Elastic Tile Adhesive Technology Targets Cracking, Workability and Installation Efficiency
Kaneka, a global specialty materials manufacturer, is promoting KANEKA MS POLYMER™ technology for tile and masonry adhesives designed to provide greater flexibility and easier installation than traditional mortar systems.
According to the company, adhesives based on the silyl-terminated polymer technology can bond ceramic tile and other masonry materials to substrates including concrete, lightweight concrete, metal panels, and stone. Their elasticity is intended to help accommodate movement caused by drying shrinkage, temperature changes, vibration, and other stresses that can contribute to cracking or tile separation.
For contractors and installers, one-component MS Polymer adhesives can eliminate the mixing and metering required with many mortar and two-part epoxy systems. Kaneka also reports that the formulations produce no mortar dust and can be made without solvents or isocyanates, with low or very low VOC content.
In one construction-site evaluation, Kaneka reported that an MS Polymer-based tile adhesive achieved greater coverage while using less material than mortar and delivered approximately 1.4 times greater working efficiency when the overall bonding process was considered.
The technology may also be useful in applications where bonded assemblies experience frequent movement or vibration, including prefabricated wall panels, transportation infrastructure, tunnels, subway stations, and other demanding construction environments.
Kaneka states that long-term testing has shown the elastic adhesive system can maintain adhesion while reducing tile cracking associated with movement of the underlying substrate.
Source: Kaneka / SpecialChem