Redispersible polymer powder can improve the flow properties of fresh mortar, similar to polymer emulsions. Redispersible polymer powder has a certain water-reducing effect. For the same water usage, the water-cement ratio is effectively increased. The "excess" water forms a water film on the surfaces of aggregate and cement particles, reducing interparticle friction, consistent with Maso's water film hypothesis. Before the polymer particles form a film, they exert a "balling effect" and improve particle gradation. Furthermore, dispersible polymer powder has air-entraining and thickening properties. Therefore, to achieve this fluidity improvement, the dispersible polymer powder dosage must be controlled within a certain range; otherwise, the fluidity of fresh mortar will decrease sharply with increasing dosage.

Redispersible polymer powder reduces the compressive strength of mortar, but it can improve its flexural strength, the bond strength between mortar and various substrates such as tiles, concrete slabs, and steel plates, the impact resistance of mortar, and the shear strength of mortar used to reinforce concrete components. The change in strength of polymer-modified mortars is primarily due to the internal formation of polymer membrane structures. These membrane structures can be distributed between hydration products or can encapsulate hydration products or aggregates. After removing the hydration products with an acid solution, the polymer membrane structures distributed between the sand can be clearly seen. These distributed polymer membrane structures prevent the propagation of internal microcracks and stress concentration.

Redispersible polymer powders enhance the mortar's resistance to temperature and humidity fluctuations when exposed to natural environments. Redispersible polymer powders also improve the mortar's resistance to chloride ion penetration and carbonation, reduce its plastic free shrinkage and early stress growth rate, enhance its frost resistance, and inhibit steel corrosion caused by electrochemical reactions in concrete. The prevailing conclusion in academia regarding the changes in the durability of mortars modified with redispersible polymer powders is that they are due to changes in pore structure and the filling and barrier effects of the membrane structures.