CONSTRUCCION

INTRODUCTION

Tile adhesives are used to install tiles in residential and

commercial buildings on floors or on walls. Depending on the

local construction technology, regional needs and building

traditions, the choice of raw material, critical performance

criteria as well as norms and regulations for testing adhesives

can differ from country to country.

Test standards as well as high quality additives substantially

contribute to long-term performance extending the durability

of the whole construction – an important aspect with regard to

the sustainability of buildings as well as to their maintenance

costs. The standards define that an adhesive passes certain

performance tests before it may be accredited with a

classification. They also reflect increasing performance needs,

such as fast-setting resulting, for instance, from higher time

pressure during application or stronger adhesion, as a result of

large-size tiles being used more often. They also allow the enduser

to compare products and their performance by defining

precise analytical measurements and procedures for testing.

Additives have a strong impact on many of the performance

criteria which are part of the required testing. Methyl Cellulose

(MC), such as WALOCEL™ and METHOCEL™, is used in tile

adhesives and grouts as a thickening and water retention

additive. Redispersible polymer powders (RDP), DOW™ Latex

Powders (DLP), are used to improve deformability and high

bonding strength on different substrates also under critical

conditions. Both types of additives control fresh mortar

properties, rheology and application performance as well as

the final strengths of tile adhesives and grouts respectively

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