Development and use of polymer-modified cement for adhesive and repair applications

•Development of specialty cement with improved bond and tensile properties.•Ready-to-use cement for adhesive, repair, and protective applications.•Grindability of clinker in presence of elastomer polymeric latexes. Limited attempts are made to develop speciality cement possessing improved tensile and bond properties resulting from inter-grinding clinker with elastomer polymeric latexes such as styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) or polyvinyl acetate (PVA). This type of ready-to-use cement can be of particular interest in adhesive applications requiring enhanced bond to substrates (i.e., tile adhesives, patching mortars, waterproofing slurries) as well as repair and injection works necessitating improved durability and adhesion to embedded steel bars. Test results demonstrated that latexes remain efficient after grinding to alter cement properties, including higher workability and improved flexural and pull-off bond strengths. The SBR and PVA addition rates should be limited to less than 0.4% and 0.3% of cement mass, respectively, given that clinker grindability including Blaine fineness and sieve residue could be detrimentally affected. The validity of polymer-modified cement to produce tile adhesives as per EN 12004 standard requirements is discussed.