Sulfonated aldol polycondensates were synthesized from acetone, formaldehyde, and different amounts of sodium sulfite, resulting in polymers with varying degrees of sulfonation (DS). The anionic charge amount of these macromolecules measured by polyelectrolyte titration decreased with lower DS. The effectiveness of the acetone-formaldehyde-sulfite (AFS) polycondensates as cement dispersant was found to depend on the amount of polymer adsorbed oil cement. AFS adsorption decreases with lower DS. Interaction and compatibility between AFS and CaAMPS (R)-co-NNDMA fluid loss additive was studied by formulating binary additive systems composed Of one of the modified AFS polymers and CaAMPS-co-NNDMA. At high DS, AFS adsorbs strongly and prevents CaAMPS-omega-NNDMA from adsorbing in sufficient amounts on the cement surface. The result is poor fluid loss control of the cement slurry. AFS polymers with lower DS, however, allow simultaneous adsorption of both polymers in sufficient quantities to provide good fluid loss control and low rheology at the same time. Thus, effectiveness of both additives was retained. Obviously, effectiveness Of such admizture systems depends on the adjustment of the adsorption behavior of the individual components relative to each other. Molar anionic charge density of the. polymers was found to be a major parameter influencing their relative adsorption behavior. The AFS polymer with DS = 0.2 possesses a molar anionic charge density comparable to CaAMPS-co-NNDMA. Thus, when admixtures with similar molar anionic charge densities are used, the performance of one component is not negatively influenced by the Other. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 111: 2018-2024, 2009