It　is　well-known　that　the　synthesis　of　comb-like　polycarboxylate　superplasticizer　(PCE)　strongly　relies　on　polyethylene　glycol　(PEG)　macromonomer　as　side　chains　to　provide　good　dispersibility.　However,　ethylene　oxide　(EO),　the　main　source　of　PEG,　has　many　disadvantages　such　as　flammability　and　explosiveness,　harsh　synthesis　conditions,　high　equipment　requirements,　and　high　risk　of　impact　on　PCE　even　concrete　industry,　etc.　Therefore,　it　is　urgently　necessary　to　develop　a　novel　PCE　by　other　substitutes,　achieving　innovative　chemistry　of　PCE.　In　this　study,　polyvinyl　alcohol　(PVA),　which　synthesis　does　not　depend　on　EO,　was　originally　designed　as　side　chains　instead　of　PEG.　A　comb-like　superplasticizer,　i.e.　PAA-g-PVA,　was　successfully　synthesized　by　“graft　from”　copolymerization　using　butyl　acrylate　(BA)　as　main　chain　monomer　and　vinyl　acetate　(VAc)　as　side　chain　monomer.　Compared　with　conventional　PCE,　PAA-g-PVA　exhibited　better　fluidity　retention　of　cement　paste,　as　it　can　maintain　a　higher　adsorption　amount　on　cement　particles.　The　hydration　kinetics　and　Krstulovic-Dabic　(K-D)　model　showed　PAA-g-PVA　less　retarded　the　hydration　process,　and　rapidly　promoted　the　hydration　into　the　diffusion-controlled　period.　The　aim　of　this　study　is　to　introduce　a　novel　polymer　with　potential　engineering　application　and　good　performances,　which　can　be　used　as　an　alternative　to　PCE.　©　2022　American　Concrete　Institute.　All　rights　reserved.