High performance cement/polymer composite materials with self-compacting properties

In this paper the possibility of using in cement composite materials a strengthening resin with self-compacting properties is investigated. Different self-compacting cement/polymer conglomerate are designed and prepared in order to achieve both strength improvement in the hardened state and self-compacting properties at the fresh state, without the addition of viscosity modifying agent (VMA), taking advantage of the presence of strengthening resins. The effects of mix design on the physical and mechanical properties of the final composite materials are investigated and discussed. The results are then compared with those of reference self-compacting samples prepared with usual VMA. The so far obtained results allow to envisage that by proper mixes design outstanding increase of the physical and mechanical properties of the cured composite material can be achieved.