The quality of cellulose ether determines the quality of dry-mix mortar

Cellulose ether is an important chemical raw material, widely used in construction, medicine, food and other fields. In the construction industry, cellulose ether is used as an additive for dry-mix mortar, and its quality directly affects the performance and final effect of dry-mix mortar.

Types of cellulose ethers

Cellulose ethers mainly include hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), methylcellulose (MC), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC). Different types of cellulose ethers have different solubility, viscosity, water retention and thickening properties due to their different chemical structures and substituent groups. Choosing the right type of cellulose ether is the key to ensuring the performance of dry-mix mortar.

Mechanism of action of cellulose ethers

The role of cellulose ether in dry-mix mortar is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

Water retention: Cellulose ether has a strong water retention capacity, which can effectively prevent the mortar from losing water too quickly during the construction process, thereby ensuring the workability and operability time of the mortar.

Thickening effect: Cellulose ether can increase the viscosity of mortar, making it have good adhesion and anti-sagging properties, facilitating construction and improving coating quality.

Lubricity: The lubricating effect of cellulose ether can reduce the internal friction of mortar, improve the fluidity and construction performance of mortar.

Anti-cracking: The water retention and thickening effect of cellulose ether can effectively reduce the shrinkage cracks of mortar and improve the anti-cracking performance of mortar.

Quality indicators of cellulose ether

The quality of cellulose ether is mainly measured by the following indicators:

Viscosity: Viscosity is an important indicator to measure the thickening ability of cellulose ether. High-viscosity cellulose ether can provide better thickening effect, but it will also affect the construction performance of mortar. Therefore, choosing cellulose ether with appropriate viscosity is crucial for the performance of dry mortar.

Solubility: The solubility of cellulose ether directly affects its dispersion effect and water retention capacity in mortar. High-quality products made by cellulose ether manufacturer should have good solubility and be evenly dispersed in mortar in a short time.

Degree of substitution: The degree of substitution of cellulose ether refers to the number of substituent groups on its molecule. The degree of substitution affects the solubility and viscosity of cellulose ether. An appropriate degree of substitution can improve the comprehensive performance of cellulose ether.

Purity: The higher the purity of cellulose ether, the more stable its performance, the fewer impurities, and the less negative impact on the performance of mortar. Therefore, high-purity cellulose ether is the prerequisite for ensuring the quality of mortar.

Effect of cellulose ether on the performance of dry-mixed mortar

Workability: The water retention and lubricity of cellulose ether make dry-mixed mortar have good workability, which makes construction smoother and reduces the difficulty and labor intensity of construction.

Water retention: The water retention capacity of cellulose ether can effectively prevent the evaporation of water too quickly, ensure that the mortar has enough water for hydration reaction during the hardening process, and improve the strength and durability of the mortar.

Crack resistance: The water retention and thickening effect of cellulose ether can reduce the shrinkage cracks of mortar, improve the crack resistance of mortar, and extend the service life of the building.

Adhesion: Cellulose ether can enhance the adhesion of mortar, make the bond between it and the substrate more firm, and prevent the occurrence of shedding and hollowing.

Anti-sagging property: The thickening effect of cellulose ether makes the mortar have good anti-sagging property, especially when constructing on vertical surfaces, the mortar is not easy to slide, ensuring the construction quality.

As an important additive for dry-mix mortar, the quality of cellulose ether directly determines the performance and construction effect of the mortar. By selecting the right type and high-quality cellulose ether, the water retention, workability, crack resistance, adhesion and anti-sagging property of dry-mix mortar can be significantly improved, thereby ensuring the quality and durability of the construction project. Therefore, in the production and application of dry-mix mortar, it is crucial to pay attention to the quality control of cellulose ether.