Mechanical Properties and Durability of High Toughness Concrete (HTC) Modified by EVA and SB Latex Powder

Abstract To study the effect of different polymer latex powders on mechanical properties and durability of high toughness concrete (HTC), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and styrene butadiene (SB) were used to prepare modified HTCs. The flexural strength, compressive strength, and toughness of the HTC specimens were investigated by the flexural strength test, compressive strength test, and toughness test, respectively. Moreover, the freeze-thaw test, salt ion freeze-thaw test, dry shrinkage test, rapid chloride migration test, and carbonation test were carried out to evaluate the influence of EVA and SB on durability of HTC. Results show that EVA and SB with proper content can obviously improve the flexural performance and toughness of HTC. The durability of HTC, including the frost resistance, salt ion frost resistance, dry shrinkage resistance, chloride ion penetration resistance, and carbonization resistance, can be totally enhanced with the addition of the two polymer latex powders because the EVA and SB can interweave with hydration products of the HTC to form a network structure, leading to a denser structure with less harmful and very harmful holes in HTC and thus preventing penetration and erosion inside the HTC.