Adhesives for tiles

Adhesives for tiles are classified and labelled in accordance to PN-EN 12004+A1:2012 standard. The standard lists 3 types of adhesives:

• C – cement adhesives
• D – dispersion adhesives
• R – adhesives based on reactive resins

Each of three types of adhesives can be offered in various types (classes), referring to additional requirements:

• 1 – standard setting adhesives; adhesion after 28 days ≥ 0.5 N/mm2
• 2 – adhesives of improved parameters; adhesion after 28 days ≥ 1.0 N/mm2
• F – fast-setting adhesives; adhesion after 6 hours ≥ 0.5 N/mm2
• T – adhesives with reduced slip; slip not exceeding 0.5 mm
• E – adhesives with extended open time; adhesion after 28 days ≥ 0.5 N / mm2, despite the fact that time between application of adhesive and placing a tile is not longer than 30 minutes
• S1: Deformable (deformity of ≥ 2.5mm to ≤ 5mm)
• S2: Highly Deformable (deformity of ≥ 5mm)

Before fixing ceramic or natural stone cladding, one should pay particular attention to a few elements significant for proper selection of an adhesive.They are as follows:

• substrate – material which it is made of, its absorptiveness, bonding, cleanliness, stabilization degree and possible deformability,
• tiles – type (gres-porcelain, terracotta, glazed, stone), size (mosaic, large size), absorptiveness and resistance to discolouration,
• conditions of cladding use – influence of atmospheric factors (indoors or outdoors), location (wall or floor), type and range of live load (foot or vehicle traffic), frequency and range of temperature changes.