The role of cellulose ether in mortar includes: water retention, increasing cohesiveness, thickening, affecting setting time and air entrainment. Because of these characteristics, cellulose ether has a wide application space in building materials mortar.
1. Effect of particle size and mixing time of cellulose ether on water retention
With the increase of viscosity, the water retention of mortar increases with the same amount of cellulose ether; With the increase of cellulose ether content and viscosity, the water retention rate of mortar increases. When the content of cellulose ether exceeds 0.3%, the change of water retention rate of mortar tends to balance. The water retention capacity of mortar is largely controlled by the dissolution time. The finer cellulose ether dissolves faster, so the water retention performance develops faster.
2. Effect of etherification degree and temperature of cellulose on water retention
The higher the temperature is, the lower the water holding capacity is. The higher the etherification degree of cellulose ether is, the better the water holding capacity of cellulose ether at high temperature is. During use, the temperature of fresh mortar is usually lower than 35 ℃, and under special climatic conditions, the temperature may reach or even exceed 40 ℃ In this case, the formula must be adjusted to select products with high etherification degree, that is, appropriate cellulose ether should be considered.
3. Effect of cellulose ether on air content of mortar
In dry mixed mortar products, due to the addition of cellulose ether, a certain amount of tiny, evenly distributed and stable bubbles are introduced into the fresh mortar. Due to the ball effect of bubbles, the mortar has good workability, reduces mortar cracking and shrinkage, and improves mortar yield.
4. Effect of cellulose ether on mortar hydration
Cellulose ether can delay the hydration of cement-based mortar, and the delay effect increases with the increase of cellulose ether content. The influence factors of cellulose ether on cement hydration are: dosage, etherification degree, and type of cement/mortar.