Improving the abrasion resistance of mortar by adding latex and carbon fibers

The abrasion resistance of mortar was found to be significantly improved by the addition of latex (20% by weight of cement), and further improved by the further addition of short carbon fibers (0.27 vol.%). Both effects relate to the increase in tensile strength. The abrasion resistance was also improved by the addition of silica fume (15% by weight of cement), due to the increase in tensile modulus. The abrasion resistance was better for mortar with silica fume than mortar with latex, but was worse for mortar with silica fume than mortar with latex and carbon fibers.