In modern construction, self-leveling mortar is widely used in floor leveling, precision leveling and other fields due to its good construction performance and excellent surface quality. Cement-based self-leveling mortar is the most widely used product. In order to improve its construction performance, water retention and adhesion, adding cellulose ether additives has become an industry routine. KimaCell® HPMC (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), as a high-performance cellulose ether, plays a vital role in cement-based self-leveling mortar. 1. Overview of KimaCell® HPMC KimaCell® HPMC is a non-ionic water-soluble polymer made from natural high-molecular cellulose through chemical modification. It has good dispersibility, water retention, thickening and film-forming properties. The product can be evenly dispersed in the self-leveling mortar through dry mixing, and it will quickly take effect after adding water and stirring, without affecting the cement hydration reaction.
2. Performance requirements of cement-based self-leveling mortar
Cement-based self-leveling mortar usually has the following performance requirements:
Good fluidity: ensure that the slurry can flow freely on the ground and level automatically.
Appropriate adhesion: excellent adhesion with the base layer to prevent hollowing and cracking.
Low shrinkage and good crack resistance: avoid late shrinkage and cracking.
High early strength: convenient for rapid construction and delivery.
Good water retention: slow down the rate of water loss, avoid bleeding and powdering problems.
3. Mechanism of action of KimaCell® HPMC in self-leveling mortar
3.1. Improve water retention
KimaCell® HPMC has excellent water retention performance and can form a physical barrier in cement slurry, reduce the rapid migration of water to the base layer or air, reduce shrinkage rate, and improve cement hydration efficiency, thereby improving the final strength and surface quality of the mortar.
3.2. Adjust fluidity and viscosity
Although self-leveling mortar requires high fluidity, excessive fluidity will lead to bleeding, stratification, and construction difficulties. KimaCell® HPMC improves the thixotropy and construction performance of the slurry through proper thickening, so that it maintains good fluidity during mixing and construction, and quickly condenses in a static state to form a uniform and stable surface.
3.3. Enhance lubricity and construction performance
HPMC can improve the lubricity of the slurry, make mixing more uniform, and construction smoother, which helps to spread the slurry evenly on the ground, reduce construction time, and improve efficiency.
3.4. Prevent bleeding and stratification
There is a lot of free water in the self-leveling mortar. If it is not properly controlled, it is easy to cause quality problems such as bleeding and stratification. KimaCell® HPMC effectively reduces bleeding and ensures the uniformity of the mortar by increasing the viscosity of the system and forming a uniform structure.
3.5. Promote early strength development
Good water retention promotes full hydration of cement, which can produce higher strength in the early stage, which is conducive to a fast construction process and early use of the floor.
4. KimaCell® HPMC selection recommendations
Depending on the different construction environments and formulation requirements, KimaCell® provides different types of HPMC products, including high viscosity, low viscosity, fast dissolving type and delayed dissolving type. The following types are generally recommended:
Medium and low viscosity HPMC (about 20000-40000 mPa·s): suitable for self-leveling mortar, ensuring good fluidity and lubricity.
Surface treatment type fast dissolving products: improve dispersion efficiency and prevent agglomeration.
The specific dosage is recommended to be 0.1%-0.3% (relative to the total amount of dry powder), which can be adjusted according to the formula.
5. Precautions for use
Compatibility test with other admixtures: It is recommended to perform compatibility test before mixing with other additives such as redispersible latex powder, defoamer, retarder, etc.
Control the amount of addition: Excessive addition may cause excessive thickening and affect fluidity.
Pay attention to storage conditions: HPMC is a hygroscopic substance and should be stored in a high temperature and humid environment.
KimaCell® HPMC has become one of the indispensable additives in cement-based self-leveling mortars due to its excellent water retention, flow regulation and construction performance improvement capabilities. Through scientific selection and reasonable dosage, the overall quality, construction efficiency and service life of the mortar can be significantly improved. With the continuous advancement of building materials technology, KimaCell® will continue to provide high-performance and sustainable solutions for self-leveling systems.
Post time: Jul-01-2025