EUROPEAN COATINGS SHOW 2023 - WACKER presents dispersible polymer powders for high bond-strength, easy-to-process tile adhesives and mortars at ECS

The new dispersible polymer powders are geared primarily toward improved workability and were developed with a particular focus on the users, i.e., on tilers and other skilled workers. For them, proper mortar consistency is key, both when mixing the dry-mix mortar with water and when subsequently applying the fresh mortar. The creamier and smoother a tile adhesive is and the less physical effort required when applying it, the more pleasant it will be for users to process. Experts at WACKER’s technical competence center for tile adhesives in Burghausen, Germany, have translated those subjective impressions into a measurable parameter: viscosity.

The new VINNAPAS^® 4419 E, VINNAPAS^® 8819 E and VINNAPAS^® 4449 E polymeric binders have been modified in a way that lowers the viscosity of fresh mortar up to 20 percent. As a result, less physical exertion is required for processing the mortar and applying it with a notched trowel. Realistic assessments carried out on test walls have demonstrated that this makes the work much easier. Even in polymer-modified tile adhesives and mortars that are relatively easy to process, users have confirmed that formulations containing the new VINNAPAS^® grades are extraordinarily creamy and easy to distribute, which makes laying tiles faster and less taxing.

The new VINNAPAS^® products also improve open time and correction time – in other words, the period in which the tiler can still make corrective adjustments before the adhesive sets and solidifies. That improvement is particularly notable in warmer regions with more sun-light, where tilers will now have more time to process fresh mortar, even at higher processing temperatures.

Tilers are not the only ones who stand to gain from the new polymeric binders, incidentally – tile adhesive producers will benefit as well. The favorable processing properties of these types of mortars mean that, in some cases, manufacturers will need far fewer additives – or can even dispense with them entirely.

VINNAPAS^® 4419 E and VINNAPAS^® 8819 E were developed for tile adhesive formulations. In addition to making mortar easier to process, these new binders also improve the ability of tiles to resist sagging in the mortar bed. Tilers can shift, adjust and ultimately fix tiles into place without major physical exertion. At the same time, the new dispersible polymer powders optimize the degree of wetting on the back of the tile – an especially important feature when working with porcelain tiles or large slabs and creating a secure, permanent bond between these materials and the substrate. VINNAPAS^® 8819 E was developed especially with the most demanding applications in mind.

VINNAPAS^® 4449 E, on the other hand, is suitable for adhesive mortars used for exterior insulation and finish systems. The benefits of this product include its ability to form a particularly powerful bond within the layer system, balancing the forces that arise from tempera-ture fluctuations and other influences. In addition to the improvements already mentioned, VINNAPAS^® 4449 E also makes the mortar more resistant to abrasion and improves its flexural strength.

The WACKER Academy Forum at ECS 2023

WACKER invites you to attend its topical lecture series at ECS. Experts will be on hand every day at the WACKER Academy Forum (Hall 1, Booth 1 312) between 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to discuss the latest product and development trends in the construction, paints, coatings and sealants industries. The recurring theme of the talks will be issues of sustainability. On Tuesday, March 28, at 11:30 a.m., Peter Gigler, head of Corporate Sustainability at WACKER, will be giving a talk entitled “Race to Zero,” in which he will present the Group’s current sustainability goals. Detailed information on the entire WACKER Academy Forum lecture series is available at www.wacker.com/ecs.

Visit WACKER at the 2023 European Coatings Show in Hall 1, Booth 1-206.