Effect of Injecting Epoxy Resin Adhesive into Cement Mortar on Tile Adhesion Performance

Sangkyu Lee,Gyuyong Kim,Sangyun Lee,Minjae Son,Gyeongcheol Choe,Jaehyun Lee,Jeongsoo Nam

doi:10.3390/app10238527

Abstract

Large porcelain tiles have attracted increased demand owing to their cost-effectiveness and superior esthetics. Here, an epoxy resin adhesive was injected into cement mortar, which was then applied to tiles. The adhesion performance of the tiles was subsequently evaluated in terms of the permeability and drying shrinkage under various curing conditions. The epoxy resin adhesive not only penetrated the tile–mortar and mortar–concrete interfaces, but also directly penetrated the mortar, thus enhancing the mechanical adhesion at each interface. In addition to the mechanical adhesion between the tiles and mortar, the epoxy resin adhesive prevents the degradation of adhesion due to shear stress by minimizing the moisture evaporation and shrinkage of the mortar. Evaluation of the adhesion characteristics under water and freeze–thaw curing conditions revealed the vulnerability of the epoxy resin to moisture; however, adequate adhesion performance was observed when the epoxy resin was air-cured prior to being exposed to harsh environments. Moreover, the injection method did not prolong the construction period, but could potentially reduce it during actual application. Nevertheless, further research on the adhesion performance of tiles with injected epoxy resin adhesive is required to evaluate the long-term durability.

Highlights

The increased construction of large buildings and burgeoning interest in interior and exterior designs have fostered a shift in the demand for small ceramic tiles to large esthetically appealing porcelain tiles
The workability was presumably low at a solvent mixing ratio of 15 wt% during the injection of the the workability was presumably low at a solvent mixing ratio of 15 wt% during the epoxy resin adhesive because the viscosity was similar to that of water
It was confirmed that the adhesion strength decreased by up to about 30% compared to using dry cement mortar under water curing and freeze-thaw conditions

Summary

Introduction

The increased construction of large buildings and burgeoning interest in interior and exterior designs have fostered a shift in the demand for small ceramic tiles to large esthetically appealing porcelain tiles. Superior adhesion performance is achieved through mechanical fixation when cement hydrate is deposited within the pores [1,2]. Porcelain tiles are fouling-resistant and are less susceptible to damage from moisture expansion and freezing due to the existence of minute pores, which make them essentially nonporous compared to ceramic tiles [2,3,4]. The minute pores of porcelain tiles result in a smooth rear surface, thereby making it difficult to achieve strong adhesion of the tiles using ordinary mortar [2,5]. Plastering techniques using polymer-based adhesives are being extensively adopted in many countries to enhance the adhesion performance of porcelain tiles. The use of dry cement mortar and bedding techniques remains popular because surface finishing is often omitted in many countries, including South Korea, due to economic reasons.

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Conclusion