Application of SBR-included pre-milled colored paste as a new approach for coloring self-consolidating mortars (SCMs)

Architectural construction has experienced considerable improvements via the recent developments of colored self-consolidating mortars (C-SCM). It is significantly important to prevent strength reduction in colored mortars when aiming at specific color intensities. In this research, the effects of phthalocyanine and iron hydroxide pigments on SCM and SBR latex modified SCM (LM-SCM) were studied. The influence of using pre-milled colored paste was investigated, as well. Experiments included tests on compressive strength, compressive toughness, flexural strength and flexural toughness. It was found that incorporating SBR latex to C-SCM mix design improved flexural properties and color intensity but decreased purity and led to porosity augmentation. Results also indicated that using pre-milled colored paste considerably improved mechanical properties, color intensity and purity and decreased porosity. Preparing pre-milled colored paste was found as an effective way to use low contents of organic pigments to create brilliant, intense and uniform colors in cement-based materials.