The popularity of modified mixtures in the domestic market arose recently, about 10-15 years ago. This is due to the need to improve the properties of traditional mixtures, as the requirements for construction work have become more demanding. The largest manufacturers of dry building mixes have begun to expand their product range by adding certain modifiers to conventional mortars. This reduced the cost of the material for the buyer, accelerated the setting of solutions, and enhanced certain properties of the resulting surfaces (frost resistance, moisture absorption, mechanical strength, and durability).
What are dry modified mixes?
Conventionally, mixtures can be divided according to a number of criteria:
- The main viscous substance-there are modified mixtures based on cement, gypsum, lime;
- By field of application-tile glue, solutions for laying bricks or blocks, plasters and putties, soil compositions, solutions for pouring screeds, specialized mixtures;
- According to the filler used-solutions with sand, marble chips-limestone flour;
- The presence of additional components that enhance certain properties (strength, density, moisture resistance).
Despite the fact that most modified mixtures use a traditional formula in their composition, the addition of certain fillers, binders or a special composition can radically change their properties and characteristics.
Composition of modified mixtures
One of the advantages of such solutions is their maximum readiness for use. Most often, you just need to add water in a certain proportion and stir the composition. You do not need to add the correct proportions of fillers, binders and other components, as the manufacturer has developed the optimal composition of the mixture.
As a rule, modified mixtures without additional components are used for interior decoration, where it is not necessary to achieve a wide range of functionality. Modified powders with various additional properties are very often used for facade work, finishing houses or outbuildings.
The basis of any modified mixture is the binder used, so depending on the place of application of solutions, the type of mixture is also selected:
- Based on gypsum-perfectly suitable for interior decoration, can only be used in a dry environment, without direct contact with moisture. Perfectly insulate the room from noise and heat loss.
- Based on cement – suitable for outdoor work, have endurance and high strength, can protect against moisture or water permeability.
Depending on the purpose, builders can choose mixtures with different compositions. Also, powders can be conditionally divided into gluing and leveling, where the composition of adhesives most often includes cement, and the composition of leveling – gypsum.
What additives are used for modified mixtures?
Modifiers can include organic and mineral components. They can retain moisture, accelerate the setting of the solution, provide waterproofing of the surface or increase adhesion. It is noteworthy that adding components can change the properties and characteristics of the main composition. Therefore, manufacturers test formulas and try to balance mixtures, sometimes they are released with a mark at the place of application (for the bathroom, kitchen, facades).
Example of using supplements:
- It is established that the polymer film increases the tensile strength of solutions for surface treatment.
- The addition of only 1-2% polymer resins, which are evenly distributed throughout the entire volume of the modified mixture, allows you to increase the strength of the resulting composition by 5-7 times after drying, since the polymer substance will fill weak spots and pores at a microscopic level.
- It also increases adhesion, improves insulation properties, and makes the solution more flexible and easy to use.
At the same time, exceeding the concentration of 1-2% can have negative consequences, namely increased crack formation due to insufficient binding capacity of the base solution.
Scope of application of dry modified mixtures
Modified powders and liquids are used in different ways:
- Plaster-creating plastic, strong, usually moisture-proof surfaces, straightening corners, treating surfaces with weak adhesion or with the prerequisites for the formation of cracks. Often modified mixtures are used for ceilings, work with non-standard surfaces, in places of articulation of materials with different properties.
- Putty-used for” finishing ” finishing, when it is important to achieve maximum surface strength, without cracks, roughness, chips and sinks. Sometimes it is required that the putty does not absorb water, suffer mechanical damage, or have increased resistance to abrasion.
- Floor fill mixes-modifiers allow you to create a perfectly smooth, practical, easy-to-maintain floor. Sometimes mixes are used to level the floor level with the minimum thickness of the material.
Taking into account the fact that the cost of modified mixtures is slightly higher than traditional solutions, but it gives additional advantages, more and more often compounds with modifiers are used in the decoration of apartments, houses and offices. They are easier to work with, more flexible, and require less labor to prepare ready-to-use solutions.
Advantages of modified mixes
In residential housing construction, the cost of finishing works can reach 30-40% of all works. At the same time, high – quality finishing materials help create an optimal microclimate, provide comfort due to heat and sound insulation, simplify regular maintenance of the house, and most importantly reduce operating costs.
The use of modern mixtures with modifiers also helps to get a number of advantages:
- Increases the energy saving of the building due to its thermal insulation properties;
- The service life of coatings is extended, both indoors and outdoors, by improving the frost resistance and moisture resistance of the surface.;
- The work completion time is accelerated (instead of concrete gaining strength within 3-20 days, modified mixes can gain strength in just a few hours);
- The quality of general construction works is improved;
- Delivery and logistics at the construction site are simplified;
- The material consumption of work is reduced several times due to the effective use of mixtures;
- Solution mobility decreases or increases;
- A certain stability of solutions and predictability of their properties are achieved.
It is noteworthy that in developed countries (Germany, Finland, Sweden, Poland) up to 90% of all used building mixes include certain modifiers that enhance certain properties. That is, the classic cement-sand mortar or gypsum plaster has almost completely ceased to be used in its pure form.
The most common modifiers used are the following types::
- Moisture-retaining properties;
- Plasticizing agents;
- Air-receiving services;
- Sealing elements;
- Hardening regulators;
- Foaming agents.
A carefully selected combination helps to achieve the desired properties and characteristics for effective use.
If you still have any questions about what is the best way to use modified mixes in your construction, please contact our consultants. We will select the best solutions, primers, adhesives, and concrete contacts to meet your requirements.