Wacker to present dispersible polymer powders at ECS

Wacker will be presenting three new polymeric binders for formulating tile adhesives and mortars in exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) at this year’s European Coatings Show. When added to dry-mix mortars, Vinnapas® 4419 E, Vinnapas® 8819 E and Vinnapas® 4449 E produce an exceptionally creamy consistency, making the resulting product easier for users to process. They also improve slip resistance, wetting capability and open time – the latter being an important property for tile installation.

The versatile performance of these new binders makes them the perfect addition to the company’s current portfolio of dispersible polymer powders.

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 centre 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%. 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 sunlight, 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 favourable 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.

Vinnapas4419 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 optimise 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.