Polymeric binders and additives for tile adhesives and grout mortars

Professional tiler installing ceramic wall tiles using tile adhesive modified with polymer binders for secure adhesion and precise alignment.

Polymer-modified tile adhesives can also be used in combination with the thin-bed technique for installing even large-format tiles securely and efficiently.

We expect a lot from tile adhesives and grout mortars: a huge array of tile materials and formats, different substrates and stress between the substrate and the tiles quickly push classic formulations to their limit.

In tile adhesives and grout mortars, VINNAPAS® polymeric binders optimize mechanical properties such as adhesion, flexibility and cohesive strength. At the same time, they make materials easier to work with and open the door to thin-bed technology – today’s most advanced tile installation technique. Plus, SILRES® POWDER additives based on silanes and silicones offer reliable protection from moisture.

Modern tile adhesives and grout mortars: challenges and solutions

Typical challenges:

  • Different substrates and a huge array of tile materials and formats all demand custom formulations.
  • Stress between the substrate and the tiles produces cracks in the adhesive or in the joint.
  • Impacts can break tiles.
  • Moisture and wear damage the grout mortar, leading to visible defects.

This video will take you on a quick 3-minute journey deep inside a cementitious tile adhesive, showing you how polymeric binders improve the adhesion, flexibility and impact resistance of the cement matrix.

Our solution:

VINNAPAS® polymeric binders form a polymer network within the cement matrix, improving the adhesion, flexibility and cohesion of tile adhesives and grout mortars. Lasting adhesion is the result – even on critical substrates like gypsum plasterboard, wood or old tiles. The improved flexibility prevents cracking due to stress between the substrate and the tiles. And extended open time makes the materials easier to work with. VINNAPAS® polymeric binders are available as either dispersible polymer powders or as polymer dispersions. Feel free to contact us if you’d like to hear more about polymer dispersions for 2K cementitious tile adhesives.

SILRES® POWDER additives based on silanes and silicones do an effective job of hydrophobizing surfaces and material blends. By forming a water-repellent silicone network that reduces moisture absorption, they deliver long-lasting joints that will look good for years to come.

Schematic equation for a one-component (1K) cementitious system, e.g. for tile adhesives or self-leveling compounds: dry mortar plus water leads to wet mortar.

1-component (1K) cementitious system

Product description

Dispersible polymer powder for formulating 1-component (1K) tile adhesives

The benefits:

  • Excellent adhesion to different substrates in a wide range of demanding environmental conditions
  • Improved cohesive strength
  • Improved shear strength
  • Longer open time and greater adjustability – even at higher ambient temperatures
  • Improved flexibility to prevent cracking due to stress between the substrate and the tile

Deformability of cementitious tile adhesives at 23 °C

VINNAPAS® improves flexibility and therefore longevity.

Applications:

  • Natural and artificial stone, porcelain tile
  • Floor and wall tiles
  • Small- and large-format tiles
  • Porous and non-porous tiles
  • Mineral and non-mineral substrates
  • Interior and exterior surfaces

Side note: Tile adhesives can be broken down into S1 and S2 classes to indicate their flexibility: S1 is a flexible adhesive, whereas S2 is highly flexible. As shown in the diagram entitled “Deformability of cementitious tile adhesives at 23 °C,” the S1 class corresponds to values of ≥ 2.5 mm, while S2 corresponds to ≥ 5.0 mm.

Schematic illustration of the ingredients of a one-component (1K) ready-to-use tile adhesive consisting of a polymer dispersion, fillers, pigments, and additives.

1-component (1K) ready-to-use system

Product description

Polymer dispersions for formulating ready-to-use 1-component (1K) tile adhesives

The benefits:

  • Easy application – no mixing required
  • Excellent adhesion to different substrates
  • Improved cohesive strength
  • Outstanding shear strength
  • Longer open times and greater adjustability, even at higher ambient temperatures
  • Improved flexibility to prevent cracking due to stress between the substrate and the tile

Shear strength – tested after storage and under various conditions – is the most decisive performance criterion for class D2 ready-to-use ceramic tile adhesives. Unlike standard styrene-acrylic dispersions, VINNAPAS® silanized styrene-acrylic dispersions can be used for formulating class D2 ready-to-use ceramic tile adhesives.

Applications:

  • Natural and artificial stone
  • Floor and wall tiles
  • Small- and medium-format tiles
  • Open-pored tiles
  • Mineral and non-mineral substrates
  • Indoors

Product description

Hydrophobic dispersible polymer powder for dry-mix mortars

The benefits:

  • Greater flexibility and improved mechanical properties
  • Protection from water ingress thanks to superior adhesion to tile edges and reduced shrinkage
  • Greater deformability and improved abrasion resistance
  • Use of VINNAPAS® H class polymer powders increases hydrophobicity, making surfaces more water repellent.
  • Longer shelf life

Abrasion resistance of a polymer-modified grout mortar

Applications

  • Natural and artificial stones
  • Floor and wall tiles
  • Small- and large-format tiles
  • Porous and non-porous tiles
  • Mineral and non-mineral substrates
  • Interior and exterior surfaces

3D illustration of the SILRES® POWDER technology: Two three-dimensional spheres represent the inorganic carriers. The left sphere is surrounded by a lattice-like network of active ingredients. The right sphere is cut open, revealing an encapsulated active ingredient core in the center.

Schematic representation of SILRES® POWDER technology

Product properties

A powdered, silane-based building protection agent used as a highly effective waterproofing agent in dry-mix mortars

The benefits:

  • Water repellency and protection from damage caused by water ingress
  • Integral treatment, long-lasting protection from water
  • Stain resistance
  • Durability – extends the product life cycle
  • No negative impact on hardness, adhesion or strength of the finished product
  • Environmentally friendly: manufactured without organic solvents

Applications:

  • Damp interiors, bathrooms, kitchens
  • Interior and exterior surfaces

Interested in learning more about our solutions for tile adhesives?

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FAQs on tile adhesives and grout mortars

VINNAPAS® polymer dispersions and dispersible polymer powders improve tensile adhesive strength, flexibility and cohesion in tile adhesives and grout mortars. These products enable a lasting bond between a tile and its substrate, prevent cracks from forming and extend the service life of flooring.

Tile adhesives modified with VINNAPAS® are suitable for natural and artificial stone, large-format tiles, damp interiors, kitchens and exterior surfaces. They form a reliable bond on mineral and non-mineral substrates, such as concrete, gypsum plasterboard and old tiles.

Based on silane and silicone, hydrophobic SILRES® POWDER additives form a water-repellent network within the mortar matrix as a whole, preventing moisture ingress – and yielding joints that resist staining, last a long time and are color fast.

Hydrophobic additives like SILRES® POWDER prevent water absorption and blooming, make grout mortars better able to withstand abrasion and extend their service life with no negative impact on breathability or strength.