Top 6 Essential Ingredients in Tile Bond Formulas
To make a long-lasting, strong tile bond, you need to select the proper ingredients. Here is a reference formula for cement-based tile bonds provided by LANDU.
Cement Based Tile Adhesive consists of 6 basic components:
- P.O42.5 Portland Cement: 30-35%
- Filler: 54-80%
- HPMC(Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose): 0.3-0.5%
- Redispersible Polymer Powder: 1.0-2.0%
- Calcium Formate: 3-8%
- Hydroxypropyl Starch Ether: 0.1-0.3%
Materials |
Weight (Percentage) |
P.O42.5 Portland Cement |
30 ~ 35% |
|---|---|
|
Filler |
54 ~ 80% |
|
HPMC(Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose) |
0.3 ~ 0.5% |
|
Redispersible Polymer Powder |
1.0 ~ 2.0% |
|
Calcium Formate |
3 ~ 8% |
|
Hydroxypropyl Starch Ether |
0.1 ~ 0.3% |
This article is going to explore these components and their relationship that influence the final performance of a tile bond.
0. What are the Differences between C1 & C2 Tile Adhesive?
- C1 and C2 refer to a classification of cement-based tile bonds defined by the European standard EN 12004.
- In short, C1 tile adhesive is a standard adhesive with a minimum adhesion strength of 0.5 MPa. C2 tile adhesive offers higher performance than C1. Its adhesion strength is at least 1 MPa.
- C1 tile adhesive is suitable for tiles no larger than 300×300mm, while C2 tile bonds apply to laying large tiles up to 600×600mm.
1. P.O42.5 Portland Cement
- The basis of the tile bond formulas is cement, making them compatible with cement-based substrates or tiles. And P.O42.5 Portland cement is the most commonly used type in tile adhesive formulations.
- Physically, cement can secure tiles in place through mechanical anchoring.
- Chemically, cement particles react with water to form a strong mass that binds the materials together. This reaction is known as hydration.
2. Fillers
- Fillers in tile bond formulas include sand and Calcium Carbonate(CaCO₃). While these ingredients don’t directly impact the chemical bonding process, fillers play the role of supporting and strengthening the adhesive. Along with cement, these two ingredients ensure the basic properties of the tile bond.
- The particle size of calcium carbonate should be less than 0.075 mm, and that of the sand should be less than 1 mm.
3. HPMC (Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose)
- Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose, the most important additive in tile adhesive formulas, is a water-soluble, non-toxic polymer. It acts as a water-retaining and thickening agent in tile adhesive formulas. It maintains moisture in the tile bond and provides good workability.
- As a water-retaining agent:
- In the traditional cement mortar case, you need to moisten the wall and soak the tiles before tiling. These issues can be avoided when you turn to tile bond with HPMC because it can maintain moisture. Also, the stable moisture content ensures a proper viscosity, making tile adhesive easier to spread and apply.
- As a thickening agent:
- By retaining water in tile bonds, HPMC prevents cracking and promotes hydration, especially in thinset applications where water in cement can easily evaporate or be absorbed by substrate and tiles before the reaction is complete. As a result, HPMC improves the bonding strength of tile adhesive.
- As a water-retaining agent:
4. Redispersible Polymer Powder (RDP)
- Redispersible Polymer Powder is also a common polymer additive in tile bond formulations. Compared to HPMC, it can significantly improve adhesion during and even after application.
- During application:
- The addition of Redispersible Polymer Powder gives the tile adhesive a similar effect as the suction cup. It can bond the porcelain tiles with low water absorption more firmly to the substrate.
- After application:
- The particles in Redispersible Polymer Powder continue to fuse together, forming a stronger polymer network, even after the main cement hydration is complete. This explains why the bonding strength increases for several days after the adhesive dries out.
- During application:
5. Calcium Formate
- Calcium Formate is a calcium salt of formic. As a setting accelerator and strength enhancer, Calcium Formate has positive effects on tile adhesive.
- Calcium formate in tile adhesive formulas is used to accelerate the hardening time of cement. This is useful in environments where quicker bonding is needed, reducing the waiting time before tiles can be handled or installed.
- Calcium Formate promotes the early hydration of cement and generates more hydration products. This can help improve the mechanical anchoring, leading to stronger bonding strength even with a shorter setting time.
6. Hydroxypropyl Starch Ether
- Hydroxypropyl Starch Ether (HPS) is a modified starch derivative, the best-performing variety among various starch ethers.
- Adding this component into tile bond formulas can enhance the smoothness and spreadability of the mix even further, making it easier to apply, especially in large areas.
- The combination of HPMC and Hydroxypropyl Starch Ether provides the tile bond with a stable, non-sagging consistency. Thus, it enables your tile bond formulas to handle vertical surfaces.
Conclusion
- LANDU offers a more detailed range of tile adhesives, including but not limited to C1T, C2F, and C1FT. If needed, please feel free to contact us, and we can customize a tile adhesive formulation tailored to the local environment.
- The tile bond formulation discussed in this article is intended for testing purposes only. In actual applications, customers must adjust the formulation based on the raw materials and specific project requirements. It should not be directly used for production or real-world applications.
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