prolonged the setting time induced by the PCE, the more pronounced the enhancement effect of the crystal nucleation accelerator on early compressive strength—particularly within 12 hours (0.5 d). However, as the curing age extended, the enhancement effect of the crystal nucleation accelerator on compressive strength gradually weakened for all PCE-compounded systems, though it remained consistent across different PCE types. Critically, no strength regression was observed in any mixture
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Published: 28 February 2026
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2026, Vol. 0 
