Because polyvinyl alcohol has higher bonding strength than latex powder, it can be used to replace part of the latex powder in crack-resistant mortar within the scope of cost control.

However, polyvinyl alcohol cannot be used entirely because latex powder has the following characteristics that polyvinyl alcohol cannot compensate for.

Flexibility and crack resistance

Since anti-cracking mortar mainly uses cement as a cementitious material, and cement has a certain degree of late shrinkage, adding latex powder helps improve the flexibility of anti-cracking mortar, thereby improving its crack resistance. Polyvinyl alcohol has little effect on the flexibility of mortar.

Cohesion

Latex powder is stronger than polyvinyl alcohol in improving the cohesion of crack-resistant mortar, which helps prevent problems such as powdering and debris in crack-resistant mortar.

Water resistance and weather resistance

Since polyvinyl alcohol is basically not water-resistant, and latex powder helps improve the water resistance and density of crack-resistant mortar, latex powder has advantages in terms of mortar weather resistance.

Therefore, in the design of crack-resistant mortar formulations, if quality is a requirement, it is recommended to use latex powder alone. If cost control is a consideration, it is recommended to use latex powder in combination with PVA.