Knowledge base

Technical articles on construction chemicals, written in plain language.

Styrene-acrylic emulsions: choosing a binder for paints and coatings

How hard and flexible styrene-acrylic copolymers differ, and which one suits which coating.

September 5, 20261 min read

Fibres in mortar: polypropylene and cellulose fibres do different jobs

PP fibre works as micro-reinforcement inside the mortar, cellulose fibre holds water. How they differ and how they share a formulation.

1 min read

Water repellents: how to make cement-based products hydrophobic

How powdered silicone, zinc stearate and calcium stearate cut water uptake in wet-area products and insulation renders.

1 min read

Set retarders and accelerators: adjusting the setting time of mortar

In summer the applicator needs time to use the mortar; in winter it needs to gain strength fast. How setting additives work and when to choose which.

1 min read

What is starch ether, and why pair it with cellulose ether?

Starch ether takes care of consistency and slip resistance in mortar. Used alongside cellulose ether, it lets you cut back on cellulose ether, one of the most expensive additives in the formulation.

3 min read

Semi-flexible and flexible polymer powders

The difference between the two classes lies in the balance between hardness and flexibility. What sets that balance, and where is each one preferred?

2 min read

What is redispersible polymer powder? How is it made and where is it used in construction?

What polymer powder is, how it is made and what it adds to a cement-based mortar: adhesion, flexibility, water resistance.

2 min read

What is cellulose, and what is cellulose ether? Production and use in construction

How the cellulose in plant fibre becomes the additive that holds water in mortar: how cellulose ether is made and what it does on site.

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