Polymer-modified cement mortars: Their enhanced properties, applications, prospects, and challenges

Polymer-modified cement mortar (PMCM) composite materials have drawn the attention of researchers worldwide because of their excellent capabilities such as crack resistance, durability, simple construction process, and cost-effectiveness. This paper investigates current research on the enhancement effect of adding polymers in ordinary cement mortar (OCM) composites. The main study areas include material fabrication, workability, mechanical properties, durability, microstructure, and application of PMCM composite materials. Literature research shows that the properties of OCM could be improved significantly with the variation of polymer types and concentrations in the composition of PMCM, making PMCM versatile in applications. Compared with OCM, PMCM has enhanced crack resistance, impermeability, and durability with the addition of polymers. Finally, this paper introduces the application of PMCM, and discusses the prospects and challenges of PMCM composite materials.