Effect of redispersible vinyl acetate and versatate copolymer powder on flexibility of cement mortar

The effect of redispersible vinyl acetate and versatate copolymer (VA/VeoVa) powder on the flexibility of cement mortar is studied using the methods of the transverse deformation and the ratio of compressive strength to flexural strength (σC/σF), to explore the possibility of these two methods in charactering the flexibility of VA/VeoVa powder-modified mortar. The transverse deformation and the fracture energy of the modified mortar increase significantly with the augment of the mp/mc, but the peak load decreases when the mp/mc is higher than 8%. 3% mp/mc makes the compressive strength decrease, but has no effect on the flexural strength; whereas when the mp/mc is higher than 5%, the VA/VeoVa powder increases the flexural strength markedly. The σC/σF depresses sharply with the mp/mc augmenting from 0% to 3%. The transverse deformation and the σC/σF are complementary to each other in charactering the flexibility of VA/VeoVa powder-modified mortar. VA/VeoVa powder improves the flexibility of cement mortar significantly.

► VA/VeoVa powder increases the transverse deformation and fracture energy of mortar.
► VA/VeoVa powder increases the flexural strength markedly.
► The σC/σF of mortar was effectively reduced by VA/VeoVa powder.
► VA/VeoVa powder improves the flexibility of cement mortar significantly.
► Transverse deformation and σC/σF are complementary in charactering the flexibility.