ABSTRACT
The properties of fresh and hardened polymer-modified mortar and concrete are affected by a multiplicity of factors such as polymer type, polymer-cement ratio, water-cement ratio, air content, and curing conditions. The flow of the polymer-modified mortar increases with increasing water-cement ratio and polymer-cement ratio. The water-cement ratio of the polymer-modified mortar and concrete at the given slump is markedly reduced with an increase in the polymer-cement ratio. Water retention ability of polymer-modified mortar and concrete is markedly improved over that of ordinary cement mortar and concrete. The drying shrinkage of polymer-modified mortar and concrete may be either larger or smaller than that of ordinary cement mortar and concrete, and generally tends to decrease with an increase in the polymer-cement ratio. Polymer-modified mortar and concrete have a structure in which the larger pores can be filled by polymers or sealed by continuous polymer films.
