Experimental study on properties of polymer-modified cement mortars with silica fume

This paper discussed the flexural and the compressive strengths of polyacrylic ester (PAE) emulsion and silica fume (SF)-modified mortar. The chloride ion permeability in cement mortar and the interfacial microhardness between aggregates and matrix were measured. The chemical reactions between polymer and cement-hydrated product were investigated by the infrared spectral technology. The results show that the decrease of porosity and increase of density of cement mortars can be achieved by the pozzolanic effect of SF, the water-reducing and -filling effect of polymer. Lower porosity and higher density can give cement mortars such properties as higher flexural and compressive strength, higher microhardness value in interfacial zone and lower effective diffusion coefficient of chloride ion in matrix. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.