Cellulose ether (CE) is a multifunctional polymer compound obtained by chemical modification of natural cellulose. It is widely used in tile adhesives in building materials. Its unique chemical structure and physical properties give it significant advantages in improving the performance of tile adhesives.
1. Thickening and suspension properties
Cellulose ether mainly acts as a thickener in tile adhesives. It can significantly increase the viscosity and consistency of the system, thereby optimizing the construction and operation performance of the adhesive. By increasing the viscosity of the adhesive, cellulose ether can effectively suspend solid particles and prevent colloids from stratification and precipitation during storage or use.
Thickening effect: Cellulose ether can form a network structure in aqueous solution, encapsulate and suspend cement particles, and make the system have a higher viscosity. This property helps prevent the slippage of tile adhesives during construction on vertical surfaces.
Suspension stability: By evenly dispersing particles in a viscous matrix, cellulose ethers allow tile adhesives to remain uniform during standing, thus ensuring good workability and final bonding strength.
2. Water retention
Water retention is one of the core functions of cellulose ethers. It can absorb a large amount of water in tile adhesives, allowing the water to be released slowly. This function is crucial to the hydration reaction of cement-based materials and directly affects the curing process and bonding properties of tile adhesives.
Hydration reaction support: The water retention of cellulose ethers ensures that cement has sufficient water for hydration during the hardening process, which is critical to improving the strength and bonding properties of adhesives.
Extended open time: Because water retention increases the available time of moisture on the surface of the adhesive, construction workers have more time to adjust and position, thereby improving construction efficiency.
3. Improved rheological properties
Cellulose ethers have a significant effect on the rheological properties of tile adhesives. Rheology refers to the flow and deformation characteristics of a substance under stress. Cellulose ethers can adjust the yield stress and thixotropy of the adhesive, thereby improving its workability.
Yield stress control: Cellulose ethers can form a certain structural strength in the adhesive, so a certain external force is required to start the colloid to flow. This helps prevent the adhesive from sagging or slipping during construction.
Thixotropy improvement: Cellulose ethers make the tile adhesive exhibit a higher viscosity when stationary, but the viscosity decreases rapidly under the action of shear force, making it easier to spread and spread during construction. After the construction is completed, the viscosity is restored, which helps to keep the tiles in place.
4. Improve anti-sag performance
When installing tiles on vertical or inclined surfaces, preventing the adhesive from slipping is an important issue. Cellulose ethers effectively improve the anti-sag performance of adhesives through their thickening and rheology adjustment functions, allowing the colloid to firmly fix the tiles during vertical construction.
Sag control: Cellulose ethers can form a gel structure with high cohesion, which makes the adhesive have a higher yield stress on the vertical surface, thereby preventing the tiles from sliding.
5. Enhanced bond strength
Cellulose ethers play a key role in improving the bond strength of adhesives. Its water retention and rheological regulation properties enable tile adhesives to better infiltrate the surface of tiles and substrates, thereby improving adhesion.
Wetting performance: Cellulose ethers adjust the fluidity of adhesives to enable them to better infiltrate and adhere to the surface of tiles and substrates, increase the bonding area, and improve bonding strength.
Improved uniformity: Due to the thickening effect of cellulose ethers, the adhesive components are evenly distributed, reducing the problem of uneven bonding strength caused by local material sedimentation.
6. Prevent cracking
Tile adhesives are prone to shrinkage and cracking due to water loss during the drying and hardening process. The water retention properties of cellulose ethers can effectively slow down water loss, reduce drying shrinkage, and prevent crack formation.
Drying shrinkage control: By controlling the rate of water release, cellulose ethers can reduce the shrinkage of adhesives during the drying process, thereby reducing the risk of cracking.
7. Improved weather resistance and durability
Cellulose ethers can also improve the weather resistance and durability of tile adhesives. Its high stability in a wet state can enhance the performance of adhesives in humid environments and improve anti-aging capabilities.
Moisture resistance: Cellulose ethers can still maintain their functions in humid environments, which helps tile adhesives to maintain long-term adhesion under humid conditions.
Anti-aging: Cellulose ethers improve the long-term durability of adhesives by protecting cementitious substrates from rapid moisture loss and environmental erosion.
8. Ecological safety
Cellulose ethers are derived from natural cellulose and are made through chemical modification. They have good biodegradability and environmental friendliness. In the context of today’s building materials that increasingly focus on environmental protection and sustainable development, cellulose ethers have significant advantages as a safe and efficient additive.
The application of cellulose ethers in tile adhesives is the key to improving their performance. Its thickening, water retention, rheology adjustment, anti-sagging, enhanced bonding, and crack prevention properties significantly improve the construction performance and final effect of tile adhesives. At the same time, the ecological safety of cellulose ethers also meets the environmental protection requirements of modern building materials. As an important functional additive, cellulose ethers will continue to play an important role in the field of building adhesives, helping the development of efficient and durable tile paving systems.