The Effect of Partial Replacement of Polymethyl Methacrylate(PMMA) on the Compressive and Flexural Strength of Ordinary Cement Mortar

In this paper studied the impact of the partial replacement of the cement by self-cure polymer (polymethyl methacrylate PMMA) in different ratios on the compressive strength, flexural strength and microstructural analysis, five ratios of cement replacement (1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, and 9%) by PMMA, these tests have been performed after curing at an early age (7days) and standard age (28days). The preparation of the mortar has been performed with the use of 1:2 cement to the sand ratio by weight, with (0.5) water to binder ratio and polymer to self-cure monomer (methyl methacrylate MMA) ratio 2:1. Results have shown that the flexural and the compressive strengths of mortars have been increased with increasing the ratio of the replacement (1%, 3%, 5%) and then decreased at replacement ratio (7% and 9%). The best results of the new cement mortar were reached at the partial replacement of cement with 5% of PMMA were recorded enhancement of compressive strength15.8% at an early age and 24.4% for standard age and enhancement of flexural strength 16.8% at an early age and 19.4% for standard age, from scanning electron microscopy SEM analysis observed the PMMA filling the pores and form more homogeneous microstructure in G32 as compared with the microstructure of G1.