Polymer-impregnated concretes, especially those based on acrylic-type polymers, have received considerable attention in recent years.
In addition to exhibiting more than a three-fold increase in strength, these composites seem to manifest better durability characteristics than conventional concrete. In these systems, a study of the possible interaction between the polymers and the hydrated cement may provide information on the mechanism of strength development and on some aspects of durability.
It is in this context that the contributions of Cook et al are highly significant and very important. From the work in question on premix cement-polymer systems, it was concluded that polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, polyvinyl acetate and polyesterstyrene react with the hydrating cement.
The general approach and methodology followed by the authors are similar to those we used at DBR (i); our work however, was confined to polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)-impregnated cements. The general results obtained on PMMA, and the double peak effect in PMMAcement by Cook et al are in some agreement with our results.
However, contrary to their conclusions, neither their results nor ours indicate that reaction occurs between PMMA and hydrating cement.