Figure 5: By impregnation with a methyl methacrylate monomer the erosion resistance of concrete can be improved dramatically. (US Army Corps of Engineers, 1978)

Using different polymeric systems as modifiers to ordinary concrete, a wide range of improved properties can be achieved. Figure 6 compares the carbonation resistance of a polymer modified concrete to that of an ordinary concrete.(6) The polymeric systems used in this test were polyacrylic ester (PAE) and styrene butadiene (SBR). It is seen that even with an addition of 10% PAE (percentage of cement content) a dramatic improvement in carbonation is obtained. With a 20% SBR addition, results are even more favourable.