Polycarboxylate ether-based superplasticizers（PCE） with different ester functional groups were synthesized using methyl methacrylate， hydroxyethyl acrylate and hydroxypropyl acrylate. The influence and mechanism of different ester functional groups on the slow release and plasticizing retention effect of PCE were studied by testing the fluidity of cement paste as well as the adsorption amount and hydrolysis rate of PCE in cement paste. The results show that although the initial fluidity of cement paste mixed with PCE containing different ester functional groups does not increase obviously， the fluidity retention is improved significantly. Furthermore， due to the different hydrolysis rate of ester functional groups， the number of carboxylic acid groups release varies， which in turn affects the adsorption amount of PCE on cement particles， ultimately resulting in a different slow release and plasticizing retention effect.