Effect of polymer cement modifiers on mechanical and physical properties of polymer-modified mortar using recycled artificial marble waste fine aggregate

Various polymer-modified mortars using recycled artificial marble waste fine aggregate (AMWFA) were prepared and investigated for the purpose of feasibility of recycling. Styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) latex and polyacrylic ester (PAE) emulsion were employed as polymer modifier, and compared each other. The replacement ratio of AMWFA was also changed to investigate the effect of it on physical properties. Adding polymer cement modifier into mortar reduced water–cement ratio, and PAE was the more effective polymer cement modifier to reduce water–cement ratio than SBR. PAE emulsion-modified mortar increased the air content entrained as the proportion of PAE was increased. There was little difference in water absorption between SBR latex and PAE emulsion. The compressive strength decreased in the presence of polymer cement modifiers compared to that of no polymer cement modifiers, but the compressive strength of 20% of polymer–cement ratio was higher than that of 10%. After the hot water resistance test, both compressive strength and flexural strength were decreased.