Enhanced Mechanical Performance of Cement Paste Through Incorporation of a Tailored Terpolymer

ABSTRACT This study presents a novel approach to enhance the mechanical performance of cement pastes through the incorporation of a tailor‐made terpolymer synthesized from methyl methacrylate (MMA), hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), and tert‐butyl acrylate (tBA), which hydrolyzes into PMMA‐co‐PHEA‐co‐PAA. Unlike conventional single‐polymer systems, this multifunctional terpolymer provides synergistic reinforcement by integrating hydrophobic, hydroxyl, and carboxyl functionalities. The polymer was added at 0%–0.750% by cement weight. Mechanical testing and multi‐scale analyses (FT‐IR, XRD, SEM, 1 H‐NMR) revealed a remarkable 94% increase in flexural strength at 0.750% polymer, attributed to interpenetrating polymer networks bridging micro‐defects and distributing stress uniformly. Compressive strength peaked at 0.125% due to microstructural densification but declined at higher dosages because of polymer‐induced porosity. These findings demonstrate a tunable balance between strength and toughness, positioning PMMA‐co‐PHEA‐co‐PAA as a next‐generation polymer additive for crack‐resistant, flexible cementitious materials.