What does latex or polymer modified mean?
Latex simply means a polymer suspended in water creating a liquid emulsion. Polymer is used to describe a chain of molecules that impart flexibility and adhesive qualities to the products in which they are integrated. In the context of a polymer modified dry-set mortar, polymer would be a dry redispersible powder that is factory blended into the dry-set mortar, which, when mixed with water, produces a Latex-Portland Cement Mortar. Dry-set mortars mixed with latex or polymer modified dry-set mortars , provide significant improvement to overall physical properties like, bond strength, shock resistance, reduced water absorption and impact. See ANSI A118.4 American National Standard Specifications for Latex-Portland Cement Mortar.
