A　novel　dispersant　for　cement　slurries　or　other　suspensions　was　synthesized　by　graft　copolymerization　between　maleic　anhydride　(MA)　and　end-functionalized　poly(vinyl　alcohol)　(PVA)　to　produce　comb　polymer,　i.e.　PMA-g-PVA.　The　chemical　structure　was　characterized　by　H-1　Nuclear　Magnetic　Resonance　(H-1　NMR),　Infrared　Spectroscopy　(IR),　Gel　Permeation　Chromatography　(GPC),　alcoholysis　degree　and　element　analysis.　This　functionalization　of　PVA　can　significantly　enhance　its　thermal　stability　and　dispersibility.　The　evaluations　of　PMA-g-PVA　and　PVA　in　cement　slurries　were　comparatively　discussed　in　detail.　The　results　showed　that　PMA-g-PVA　performed　well　in　dispersing　and　dispersing　retention　capacities,　presenting　more　excellent　fluidities　of　cement　slurry　(similar　to　200　mm)　with　maintenance　of　＞　85%　within　3　h,　due　to　its　strong　ability　of　breaking　large　flocculated　structures　of　cement　particles　to　fine　size　and　homogeneous　dispersion.　This　new　type　of　functionalized　PVA　may　be　introduced　as　a　promising　candidate　for　the　rheology　modifying　superplasticizer　in　slurry　or　colloid　materials.