Preparation and application of high-performance composite polymer emulsion cement waterproof coatings

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a high-performance composite emulsion cement waterproof coating. The coating has excellent durability and is effective in protecting cement mortar substrates from harmful ions. Design/methodology/approach The polymer cement waterproof coatings with different emulsion compounding ratios were tested for mechanical properties and water resistance after alkali immersion, water immersion, thermal aging and UV aging, and the coatings were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy after aging to evaluate its durability. Meanwhile, the coating that presents favorable durability was applied to cement mortar test blocks. The protective effect of the coating on the test blocks was tested by immersion method, and X-ray diffraction analysis was performed on the eroded test blocks. Findings The coating with neoprene latex/acrylate latex weight ratio of 90/10 presents favorable durability and has superior overall performance. Besides, when it is applied to cement mortar blocks, the coatings effectively reduced the erosive effect of harmful ions on cement mortar blocks, resulting in much lower mass change ratios and less internal structural damage of the blocks significantly. Originality/value The obtained coating will be of great application potential for use in building waterproofing construction. Moreover, the coating can practically prevent chloride ions and sulfate ions from penetrating cement-based materials.