Polymer concretes (PC) were introduced to building and construction industry more than 50 years ago. Gradually, they became a suitable substitute for concrete .structures; however, their application was shortly diminished due to the higher costs. In this research a homemade cost-quality effective resin (unsaturated polyester) is used as binder in the polymer concrete production. Laboratory specimens made and evaluated for physical/mechanical tests. A comparative study was performed on the polymer concrete specimens, the ordinary Portland cement concrete (normal concrete) and the durable concrete specimens. It was found that the PC materials show much better physical/mechanical properties than the durable concretes.

Polymer as admixture can improve the properties like higher strength and lower water permeability than the conventional concrete. Rheomix 141 is styrene-butadiene co-polymer latex, specifically designed for use with cement composites. It is used in mortar and concrete as an admixture to increase resistance to water penetration, improve abrasion resistance and durability. The objective of the present investigation is to study the behavior of polymer cement concrete in the hardened state. The variables studied include the grade of concrete and dosage of polymer. Five different grades of concrete M20 to M60 with polymer quantities starting from 5% to 10% were used in the present work. The various mechanical properties like compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, stress–strain characteristics, and modulus of elasticity and permeability characteristics of concrete have been studied. The results obtained thus are encouraging for partial addition of polymer with cement up to 10%.

The present work described the influence of polymer admixture (i.e. polymer latexes) contents on the physical/mechanical properties of latex modified concretes (LMCs). At the first step, the optimum water to cement ratio was determined for a LMC concrete according to the results of compressive strength. Afterwards, six latexes were investigated as admixture for LMCs at 10% of latex content. Their physical and mechanical properties including compressive strength, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength and capillary water absorption was evaluated. Finally, two latexes which were better in LMCs general properties (i.e. Acrylic and Co-polymer Acrylic) were incorporated at 5 and 15% of latex contents to concrete. The result have shown that the increase in the amount of latex content decreased the compressive strength, but the other properties including flexural strength and split tensile strength were improved. Also, an improvement in barrier efficiency for water absorption of LMC concrete with increment of latex content was observed.

Coastal area construction provides the biggest challenges in the country's development. Mechanical strength and durability are the two main challenges in coastal areas when compared to conventional construction. The proposed study explores the effect of recycled melamine powder and  poly (vinyl-co-ethylene) copolymer on workability, setting time, aggregate-to-cement adhesion, and the effect of moisture and saline water on concrete mechanical properties. Portland cement was sieved and dried sand, and aggregate was mixed in the ratio of 1:2:4 (cement: sand: aggregate) by weight. The three constituents were manually mixed with 40-45 wt. % tap water, based on cement content, until a homogenous mixture was visibly observed. Cylindrical samples with continuous tampering to avoid voids were cast in standard molds of 4”x 8” (100 x 200 mm) dimensions. The molds were covered and left for 24 hours for setting. Unmolded concrete samples were cured for 7 and 28 days in tap water. The concrete samples were dried and stored for further testing. The same concrete samples were prepared with an additional 1 wt. % and 3 wt. %, based on the cement content, of melamine and poly(vinyl-co-ethylene) copolymer. The samples were subjected to water slump height, water permeability, compressive strength and flexural tests, and carbonation tests. The results showed a 10 % and 16 % decrease in slump height for 1 % and 3 % loadings, respectively for both polymers when compared to controlled samples. Reinforced concrete showed less water penetration for both polymers due to their hydrophobic nature. Higher compressive and flexural strengths and low carbonation depth were obtained for reinforced concrete irrespective of the polymers used in this research.