Influence of PP fiber and SBR latex on the mechanical properties of crumb rubber mortar

This article presents a new kind of rubber mortar modified by polypropylene fiber (PP fiber) and styrene‐butadiene rubber latex (SBR latex). The mechanical properties of this crumb rubber mortar were investigated in the research, including the compressive strength, flexural strength, flexural toughness, and flexural elasticity modulus. The test results showed that the flexural toughness index of the rubber mortar was seen to enhance by about 50–100% with the addition of PP fiber and SBR polymer latex. Due to the addition of PP fiber and SBR latex, the flexural elastic modulus of rubber mortar could further reduce by 4–27%. The three‐phase composite dispersion model of this rubber mortar was put forward. Furthermore, it was observed from scanning electron micrograph that the interfacial transition zone between the rubber particles and cement paste was enhanced by the SBR latex, and the interleaving of polymer films and rubber particles strengthen the flexibility and toughness of the mortar. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40591.