Enhanced mechanical performance of cement paste through incorporation of a tailored terpolymer

Abstract

This study presents a novel approach to enhance the mechanical performance of cement pastes through the incorporation of a tailor-made terpolymer synthesized from methyl methacrylate (MMA), hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), and tert-butyl acrylate (tBA), which hydrolyzes into PMMA-co-PHEA-co-PAA. Unlike conventional single-polymer systems, this multifunctional terpolymer provides synergistic reinforcement by integrating hydrophobic, hydroxyl, and carboxyl functionalities. The polymer was added at 0%-0.750% by cement weight. Mechanical testing and multi-scale analyses (FT-IR, XRD, SEM, 1H-NMR) revealed a remarkable 94% increase in flexural strength at 0.750% polymer, attributed to interpenetrating polymer networks bridging micro-defects and distributing stress uniformly. Compressive strength peaked at 0.125% due to microstructural densification but declined at higher dosages because of polymer-induced porosity. These findings demonstrate a tunable balance between strength and toughness, positioning PMMA-co-PHEA-co-PAA as a next-generation polymer additive for crack-resistant, flexible cementitious materials.