Effects of silicon fume and latex on properties and hydration of modified mortars

Polybutadiene-graft-polystyrene (PB-g-PS) latex with a weight ratio of 50/50 was used to modify cement mortar. This study examines the effects of silicon fume content and the polymer-cement ratios (P/C) on the flow, compressive and flexural strength and water absorption rate of PB-g-PS latex modified cement mortar. The experimental results show that the flow of modified mortar is increased with increasing polymer-cement ratios, and it is decreased with increasing silicon fume content, PB-g-PS latex and suitable silicon fume content can markedly reduce capillary water absorption rate. PB-g-PS latex can marked influences much on the mechanical properties of modified mortars. The compressive of the polymer modified mortar decreased, and the flexural strength of a portion of polymer modified mortar increased. The suitble silicon fume can improve mechanical properties of modified mortats. The effect of PB-g-PS latex and silicon fume content on cement hydration was explored by XRD, the analysis results showed that the cement hydration was influenced by silicon fume content and P/C.