Study of the copolymer styrene acrylic and silica fume adittions influence in the properties of mortars to fix porcelain stoneware tiles

Author(s)

Alessandra Etuko Feuzicana de Souza Almeida

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC/BT)
• Defense date: 2005-09-16

Examining board members

Eduvaldo Paulo Sichieri; João Baptista Baldo; Anselmo Ortega Boschi; Osny Pellegrino Ferreira; Fernando Henrique Sabbatini

• Advisor: Eduvaldo Paulo Sichieri

Abstract

Despite the excellent characteristics of porcelain tiles, their application in building facades requires special attention, since this material differs from conventional ceramics and facades are exposed to weathering, which can damage ceramic revetments. The lower water absorption of porcelain tiles is the main cause of the poor adherence between them, as it prevents the mechanical interlocking adherence mechanism that occurs when more porous ceramic materials are applied. The present thesis aims to investigate the effect of silica fume and acrylic polymer together on the properties of mortars employed to install porcelain stoneware tiles to avoid detachment problems due to lack of adherence. An experimental investigation evaluated the fixing properties of the mortars, and a microstructural study including thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, mercury intrusion porosimetry, infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy was performed. The results showed that silica fume and acrylic polymer addition to the mortar resulted in improved properties to fix porcelain stoneware tiles, mainly adherence strength, as a consequence of the microstructural improvement due to the decrease in the porosity and the pore mean diameter, and the decrease in the calcium hydroxide to form hydrated calcium silicate (AU)