Abstract
Three composition ratios of methyl methacrylate; (MMA), 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, (2- EHA), and methacrylic acid; (MAA) terpolymers were prepared via emulsion polymerization. The polymerizations were carried out at 80°C using potassium persulfate (KPS) as initiator. The terpolymers were characterized by FT-IR and 1HNMR. The influence of these terpolymers on the physico-mechanical properties of Portland cement (PC) pastes was determined using various characterization methods such as rheological and consistency. The results showed that as the ratio of MMA increased in the terpolymers, the water of consistency decreased, while the initial and final setting times were elongated with the concentration of 2-EHA increases. The workability, combined water and compressive strength of the hardened cement pastes were raised, whereas the water absorption was reduced with increasing quantity of MMA in prepared terpolymers and leads to the reduction in the porosity of the cement pastes, it is due to generation polymer films between cement granules. The SEM images confirmed that the addition of the terpolymers to the cement pastes affected on shape or morphology and size of crystals of the formed hydrates.