The Effect of Nano-Silica Particles on Fresh and Hardened State Properties of Polymer Cement Mortars

Abstract

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) was used in the amounts of 5, 10 and 15% of the cement content in the production of polymer cement mortars. Besides, nanosilica, in three different sizes of 35, 17 and 4 nm, were included in the mortars. The addition of nanosilica particles in polymer cement concretes and mortars affects both fresh and hardened state properties. The extremely high surface area of nanoparticles increases the water demand; hence to obtain a workable mixture it is necessary to increase the superplasticizer used. In the hardened state, the strength and impermeability properties improve due to both pozzolanic reaction and filler effect of nanosilica particles as well as polymer film formation. The flow properties in the fresh state and flexural and compressive strength properties in the hardened state were determined.