Analysis of mechanical properties of rubberised mortar and influence of styrene–butadiene latex on interfacial behaviour of rubber–cement matrix

Abstract

Adding rubber particles to cement mortar can improve its crack resistance, sound insulation, freeze–thaw resistance, etc. However, the applications of rubberised mortar are limited due to the lack of a systematic and thorough understanding of its material properties. This paper summarized the features of rubberised mortar in detailed, and discussed the influence mechanism of rubber particles on mechanical properties of rubberised mortar. The rubber content and particle size were found to have a significant effect on the material properties of rubberised mortar. In addition, the enhancement methods for rubberised mortar were also classified and evaluated herein. Most enhancement methods focused on improving the interfacial adhesion of the rubber–cement matrix, reducing the porosity of the mortar, or forming a rigid fibre-reinforced network system. Finally, we investigated the effects of styrene–butadiene latex (SBL) on the interfacial behaviour of the rubber–cement matrix. The effects of the rubber type, SBL content, and pre-soaking method on the interfacial behaviour were discussed. The compound enhancement method, wherein rubber particles were first soaked in SBL, followed by the addition of SBL into rubberised mortar, can significantly improve the interfacial behaviour of rubberised mortar.