Elastification of mortars

RELATED MATERIALS

ADIFLEX-B Elastifying agent

 

I. NATURE OF THE PROBLEM – REQUIREMENTS

The application of brushable waterproof mortars (sealing slurries), cement mortars, hydraulic tile adhesives, etc., on surfaces that are dimensionally unstable or subject to vibrations may result in adhesion problems due to the general inability of these materials to follow expansions or contractions.

It is therefore necessary to provide sufficient elasticity to the mortars used in such applications, in order to allow them to follow the deformations of their substrates and bridge any hairline cracks that develop during those deformations.

 

II. SOLUTION

ADIFLEX-B is an elastomeric emulsion that, when added to cementitious brushable waterproof mortars (sealing slurries), hydraulic tile adhesives, cement mortars, etc., provides them with:

  • Elasticity.

  • Water-tightness.

  • Increased bonding of the fresh mortar to the substrate.

ADIFLEX-B is used for the elastification of:

  • Cementitious brushable sealing slurries (e.g. AQUAMAT), when the surface to be sealed shows or is expected to show haircracks.

  • Tile adhesives (e.g. Isomat® AK 20), to fix tiles on substrates that suffer from contraction-expansion effects (dimensional changes) or vibration.

ADIFLEX-B may also be used to elastify other cement-mortars.

 

III. APPLICATION
 

Full elastification

In this case, ADIFLEX-B is added, undiluted, to the dry mortar, replacing the amount of water required for the mortar’s preparation.

Application examples

a) Full elastification of AQUAMAT

The content of a 25 kg bag of AQUAMAT is added to 10 kg of ADIFLEX-B under continuous stirring until a uniform mixture is formed. A small quantity of water (approx. 1 lit) may be added to the mixture in order to achieve the desired workability.

b) Full elastification of Isomat® AK 20

The content of a 25 kg bag of Isomat® AK 20 is added to 10 kg of ADIFLEX-B and 1-2 kg water, under continuous stirring until a uniform mixture is formed.

 

Partial elastification

Where less elasticity is required, a smaller quantity of ADIFLEX-B can be used.

ADIFLEX-B is mixed with water and the resultant mixture is added to the dry mortar, replacing the mixing liquid required.

Application examples

a) Partial elastification of AQUAMAT

The content of a 25 kg bag of AQUAMAT sealing slurry is added to 5 kg of ADIFLEX-B and sufficient water (approx. 4 lit), under continuous stirring, in order to achieve the desired workability.

b) Partial elastification of ISOMAT® AK 20

The content of a 25 kg bag of ISOMAT® AK 20 is added to 5 kg of ADIFLEX-B and sufficient water (approx. 3 lit), under continuous stirring, in order to achieve the desired workability.

c) Flexible mortars (plaster and repair mortars and generally cement mortars on surfaces subject to expansions, contractions and vibrations).

An efficient quantity of ADIFLEX-B is added to the mortar’s mixing water, according to the elasticity required, replacing part of the water needed for mixing.

 

IV. REMARKS

  • Surfaces to be coated with elastified mortars must be clean, free of grease, oils, dust, etc. and dampened, but without leaving water puddles.

  • Very porous surfaces, such as porous concrete, plasterboard, chip-boards etc., on which elastified mortars are going to be applied, should be primed with UNI-PRIMER.

  • Mortars containing ADIFLEX-B should only be applied at ambient temperatures between +50C and +300C.