Effects of polymer modification on the permeability of cement mortars under different curing conditions: A correlational study that includes pore distributions, water absorption and compressive strength

This paper, based on laboratory programs, evaluated the oxygen permeability over different stages of aging for three commercial polymer-modified mortars; styrene–butadiene rubber, polyacrylic esters and vinyl acetate–ethylene as well as unmodified conventional mortar exposed to different curing conditions. The relationship of its permeability with pore size distributions, water absorption and compressive strength has also been investigated. The results indicated that the presence of polymer latex in the mortars greatly enhanced the pore structure of the paste and resulted in increasing the waterproofness and hence, impermeability of the polymer cements system. Moreover, the best curing conditions of the mixes were also highlighted by the study.

► Oxygen permeability of all PMMs was decreased with the increasing age of curing.
► Permeability of the PMMs was much lower than that of the unmodified control mix.
► Cyclic water and air curing was the best curing regime for all the PMMs.
► Oxygen permeability and total porosity showed a linear correlation.
► The intrinsic permeability decreased with increasing compressive strength.