What Is a Mortar Adhesion Enhancer?
A mortar adhesion enhancer is an application agent that enhances the adhesion between the mortar and the construction surface to be bonded.
It can be used in conjunction with a quenching agent and is also known as an adhesion primer.
The bond strength of mortar adhesion enhancers is not proportional to the amount used, so it is important to use the proper dosage. When applied to the surface and allowed to dry before bonding cement or mortar, the adhesive bonds strongly to the coating, resulting in a high-strength repair.
Uses of Mortar Adhesion Enhancers
Mortar adhesion enhancers are used as pre-treatment for repairing damaged blocks or concrete to strengthen the adhesion to the work surface. After the surface is cleaned of dirt before bonding to the repaired area, the mortar adhesion enhancer is applied to the entire surface with a brush or roller and allowed to dry completely.
In addition to application to the substrate, the adhesive can also be mixed with cement to strengthen the adhesion. In either case, the undiluted solution of mortar adhesion enhancer should be diluted to the appropriate concentration.
Principle of Mortar Adhesion Enhancers
The main mortar adhesion enhancer is made from a special acrylic resin. When applied directly to old concrete construction surfaces with a brush, the liquid penetrates into the brittle layers for strong adhesion.
Adhesion can be improved by creating a new, finer surface. When applied to a highly water-absorbent surface, it forms a coating film to reduce water absorption on the surface. When applied in several layers on a highly water-absorbing surface, a highly effective result can be obtained.
Types of Mortar Adhesion Enhancers
Mortar adhesion enhancers generally include ethylene-vinyl acetate and acrylic resins.
Ethylene-vinyl acetate is also called ethylene-vinyl acetate, abbreviated as EVA. Vinyl acetate has adhesive strength and is a raw material used in woodworking bonds. Mixed with ethylene as the main raw material, polyethylene has excellent flexibility, water resistance, and alkali resistance. It is an excellent mortar adhesion enhancer and is often used in plastering and mortar work.
Acrylic resins are mainly composed of methacrylic ester, acrylic ester, and styrene. Among synthetic resin emulsions, they have very high transparency and weather resistance. They can form a solid film even with common paints and are excellent at controlling pinholes. It can also be used as a primer and sealer for self-leveling materials such as cement and plaster.
How to Select a Mortar Adhesion Enhancer
A wide variety of material is used in the formulation of mortar, one of which is an adhesion enhancer. This is an application material that strengthens the adhesion between the mortar and the substrate, and is easily effective when applied directly to the construction surface by roller or brush. It is bonded to the substrate with a special acrylic resin that forms small bumps on the surface, which can be adhered by the mortar. In order to apply the mortar adhesion enhancer to the area to be mortared, it is necessary to brush off any dirt from the installation area beforehand.
Mortar admixture improves the glide of the trowel when applying mortar and provides a smooth finish. Mixing it into the mortar when making the mortar reduces cracking, and it also prevents cracking when applied thickly.
Colored powders can be easily mixed into mortar to create beautiful colors. Generally, even 1% of the amount of cement is sufficient to produce sufficient color, so care should be taken with the amount of mixture. A blending amount of 8% will produce the color of colored powder.
Structure of Mortar Adhesion Enhancer
Mortar consists of three raw materials: fine aggregate, cement, and water. Sand used for fine aggregate is small grains with a diameter of 5 mm or less, which make the trowel finish smooth when the three raw materials are mixed. Cement is made by baking and grinding clay or limestone and is a grayish-white powdery material. It hardens when water is added and is utilized in all areas of construction sites.
The ratio of fine aggregate: cement: water should be 6:2:1 by weight. When using a small amount of mortar, it can be measured with a lightweight cup and the same ratio can be used. Mixing the mortar according to the formula will yield the same amount of mortar as sand.