Silicon modified vinyl acetate ethylene copolymers

A cementitious composition, comprising a liquid part in an amount in the range of 15-40% by weight of the total composition, and a solid part, the solid part being present in an amount of 60-85% by weight of the total composition, wherein the liquid part comprises an aqueous component and a silicon modified vinyl acetate ethylene copolymer, said silicon modified vinyl acetate ethylene copolymer comprising:

• (i) 60 to 95 wt. % of vinyl acetate units;
• (ii) 0.1 to 35 wt. % of ethylene units;
• and,
• (iii) 0.1 to 5 wt. % of a unit originated from a silicon compound of Formula (I);
• where,
• R1 is a terminally unsaturated alkenyl radical;
• and
• R2, R3, and R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, substituted heteroalkyl, cyclyl, substituted cyclyl, heterocyclyl, substituted heterocyclyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, and substituted heteroaryl, and wherein a content of silicon, representing an insoluble, cross-linked part of the silicon compound of Formula (I), in a silicon modified vinyl acetate ethylene copolymer, as determined by a toluene extraction from a dried silicon modified vinyl acetate ethylene copolymer, and measured by scanning electron microscope energy dispersive spectroscopy, is from 0.06 to 0.29 wt. %, based on the total weight of the copolymer;
• wherein the silicon modified vinyl acetate ethylene copolymer has a content of toluene insoluble matter in the range of 13 to 80 wt. %, based on the total weight of the copolymer;
• and,
• wherein the toluene-insoluble matter has an ethylene to vinyl acetate ratio of 0.2:1 to 0.8:1;
• wherein the silicon modified vinyl acetate ethylene copolymer has a solubility in water of 0.9-2.0% by weight at 25° C.,
• and the solid part comprises at least one inorganic cement selected from the group consisting of Portland cement, aluminate cement, sulphoaluminate cement, ferroaluminate cement, fluoroaluminate cement, and cement comprising volcanic ash;
• wherein the cementitious composition exhibits an elongation of 191-239%.