Properties of ceramic tile adhesives modified by different viscosity hydroxypropyl methylcellulose

Special mortars for fixing ceramic tiles on different substrates, mainly concrete, are very important in house building sector. Besides the binding materials, cement most of all, additives and admixtures that allow to model proper properties of such mortars are used for the manufacture. Methylcellulose is one of the most frequently used admixture for modification of mortars properties. Influence of different admixtures, redispersible powders for instance or other organic compounds containing polymers, on the hydration process of cement and properties of obtained mortars has been an object of many investigations. Methylcellulose is a very important constituent of adhesives despite the fact that its content is very low, normally below tenth of mass percent of dry material. Use of that admixture allow to obtain good performance of mortars. Thanks to methylcellulose mortars are easy to prepare, comfortable in use and easy to handle, which provides obtaining of proper properties and causes that they are most frequently used. Cement based ceramic tile adhesives belong to that group. Results of laboratory experiments concerning influence of water solutions of methylcellulose on chosen physical properties and microstructure of cement based ceramic tile adhesives are presented in the paper.