Mechanical Properties of Styrene-Butadiene-Rubber Latex (SBR) and Vinyl-Acetate-Ethylene (VAE) Polymer Modified Ferrocement (PMF)

By : Rajinder Ghai, Prem Pal Bansal, Maneek Kumar

Page No: 111-126

Abstract
Ferrocement has now become a universally acceptable thin composite material in the field of construction technology. In order to improve the performance of ferrocement, the effects of addition of polymers namely; styrene-butadiene-rubber latex (SBR) and vinyl-acetate-ethylene polymer (VAE) in its mortar matrix, have been studied. The polymer-modified mortar (PMM) matrices were prepared with the addition of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% polymers by weight of cement. Two and three layered wire mesh polymer modified ferrocement (PMF) elements were casted and tested. The test result reflects that the performance of SBR modified ferrocement is better as compared to VAE modified ferrocement. Flexural strength, tensile strength and elongation of three layered PMF on addition of 15% SBR showed an enhancement by 48.04%, 39.41% and 17.59% respectively, as compared to conventional ferrocement. This is attributable to the development of a polymeric layer, in which the polymer elements merge, a polymeric compound is propagated and an interlocked mesh composition is formed. This study, therefore, recommends the use of 15% SBR modified mortars in three layered wire mesh ferrocement elements for better durability and strength.

Authors :
Rajinder Ghai, Prem Pal Bansal And Maneek Kumar : Department of Civil Engineering, Thapar University, Patiala, Punjab