General

Modern buildings often go in for ‘cladding’ with stone veneers or ceramic tiles, and to-day the choice of materials is really large. These cladding materials enhances the aesthetic appeal of the structure, do not require painting with proper fixing and more importantly make the structure, virtually maintenance free.

POLYALK TF is a special elastomeric formulation developed keeping in mind several requirements.

Until recently the only materials available for fixing tiles were either cement-sand mixture or neat cement paste. However, ordinary cement or mortar is not waterproof. Besides this, the shrinkage that develops on drying is a potential hazard, particularly on a vertical surface. There are several instances of marble or stone slabs falling off. Such a situation poses threat to life and limb apart from the failure of the expected maintenance free surface.
To overcome the inadequacies of traditional bedding and fixing materials, a new elastomeric formulation POLYALK TF has been developed specially designed for such jobs.


Details

For fixing the tiles essentially 2 mixes of POLYALK TF are required.

·        Slurry or bonding mix.

·        Fixing and bedding mortar.

POLYALK TF slurry is prepared using 1 part by weight of POLYALK TF and 1 part by weight of cement. Both the ingredients are mixed thoroughly preferably with a mechanical mixer. Mixing has to be carried out for two minutes at least or until the mix of uniform consistency.

POLYALK TF mortar is prepared using 1 part by weight POLYALK TF, 3 parts by weight of ordinary Portland Cement, 9 parts by weight of Graded Quartz sand.

The three ingredients taken in the above proportion are mixed together to form a thick pliable dough like consistency. As little water as possible may be added to the mix.


Uses

POLYALK TF is suitable for interior and exterior service. It is good for ceramic, mosaic and floor tiles, tiling of swimming pools, stones-granite and marble cladding of the walls and columns. It is particularly useful for fixing heavy and large sized tiles on to the facades of multi-storey buildings.


Advantages

  • POLYALK TF is easily mixable with cement. The cement may be white or (gary) ordinary Portland cement.

  • The co-matrix of POLYALK TF and cement has the compressive strength of cement plus the additional flexural and tensile properties contributed by the polymer.

  • The matrix is totally watertight.

  • It provides extraordinarily good adhesion between the tile surface and concrete / plaster which it covers.

  • Joint filling with POLYALK TF and white cement may be tinted to the desired shade to match the colour of the tiles. Such a filling does not come off with the passage of time, nor does it leach out to give ugly looking stains on the tiles.

  • Tiles can be fixed on either dry or wet surface without any loss of bond strength.

  • Fallen tiles may be refixed without the adjoining tiles.



Instruction for use

  • Clean the receiving surface of all the loose particles, oil, grease etc.

  • Wet the surface.

  • Prime the back of the tile and the receiving surface with 1:1 slurry of POLYALK TF and cement.

  • Prepare a mixture consisting of POLYALK TF, fresh O.P. Cement and quartz sand (2 mm down) in the weight proportion of 1:3:9 into a uniformly thick dough like consistency. (add as little water as needed to get workable consistency).

  • Spread this mixture uniformly on the back of the already primed tile. Remove excess material by a notched trowel and press home the tile into position. A 3 mm thick layer is more than adequate.


Consumption

1.5 to 2 sq.mts. pre Kg. of POLYALK TF for an average 3 mm thickness.


Test Results

Test results indicate that the bond strengths obtained with POLYALK TF are much higher than tile fixed by ordinary cement. In many cases during the test (IS 4456 Part – 1967) the tile broke, the bond remaining intact. It is also observed that incorporation of quartz sand increases the strength considerably.


Packing

20 litre, 5 litre, 1 litre.


Shelf life

Twelve months when stored in original closed container.


Precautions

  • Prepare only limited quantities of POLYALK TF and cement mix, which can be used within 30 minutes.

  • Normal traffic on floor tiles may be permitted as early as after 24 hours of setting.

  • The joints should preferably be filled after 24 hours.

  • Support the tiles fixed on ceilings, for a minimum of 48 hours.

  • POLYALK TF in non-toxic. However any accidental contact with the body should be washed with plenty of clean water.