Influence of water-cement ratio and cement content on the properties of polymer-modified mortars

The compressive strength of modified and unmodified mortars depends on water-cement ratio and, to a lesser extent, on the cement content of the mortars. The flexural strength of unmodified mortars responds only slightly to modification of water-cement ratio or cement content. With polymer modification of the mortars, the influence of the variation is increased. There is only a minor influence of water-cement ratio and cement content on the adhesion strength of the modified mortars on concrete slabs. Only in wet conditions is there an additional effect at high cement contents and lower water-cement ratios. Shrinkage and water absorption are a function of water-cement ratio and cement content. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.