AbstractIn recent years, the rapid deterioration of various reinforced concrete structures has been a widely recognized problem in the world. Penetration of chloride ions into the concrete structures was found to be the major cause of premature corrosion of reinforcing steel and to promote their deterioration. The present articles deals with the resistance to chloride penetration of polymer‐mortar, which are often used as low‐cost promising materials for preventing or repairing various reinforced concrete structures. To gain more knowledge on the efficiency of polymer‐mortar, four mortar mixtures: one specimen with Portland cement (control sample) and three mixtures with 2.5, 5, and 7.5 wt % of the replacement of cement by polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were tested for chloride ion permeability under immersion in 5% sodium chloride solution. Their chloride ion penetration behavior is discussed by applying Fick's second law. In conclusion, the chloride ion penetration depth and apparent chloride ion diffusion coefficient of the polymer‐mortar composites are smaller than those of unmodified mortar. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008