The kind of flooring we select can have a big impact on how warm and inviting our homes stay. Installing a warm floor system is one choice that is becoming more and more popular because it offers both comfort and energy efficiency. For these systems to work properly, a number of components are needed, and one of those components is the plasticizer.
What precisely is a plasticizer meant for a heated floor, then? Put simply, it’s an essential supplement that improves the heating system’s flexibility and performance. Consider it the magic ingredient that makes sure your warm floor runs smoothly and consistently distributes warmth throughout your house.
Depending on the type of floor heating system you have, plasticizers are usually combined with either a water or a glycol solution. Once added, they aid in enhancing the liquid’s flow properties, making sure it can pass through the pipes or heating elements embedded in your floor with ease.
However, why is a plasticizer required? Well, without it, the warm floor system’s liquid could thicken or become excessively viscous, which would make it difficult for it to flow freely. This could eventually cause the system to become damaged as well as uneven heating distribution and inefficiency.
Thankfully, you can steer clear of these problems and take full advantage of your warm floor system by using the appropriate plasticizer. A high-quality plasticizer maintains optimal flow and flexibility, which helps your heating system last longer, save energy, and provide comfort.
- The purpose of the use of the plasticizer
- Action on concrete additives
- The pluses of the additives
- What varieties of plasticizers are there?
- Signs by which the choice of plasticizer occurs
- Rules for using impurities in a concrete screed
- Methods of using plasticizers
- Plasticizer for arranging a warm floor screed
- Classification
- Using plasticizers when installing a warm floor
- Why do you need a plasticizer?
- Varieties of additives and their manufacturers
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Video on the topic
- Plasticizer for concrete and why it is needed
- Warm floor, plasticizer, microfiber, cracks
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- How to make a screed of a warm floor
- Warm floor screed
The purpose of the use of the plasticizer
The aforementioned supplement is utilized in heterogeneous compositions and building mixes with a variety of applications in mind.
When the admixture is thoroughly combined with concrete solutions, reinforced concrete products are produced with increased efficiency.
Its fundamental characteristics:
- contributes to a slowdown in the formation of the corrosion process;
- A small amount of additive to increase the strength of the solution;
- The plasticizer for the screed of the warm floor contributes to the production of high -strength and moisture -proof concrete;
- neutralizes the effect of potassium nitrate if it is present in the solution;
- A screed made with the addition of a plasticizer can tolerate temperature lowering up to – 25 degrees.
Action on concrete additives
Plasticizers greatly raise the concrete mixture’s quality.
It is important to keep in mind that the impurity’s chemical makeup is complex, so it must be added to the solutions in tiny amounts and under strict instructions.
The following are the effects of the additive:
- Concrete with the presence of the plasticizer grasps faster;
- The solution is highly spent, hydraulic, has a dense structure;
- The admixture allows you to create low pressure if subsequent configurations of the solution occur;
- The implementation of concreting in the winter eliminates accelerated hardening and release of thermal energy during hydration;
- With prolonged transportation, liquid concrete containing a plasticizer is activated by a method of slight adding potassium nitrate to the concrete mixer.
The pluses of the additives
Plasticizers that entered the building industry to produce screed made it possible to produce it more quickly and for less money.
These days, warm floor arrangements with modern supplements have the following benefits:
- there is no unpleasant odor;
- the quality of the thermal insulation of the mixture increases, while the quality of the heating system improves;
- The mixture containing the plasticizer is perfectly dissolved even without the presence of water;
- The costs of the liquid are reduced, but the strength increases by 2 times;
- The filling procedure is simplified, since the mixture becomes plastic and the communications of the warm floor flow well;
- the screed with annexed additives dries quickly.
For a long period, a warm floor solution with plasticizer in it maintains its unique qualities.
What varieties of plasticizers are there?
While each type of additive that is currently on the market enhances the strength and quality of the screed, they all serve different purposes.
Some influence plasticity, some enable operation at low temperatures, and some are responsible for quick hardening.
The following categories of plasticizers are classified by experts for warm floors:
- Dry, they interfere with water in a proportion of 1: 2, then the mixture is defended;
- liquid – add to 100 kg of cement – 1l;
- protected from frost;
- Polyamide reinforced fiber.
The warm floor isn’t put to use until the screed has fully dried.
Signs by which the choice of plasticizer occurs
It’s important to keep in mind that not all species are appropriate for warm floors when selecting supplements. The mark on the package is something you should be aware of. It’s important for you to be aware of product costs as well, as these are determined by factors like consumption and functionality. Watch this video to learn more about why the plasticizer is necessary:
Rules for using impurities in a concrete screed
The composition of solutions for electric and water floors varies.
After adding the supplement and the other ingredients to the mixture, a concrete mixer is used to mix the mixture for 1.5 hours. A homogeneous mass emerges as a result.
- Such types of modifiers will go to the warm water floor that will help to avoid the formation of a vacuum in the solution. The mixture in the warm floor is placed directly on the pipes of the system, so the screed should withstand significant loads so that they are not damaged. The layer should be thick, at least 25 mm. Additive will give the solution elasticity and density.
- For an electric warm floor, the screed should be prepared with the addition of dry plasticizer. You still need to add special glue so that the screed becomes plastic. In laying, such a mixture is quite light, it is even, and its strength is at the proper level.
There is no extra water in the screed for the heated floor. In the event that they exist, invisible cracks may develop following the drying in of a filling layer.
Methods of using plasticizers
Within a week, you can walk on the completed screed.
You must follow the directions on the package for the use of additives if you want your work to be successful. There may be variations in certain proportions.
- impurities are placed in the solution together with other components and brought to a homogeneous solution;
- The solution is distributed evenly by the site. It can be used both in residential premises and in public buildings;
- The finished screed should dry well, you can walk along it a week later. The final hardening occurs twenty days after filling the floor. See about the proportions of the plasticizer in the solution in this video:
When working with smaller volumes, the construction mixer is used, and the mixture needs to stand before being mixed again. After he is defended once more, you can begin filling. The minimum temperature required to perform the work is + 5 degrees.
The need to use a needle roller to remove excess air from the concrete screed has vanished since plasticizers for the heated floor first appeared.
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Warm floors are becoming more and more common in the pursuit of comfortable living spaces and energy economy. The plasticizer is an essential part of this system and is responsible for guaranteeing durability and optimal performance. Whether you’re upgrading an old warm floor system or installing a new one, it’s critical to comprehend the significance of the plasticizer. Optimizing comfort and reducing energy expenses can be greatly enhanced by selecting the appropriate plasticizer, which can prevent leaks and cracks and improve heat conduction. This article delves into the importance of plasticizers for warm floors, highlighting their advantages and how they help create a more functional and comfortable living space.
Plasticizer for arranging a warm floor screed
The use of heated floors to heat the space is a relatively new invention. There are three different kinds: film, water, and electric. The screed must be arranged for almost all types. A layer of concrete used for classic filling is intended to level the surface. Plasticizers are added to it to prevent deformation from temperature variations. Rehau-type impurities are created in order to enhance the features and functionality of the system.
Concrete in the warm floor’s screed is constantly heated and cooled. These variations cause cracks, which is undesirable because the system’s operating time is shortened. Unreliable protection is lost, rendering pipes and cables useless. Furthermore, a decorative coating is deteriorating. If additional contaminants are added to the ones that boost plasticity, deformation can be avoided. The filling density affects how evenly the space heats up. The appearance of voids or bubbles during laying invariably results in a reduction of work efficiency. When the plasticizer is used appropriately for the heated floor, you can produce a homogenous mixture with extra qualities that have the following traits:
- The solution acquires anti -corrosion properties, resistant to aggressive substances.
- The screed becomes waterproof and denser.
- The mobility of the composition allows you to fill the voids and eliminate air bubbles.
- Resistance to temperature fluctuations and increasing mechanical strength.
- The viability of the concrete mixture increases. You can prepare the required amount without fear of premature solidification before the end of work.
The primary ingredients of all plasticizers for water warm floors are water, formalin, caustic soda concentrate, sulfuric acid, phenolic resin, and foam dashes. You can select impurities that contain fiber, which adds extra support and lessens the likelihood of cracks forming.
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There are distinctive styling elements for every kind of heating system:
1. A plasticizer that prevents air bubbles from forming in the screed is appropriate for a water floor. Since the mixture is poured directly onto the pipes, it is crucial to ensure resistance to heavy loads and mechanical damage by withstanding the precise consumption of the components and a layer thickness of at least 3 cm. Supplements like Rehau contribute to the plasticity and durability of filling.
2. You should select a plasticizer rehau when installing electrical equipment. In this instance, a semi-dry filling technique that calls for a mixture of sand, fiber-fiber, cement, additive, and a tiny bit of water is appropriate. There are hardly any cracks on the surface after it has dried, so the layer doesn’t need to be further aligned. mixes the mixture quickly to a frozen state.
Classification
Concrete has unique qualities due to the various additives used for the heated floor. Two categories of plasticizers exist:
1. If you’re not comfortable figuring out how many components to use, go with a dry mixture. This powder already contains all you require. Just add water and beat the mixture until it becomes homogenous to arrange the screed. The oddity is that certain types of finishes are appropriate for certain additives, like plasticizer C3 for a heated floor. It helps to arrange the solution more smoothly, devoid of influxes and modifications. Usually, a thin leveling layer needs to be made on top for laminate and linoleum. Such an admixture eliminates the need for this.
2. The liquid emulsion is filled into varying-volume canisters for packaging. Shakes and adds to the main ingredients prior to use. The layout of warm water floors is where it is most frequently utilized. It takes at least 28 days for the final coating to ripen. The hydration chemical reaction takes place during this period, increasing the material’s strength and malleability.
The strength of the material is affected by the cement to water ratio used in the production of concrete.
1. In actuality, the parts of a water warm floor are chosen to ensure that the solution is workable, somewhat liquid, and mobile.
2. The ideal component ratio calls for 50 liters of water to be used for every 100 kg of cement. In this instance, the plasticizer makes up 0.4% of the dry matter share overall.
3. This indicates that it requires 50×0.4/100 = 0 impurities, so for every five bags of cement weighing 50 kg, one liter of screed is sufficient for a thickness of 3 cm.
4. Plasticizers function in the mixture as a fluid reducer. You can observe how the water consumption is decreased using the PL 10460 plasticizer as an example. 300 kg of cement, 1000 kg of gravel, 600 kg of sand, and 200 l of pure water are needed to make 1 m3 of M200 brand concrete with a strength of 20 MPa.
5. It turns out that adding 1.2 liters of liquid solution will only require 160 liters of water with the same amounts of all ingredients. This means that the ratio will alter: in the first case, 200/300 = 0, 66 V/C, and in the second, 160/160/ 300 = 0, 52. In this instance, the material’s qualities to the 250 brand and its strength of 27 MPa both rise.
The results of the computations lead us to the conclusion that when concrete quality rises, less cement is needed. About 40 kg are saved for every m3.
Suggestions for Application
The process of adding additives and pouring a heated floor is not very complicated. Here are some pointers to ensure proper substance use:
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- The plasticizer is introduced into the mixture simultaneously with other components.
- Before the state of a homogeneous consistency, it is necessary to turn on the concrete mixer for half an hour.
- With an area of concrete base of more than 20 square meters.m. the presence of deformation seams is required.
- Under the screed on the warm floor, you need to place a reinforcing grid.
- The composition is hardened for two weeks, after which you can walk and install furniture on it. Full maturation is achieved a month later.
- Acceleration of solidification by artificially excluded. Such manipulations will lead to a violation of natural polymerization and loss of technical characteristics of the filling.
An overview of the prices and brands
The quantity and quality of consumption affect the price. When purchasing impurities for a warm floor installation, take into account their price, attributes, and features as shown in the following table:
Using plasticizers when installing a warm floor
Why do you need a plasticizer?
Because so many air bubbles form from the concrete particles during the preparation process, it can be challenging to achieve a uniform composition of the mixture. The solution’s density on the floor surface will eventually be uneven. Furthermore, because of the excess moisture, it does not form a homogenous composition, which can seriously affect the system’s warm floor quality. Consequently, the following flaws could manifest:
- Due to an excess of moisture, there is a high probability of temperature expansion of the screed and its subsequent deformation;
- the formation of cavities inside the concrete layer, which also affects the thermal conductivity of the material;
- Uneven surface heating due to a large difference in heat transfer resistance in different areas.
This can be prevented by mixing a plasticizer for screed into a ready-made solution. These substances can be synthetic or natural, and they let you raise the caliber of building materials. Their application in the warm floor installation process increases the concrete foundation’s mechanical and thermophysical indicators. Following the cement’s reaction with the plasticizer’s constituents, the following cement properties take place:
- anti -corrosion protection of metal parts of the structure is provided;
- the strength of the screed increases;
- The amount and volume of air pores is minimized, which makes the solution more elastic, which allows it to evenly and tightly distribute on the floor. At the same time, the thermal production of the concrete base increases, and this seriously affects the effectiveness of the heated coating;
- prevents cracking at regular temperature changes;
- the flow consumption with cement is reduced, which allows you to facilitate the process of preparing the solution.
Some additives have extra characteristics as well, some of which may even be more potent than the primary ones:
- moisture -repellent;
- anti -controlled;
- vapor inhibitors;
- Acceleration or slowing down the kinetics of the hardening process.
Varieties of additives and their manufacturers
Plasticizers are now available in the building materials market as emulsions, water compositions, and dry mixtures. Additionally, every type has unique qualities that are intended for a specific warm floor design. In the event that water heating is intended, a thick, elastic, and "enveloping" solution must be made, and it must be well-stirred to ensure that no air bubbles remain.
The porosity of the screed is not important when it comes to an electric floor. In order to guarantee plasticity and the greatest possible distribution of the solution on the surface, plasticizer is required in this situation.
Plasticizers are made by both domestic and international businesses. When it comes to the best choices, the following stand out:
- Premium production of the brand riverIt is produced by Rehau. known for its double -glazed windows. Their plasticizer for screed is not toxic, does not ignite, while increasing the elasticity and homogeneity of the structure of solutions, which seriously improves thermal conductivity and strength of the final structure. The only drawback can be called only that it is suitable only for liquid screeds;
- Superplastifiers from the Ukrainian company SANPOL with Ozed specifically to increase the thermophysical properties of the bases of the warm floor. The use of such an additive allows you to minimize the amount of water up to an average of 20%, thereby slowing down the speed of cement grades;
- Russian thermoplast from Armmix can be found in stores in the form of aqueous solution of complex salts. It allows you to reduce the speed of cement and air duct up to 10 times without using additional vibration. In addition, it increases the water resistance of the screed by 4 steps and frost resistance;
- Another Russian plasticizer for screeding a warm floor from Gormax company produced on the basis of liquid rubber PL10460 and is characterized by a high degree of environmental friendliness. With its help, you can compensate for the thermal expansion of the heating “pie” of the system of the warm floor, increase thermal conductivity and heat transfer of the final structure. In addition, this plasticizer allows you to increase adhesion and provides a high degree of corrosion protection, which significantly justifies its high cost;
- Superplastifier S-3 It is also a Russian development created as an analogue to foreign compositions, while not inferior to them. It is produced by most domestic firms in the form of a brown dry mixture or as an aqueous solution based on naphthalene liginosufanate. The S-3 superplastifier has all the necessary components to create a screed, while it can be combined with other additives. Of the shortcomings, it is worth highlighting the content of harmful substances like phenol, formaldegil and components of naphthalene.
Advantages and disadvantages
To create a uniform layer of concrete solution, a plasticizer needs to be added to the preparative mixture. However, when selecting it, it’s important to take into account the components’ compatibility with particular cement brands and select the appropriate amounts.
The primary benefit of the plasticizer lies in its ability to create a uniform mixture, making it perfect for all kinds of warm polo V. However, if you go into further detail, this additive can identify these kinds of advantages:
- The thickness of the screed decreases by 10-15% due to an increase in its density;
- the composition of increased density is formed and the higher this indicator, the more reliably the heating elements will be protected. Another significant factor in favor of the plasticizer for screeding warm floors is a uniform distribution of thermal energy over the floor surface;
- increased plasticity of the composition;
- After solidifying the solution, the floor surface will become perfectly flat, and the use of a plasticizer for warm floors allows you not to add special mixtures for alignment to the solution, which are a prerequisite for most modern flooring.
One issue that stands out among the flaws and will undoubtedly disappoint a lot of people is that it will take a while to solidify. However, this can be resolved fast by simply adding a unique hardening recurrence to the solution.
Product Name | Description |
FlexiWarm | A versatile plasticizer designed to enhance the flexibility and durability of warm floor systems, ensuring even heat distribution. |
ThermoFlex | An advanced plasticizer formulated to improve the thermal conductivity of warm floor installations, promoting efficient heating while reducing energy consumption. |
All things considered, adding a plasticizer to your warm floor system can significantly increase both its longevity and effectiveness. Plasticizers increase the pipes’ flexibility and durability, which makes the system more resilient to changes in temperature and mechanical strains. This lowers the likelihood of leaks and other damages over time.
Moreover, using plasticizers can help ensure that heat is distributed more evenly across the floor, providing constant warmth and comfort throughout your house. In addition to improving the heating experience overall, this also aids in energy consumption optimization, which may ultimately result in cost savings.
Enhancing the performance of the warm floor system in a variety of floor coverings, such as tiles, wood, laminate, and even carpet, is another noteworthy benefit of plasticizers. Because of their adaptability, plasticizers can be used in a variety of residential and commercial settings, providing for flexibility in both construction and design.
Furthermore, adding plasticizers to warm floor systems can improve your home’s overall sustainability. Plasticizers minimize environmental impact while maximizing occupant comfort and convenience by increasing energy efficiency and lowering the need for routine maintenance and repairs.
To sum up, adding a plasticizer to your warm floor system can have a lot of advantages, such as increased sustainability, better heating performance, longevity, and floor covering versatility. For a more economical, cozy, and environmentally responsible living environment, plasticizer use is something to think about whether you’re renovating an old heating system or building a new one.