What is a mortar plasticiser?

PLASTICISER. Thompson's Mortar Plasticiser is a surfactant based liquid admixture for modifying cement mortar used in brick laying and pointing mortar, back coats, renderings and blockwork. It is designed to improve plasticity without the addition of lime and increases resistance to freeze thaw cycles in the set mortar ...

Do you have to use plasticiser in mortar?

Some people think plasticiser makes it much easier to work with the mortar, while some of them think it doesn't make any difference at all and it's just an optional thing in a mortar. Plasticiser isn't necessary to make mortar but it helps to create a smoother and creamier mixture without adding too much water.

Why do you add plasticiser to mortar?

Plasticisers (admixtures or dispersants) are substances added to materials such as cement mortar mixes (as well as to plaster and concrete) to decrease viscosity and plasticity and increase workability and performance.

What does a plasticiser do?

Plasticizers are used to convert PVC, a rigid plastic, into a soft, flexible, and elastic material. A plasticizer that is compatible with PVC and exhibits low volatility, good permanence, and high efficiency is referred to as a primary plasticizer.

Do you need plasticiser for pointing?

The use of plasticiser in mortar is standard practice & not a special requirement of the Point Master.

Mixing sand and cement mortar using a plasticiser admix

What happens if you use too much plasticiser?

It puts to much air into the mix which makes it go like fluff. Once it's hard you end up with voids in the motar so it's not as strong as it should be. With voids then frost can get into it and it will crumble. I always used this type where you have the small bit at the top to measure it out.

How do you make mortar stick better?

What are the 3 types of plasticizers?

Explore various plasticization methods along with their benefits and learn how to select the right plasticizer from the main chemical classes of plasticizers: phthalates, benzoates, adipates etc.

How much plasticiser do I mix with?

The gauging water should be reduced accordingly to meet the required consistency. Add Thompson's Mortar Plasticiser to a rate: 150ml- 500ml per 50kg of cement, depending upon degree of plasticising required, or 2.5 lire per 200 litre drum of water. (The coarser the sand the greater addition rate required).

Can you use Fairy liquid in mortar?

Using fairy liquid can create bubbles and lead to voids in the mortar.

Do I need plasticiser in concrete?

You use plasticiser when you need to improve the workability of concrete. Concrete's workability improves as you add increasing amounts of water. Increasing the amount of water in the mix beyond the optimum leads to weaker concrete.

What are plasticizers with examples?

The most common plasticizer chemical structures, polar or nonpolar, are, for example: phthalates, phosphates, carboxylic acid esters, epoxidized fatty acid esters, polymeric polyesters, modified polymers; liquid rubbers, and plastics, Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR), chlorinated PE, EVA, etc.; paraffinic, aromatic, or ...

Can I add PVA to mortar?

PVA can be added to a cement mortar mix to give the mix a) slightly better waterproofing qualities and b) advanced adhesion to the surface it is applied to. Painting a coat of PVA on the surface before the cement mortar is applied can even further increase this adhesion.

Is Fairy liquid a good plasticiser?

Captain Leaky New Member. "Washing up liquid affects the long term structural integrity of mortar and should never be used as a substitute for plasticiser."

Why is my mortar drying too quickly?

If left under the hot summer sun, thin set mortar will set up too fast – as if you had mixed it with warm water. Direct sunlight on hot, dry days can cause mortar to lose its moisture to the atmosphere. This weakens the mortar and might not allow it to hold up over time.

What does dish soap do to concrete?

It also makes the mortar smoother and more workable. Liquid detergent acts as an air-entraining admixture. During mixing, the detergent forms tiny air bubbles that are distributed throughout the mortar. These air bubbles lubricate the mortar, making it workable for long periods, even as the water evaporates.

What is the best mix for pointing brickwork?

A typical mortar mix for Repointing purposes, for use in an area subject to normal weather conditions, would comprise 1 part Portland Cement, 1 part Lime and 5½ parts Sand.

What is the best mix for bricklaying?

For normal house bricks, a ratio of 4 parts sand to 1 part cement can be used. For slightly softer or second-hand bricks, use a ratio of 5-1. For very soft bricks, some bricklayers will go with a very weak 6-1 mix.

What is Feb plasticiser?

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION. Feb® Febmix Admix® - The Original is an air entraining plasticiser that replaces lime in the mix to provide an easy to work “butter like” consistency to the mortar and to minimise shrinkage, cracking and crazing during the setting process. For use in brick laying and plaster- ing mortars.

Is glycerin a plasticizer?

Glycerol is the most common plasticiser due to its high plasticising capacity and thermal stability at processing temperatures.

How do you make plasticizers?

Plasticizers are produced by a reaction of an alcohol with an acid such as adipic acid, phthalic anhydride, and so forth. The choice of alcohol and acid will determine the type of ester that can be produced and hence the kind of plasticizer.

Is water a plasticizer?

Water frequently acts as a potent plasticizer for such materials, and since many amorphous solids spontaneously absorb water from their surroundings the relationship between the glass transition temperature and the water content of these materials is important.

Why did my mortar not stick?

If the mortar is too dry, the block won't stick together properly. If it's too wet, runny mortar will overflow from the joints, leading to clean up that can waste time and material. Mix mortar from scratch by blending one part Portland cement to three parts sand.

Why does my mortar not stick?

Why Won't My Mortar Stick? Most of the time this is a result of an incorrect ratio between cement and sand – if you have too much of the latter and not enough of the former, the adhesive effectiveness will be greatly reduced.

Can I put mortar on top of mortar?

Applying fresh mortar on top of old mortar that is loose or falling out will do little or no good; enough of the old mortar must be removed to make room for a layer of new mortar that is at least half an inch thick, and even then it is important to make sure that what is left of the old mortar is still solid and ...