Improvement the Properties of Cement Mortar by Using Styrene Butadiene Rubber Polymer

Abstract

The use of polymers in mortar and concrete as admixture can improve the physical and mechanical properties like higher strength and lower permeability than the conventional concrete. Rheomix 141 is styrene-butadiene co–polymer latex (SBR), specifically designed for use with cement composites. It is used in mortar and concrete as an admixture to increase resistance to water penetration, improve abrasion resistance and durability. The objective of the present investigation is to examine the ability of improve cement mortar by using SBR (Rheomix 141). Polymer-modified cement mortars were prepared by varying polymer/cement ratio (P/C). The effects of styrene–Butadiene rubber (SBR) emulsion on the physical properties like bulk density and setting time, and mechanical properties like compressive strength and flexural strength of cement mortars is studied. The results explained the improvement in compressive in flexural strengths in cement mortar with added 8% polymer content. The rates of increase in compressive strength at 3,7, and 28 days were in the range of 13.5%, 8.35% and 9.12% respectively compared with conventional mortar (0% polymer), while the maximum increase in flexural strength (at 8% polymer content) was 11%. Also that, as the polymer content increase up to 8%, setting time of modified mortars decrease.

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