Latex-modified monolithics

Such effects increase with an increase in the polymer content or the polymer-cement ratio (the weight ratio of total solids in a polymer latex to the amount of cement in a latex-modified mortar or concrete mixture). However, at levels exceeding 20% by weight of the cement in the mixture, excessive air entrainment and discontinuities form in the monolithic network structure, resulting in a reduction of compressive strength and modulus [87, 94, 95]. 

Third Step. Ultimately, with water withdrawal by cement hydration, the close-packed polymer particles on the cement hydrates coalesce into continuous films or membranes, and the films or membranes bind the cement hydrates together to form a monolithic network in which the polymer phase interpenetrates throughout the cement hydrate phase. Such a structure acts as a matrix phase for latex-modified mortar and concrete, and the aggregates are bound by the matrix phase to the hardened mortar and concrete. 

Although polymers and monomers in any form such as latexes, water-soluble polymers, liquid resins, and monomers are used in cement composites such as mortar and concrete, it is very important that both cement hydration and polymer phase formation (coalescence of polymer particles and the polymerization of monomers) proceed well to yidd a monolithic matrix phase widi a network structure in which the hydrated cement phase and polymer phase interpenetrate. In the polymer-modified mortar and concrete structures, aggregates are bound by such a co-matrbc phase, resulting in the superior properties of polymer-modified mortar and conoete compared to conventional. 

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