Product
Cement- and gypsum-based mortar

Test
Determination of air content (according to the Swedish Building Standards 24:2311 )

Principle
This method is intended to measure the air content by replacing the air present in the mortar with water.

Equipment
1. Measuring cylinder 500 ml
2. Filling funnel
3. Rubber stopper
4. Antifoaming agent (octanol)

Climatic conditions
23°C, 50% relative humidity

Procedure

1. Fresh mortar is transferred to the measuring cylinder and shaken down carefully to a volume of 200 ml.
2. Packing must be done thoroughly in order to prevent the formation of cavities in the mortar.
3. The exact volume of mortar is noted.
4. Approx. 10 drops of octanol are added as an antifoaming agent.
5. The measuring cylinder is then filled carefully with water until the total volume of water and mortar reaches 500 ml.
6. The measuring cylinder is sealed with the stopper and shaken well for one minute.
7. It is then left to stand for five minutes without being disturbed.
8. The stopper is removed and if any foam has been formed on the surface, it should be removed with filter paper or similar. The measuring cylinder is to be weighed before the foam is removed.
9. Water is added until the previous weight is regained.
10. The liquid level is noted. Shaking and the subsequent procedure are to be repeated until the liquid level is constant.

Calculations
The air content in the mortar is calculated in accordance with the following formula:
                                    (500 - v) x 100
Vol.% air in mortar = ----------------------------
                                            200

Product
Cement- and latex-based tile adhesive.

Test
Determination of the adhesion between ceramic tiles applied on concrete substrate.

Storage periods
The concrete paving blocks with applied tiles are stored for different periods according to DIN 18156:2 or Union Europeene pour l’Agrement Technique dans la Construction (Paris) Nov. 1997, 3.25.

Equipment

• Concrete paving blocks (350x350 mm thoroughly conditioned)
• Notched trowel (6x6x6 mm)
• Tiles 50x50 mm. (Non-absorbent =0.5%, absorbent 15±3%)
• Weight 1 kg (DIN), 2 kg (UEAtc)
• Tensile strength apparatus
• Anchor plates
• Epoxy resin (Araldit AW 134)

Climate conditions
23 oC, 50% relative humidity.

Procedure
1. The substrate should be concrete block.
2. The tile adhesive is applied to the concrete block, holding the trowel at an angle of 60 degre.
3. The tiles are placed at once on the mortar bed and loaded with the weight for 30 seconds.
4. For each storage period at least six individual tiles are applied on one concrete block.
5. Since the block has been stored for a certain period the anchor plates are glued with epoxy resin one day before the final measuring day.
6. The tensile strength apparatus is connected with the anchor plate and the strength is measured.

Calculations
A mean value and the standard deviation* is calculated from six individual tiles for each storage period.

*Standard deviation (Sy) about the mean:
Sy= St/(n -1)

Where St is the total sum of the squares of the residuals between the data points and the mean.Type of failure is noted.

Product
Cement- and gypsum-based mortar

Test
Determination of water retention by the vacuum method.

Principle
The water retention capacity is characterized by the loss of water of a mortar.

Equipment
Partible filtration funnel (diam. 100 mm) with filter paper and suction flask,Vacuum pump with manometer

Climatic conditions
23°C, 50% relative humidity

Procedure
1. The weighed cup of the filtration funnel is filled with mortar and the excess removed with a trowel.
2. The filled cup is weighed and the funnel is put together on the suction flask.
3. The flask is evacuated and held at 50 mm Hg for ten minutes.
4. The cup is weighed again.

Calculations
The water retention is expressed either as the water lost from 1000 g wet mortar or as the percentage of water retained.

Water loss, g/kg          = (1-w2/w1) x100

Water retention, wt.% = (1- a/c) x 100

where
a= water loss, g/kg wet mortar
c= water content, g/kg wet mortar
w1= weight of mortar before evacuation, g
w2= weight of mortar after evacuation, g

Product
Cement- and gypsum-based mortar.

Test
Determination of setting time.

Equipment
Vicat apparatus with recorder Plastic beaker (245 cm3)

Climatic conditions
23°C, 50% relative humidity

Procedure

1. The plastic beaker is filled with mortar and the excess paste is removed by a trowel.
2. The beaker is covered with a plastic film to avoid evaporation.
3. A steel needle is pricked into the mortar (1, 5, 10 or 15 minutes intervals can be used).
4. The initial setting time is when the needle does not reach the bottom any longer. The final setting time is when the needle stops at the top.
5. The recorder chart shows both the initial and the final setting time.

Base Paint Formulation ; EPOXY VARNISH

BASE EPOXY           SG = 0.96

No	Raw Materials	Content (kg)
1.	GY 250	47.73
2.	Toluene	51.70
3.	BYK 066 N	0.45
4.	BYK 333	0.13
.	.	-------
.	Total	100.00

HARDENER             SG = 0.93

No	Raw Materials	Content (kg)
1.	Aradur 43	39.39
2.	Toluene	36.36
3.	Sunmide 315	24.24
.	.	-------
.	Total	100.00

Base Epoxy	Hardener
0.67 litre	0.33 litre

NOTE: The statements in this publication are based on our present technical knowledge and experience. They do not relieve processors of the responsibility of carrying out their own tests and experiments, because many factors that could influence the results may arise during processing and application; neither do they imply any legally binding assurance of certain properties or of suitability for a specific purpose. Any proprietary rights should be respected.