Effect of Polyvinyl Alcohol ((PVA) on Tensile Strength of Mortar

The paper is focused on the results experimental of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) action into tensile strength of mortar. The main objective of the project is to study the effects of PVA in mortar mixing in increasing the bond between aggregate and cement paste. PVA acts as an adhesive material between cement and aggregate of mortar especially for finishing works. PVA is being incorporated in the mixing as it is an environmental-friendly product and less expensive. Besides that, the research is to prove that finer aggregates will result in higher tensile strength of mortar. Another objective is to determine the influence of PVA into Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ) of mortar. ITZ is one of the factors that influence the strength of mortar. This zone is the weakest link in the mortar matrix because it has the highest porosity. Further properties of ITZ are discussed in this report. In order to complete the project in time and to achieve the objectives of the project, several methods need to be implemented. They are project plan, literature review (properties of mortar, PVA and ITZ), calculations and laboratory works. During laboratory works, the application of PVA is varied to determine the optimum mix design. The tests for mortar samples are tensile test and compressive test. Testing onto mortar is done for 3rd day, 7th day and 28th day. Based on the results obtained from experiments, it can be concluded that PVA increases tensile strength but reduces the compressive strength of mortar. The recommendation from this project is that further studies of behavior of PVA into shrinkage of mortar can be done. This research might lead to a stage where PVA will replace other materials in order to increase tensile strength of morta