In building construction, dry-mixed mortar is a commonly used material and is widely used in masonry, plastering, repairing, and caulking projects. However, to meet the needs of different projects, it becomes crucial to improve the performance and reliability of dry-mixed mortar. For this reason, it has become a common method to introduce Dry mortar additives for improved performance.

These additives provide strong support for the optimization of the construction process and material properties by adjusting the properties of the mortar in terms of fluidity, adhesion, durability, and workmanship. This article will explore different types of dry mortar additives, such as additives that enhance compressive strength, additives that improve adhesion, additives that improve durability, and additives that regulate flow and processability.

Basic Concepts and Principles

Dry mortar additives play a vital role in dry mix mortar. They are a class of substances that can improve the performance and manufacturability of mortar by changing its physical and chemical properties. Additives can be classified according to their functions and uses. Common dry mortar additives include additives to enhance compressive strength, additives to improve bonding performance, additives to improve durability, additives to adjust fluidity and processability, and additives to improve construction efficiency.

The principle of Dry mortar additives for improved performance is to affect the process and products of cement hydration reaction by interacting with cement colloid or mineral admixtures, thereby improving the performance of mortar. These additives can chemically react with the cement colloid at the molecular level to form a stable compound or physical action, further promote the hydration reaction of the cement colloid, and improve the strength and bonding performance of the mortar.

Dry mortar additives for improved performance have the following characteristics. First, they can significantly increase the strength and durability of dry-mixed mortar, allowing it to withstand greater pressure and erosion from the external environment. Secondly, these dry mortar additives can increase the cohesion and adhesion of the mortar, ensuring a strong bond and connection of materials. In addition, they can also adjust the fluidity and processability of the mortar, making it easier to construct and apply.

Additives to enhance compressive strength

Dry mortar additives that enhance compressive strength play an important role in improving the performance of dry-mix mortars. By introducing silicate additives, mineral admixtures, and high-performance polymer additives, the compressive strength of dry-mixed mortar can be significantly improved, thereby increasing the load-bearing capacity of the material and the stability of the structure.

Silicate additives are a class of additives commonly used to enhance compressive strength. Among them, silicate substances such as silica (SiO2) and alumina (Al2O3) can react with cement colloids to form hardened products and fill the pore structure of cement colloids. This reaction can promote the hydration process of the cement colloid, form more gelatinous substances, and enhance the compressive strength and hardness of the mortar.

Mineral admixtures are also one of the commonly used additives to enhance compressive strength. Common mineral admixtures include fly ash, slag powder, quartz powder, etc. These admixtures play a filling and reinforcing role in the mortar, which can fill the gaps in the cement colloid and improve the compactness and strength of the mortar. In addition, some active ingredients in mineral admixtures can also react with cement colloids to form gelled substances, further increasing the compressive strength.

Performance polymer additives are another common option for increasing compressive strength. These polymer additives can form gelling substances with cement colloids and have strong bonding and strengthening effects during hydration. They can fill the microscopic voids of the cement colloid and increase the interaction force inside the material, thereby improving the compressive strength and elastic modulus of the dry-mixed mortar. High-performance polymer additives also have excellent durability and crack resistance, making the mortar better able to resist erosion and deformation from the external environment.

Additives to improve bonding properties

Dry mortar additives that improve bonding performance play an important role in dry-mix mortars that improve performance. By introducing composite adhesives, polymer modifiers, and expansion agents, the bonding performance of dry-mixed mortar can be significantly improved, thereby enhancing the cohesive force and connection strength of the material.

Composite adhesive is a commonly used additive to improve bonding performance. Composite adhesives are usually a mixture of two or more components, including a resin and a hardener. During construction, the resin and curing agent react to form a strong bond. Composite adhesives provide good bond strength and durability to provide reliable bonds between dissimilar substrates such as concrete, masonry, and stone.

Polymer modifier is also one of the common additives to improve adhesion performance. These polymeric additives work synergistically with the cement colloid to provide additional cohesion and viscosity. The polymer modifier can fill the pore structure of the cement colloid, and form a strong physical crosslink with the cement colloid, increasing the bonding strength and connection performance. In addition, the polymer modifier also has certain stretchability and durability, can resist external stress and deformation, and maintain the stability of bonding.

Swelling agents also play an important role in improving the bonding properties. Swelling agents can generate air bubbles or microscopic expansion during the hydration process, forming a fine pore structure. This pore structure can increase the surface area of the dry-mixed mortar, and can better fit with the substrate to improve the bonding strength. In addition, expansion agents can also reduce shrinkage and stress concentration in dry-mixed mortar, and improve the stability and durability of the bonding interface.

Additives to improve durability

Dry mortar additives that improve durability play a key role in dry-mix mortars. Anti-crack tougheners, water repellents, and preservatives are commonly used additives to improve durability. The anti-crack toughening agent can effectively control the shrinkage and crack expansion of the mortar, and improve the toughness and crack resistance of the material.

Water repellants form a waterproof layer that protects the dry-mix mortar from moisture penetration and erosion. Preservatives protect dry-mix mortars from biological attack and chemical corrosion, extending the life of the material. The introduction of these additives can significantly improve the durability of dry-mixed mortar, allowing it to maintain stability and performance under different environmental conditions.

Additives to regulate flow and processability

Dry mortar additives that regulate fluidity and processability play an important role in dry-mixed mortar. Water reducers, plasticizers, and powder thickeners are commonly used additives to adjust fluidity and processability. They can make dry-mixed mortar easier to mix, transport, and apply during construction.

The water-reducing agent is a common additive to adjust fluidity. They can reduce the amount of cement while maintaining the fluidity of the mortar, thereby improving the working performance of the mortar. By interacting with the cement colloid, the water-reducing agent changes the interaction force between cement particles, reduces the cohesion of the mortar, and makes it easier to flow and vibrate. At the same time, the water-reducing agent can also improve the dispersion of the mortar, reduce the viscosity, and improve the efficiency of construction.

Plasticizers are another class of additives commonly used to regulate flow. They can increase the fluidity and plasticity of mortar without increasing the amount of cement. The plasticizer can interact with the cement colloid to form a stable dispersion system so that the mortar has good fluidity and plasticity. By introducing plasticizers, dry-mixed mortar can be more easily adjusted for shape and construction operations, ensuring the quality and efficiency of construction.

Powder thickener is an additive to adjust processability. They increase the viscosity and adhesion of the mortar, allowing it to adhere well to vertical surfaces. The powder thickener can form a polymer network structure, increase the cohesion and cohesion of the mortar, and prevent the sagging and loss of the mortar during the construction process. By using powder thickeners, builders can better control the flow of mortar, ensuring its adhesion and stability on vertical and suspended surfaces.

Additives to Improve Construction Efficiency

Dry mortar additives that improve construction efficiency play an important role in dry-mixed mortar. Accelerators, high-efficiency particle dispersants, and other accelerators are commonly used additives to improve construction efficiency. They can speed up the setting and hardening of mortar, improve the fluidity and dispersion of materials, and thus greatly improve construction efficiency.

Accelerators are a common class of additives that improve construction efficiency. They can promote the hydration reaction of cement colloid and accelerate the setting and hardening process of mortar. The accelerator adjusts the chemical reaction rate in the cement, reduces the delay period of the hydration reaction, and makes the mortar reach the required strength in a short time. In this way, construction personnel can carry out follow-up work faster, improving construction progress and efficiency.

High-efficiency particle dispersant is another commonly used additive to improve construction efficiency. They improve the dispersibility of particles in the mortar, make the particles evenly distributed, and reduce the interaction forces between particles. High-efficiency particle dispersants can reduce the viscosity of mortar, improve fluidity and plasticity, and make the construction process smoother. In this way, construction personnel can more easily carry out mixing, conveying, and construction operations, and improve work efficiency and quality.

In addition to accelerators and high-efficiency particle dispersants, other accelerators can be used to improve application efficiency. For example, the leveling agent can improve the self-leveling property of the mortar, reduce the leveling work during the construction process, and improve construction efficiency. The anti-sticking agent can reduce the adhesion between mortar and construction equipment, make the equipment easier to clean and maintain, and save construction time and cost. In addition, other accelerators such as quick-release agents and anti-sticking agents can also simplify construction steps and improve construction efficiency.

Dry mortar additives for improved performance play a vital role in the construction field. Through reasonable selection and application of these dry mortar additives, we can improve the performance of dry-mixed mortar and improve construction quality and efficiency according to different engineering requirements and environmental conditions.