What is HPMC?
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) is a water-soluble polymer derived from cellulose. It is typically used as a gelling agent, thickening agent, suspending agent, emulsifier, film former and stabilizer in products such as food products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and industrial products. In dry mix mortars, HPMC helps to improve the physical properties of mortar such as open time, workability and water retention. The use of HPMC also helps reduce shrinkage cracking in mortar by controlling its rheology and thixotropy.
How Does HPMC Improve Dry Mix Mortar Properties?
HPMC improves the physical properties of dry mix mortars by increasing their open time or setting time. This means that the mortar will remain workable for longer before beginning to set and harden. This allows for more flexibility when applying mortar in various applications such as tiling or sealing joints between tiles or bricks etc… In addition to this, HPMC also helps to improve the workability of the mortar which makes it easier to spread over
surfaces or into narrow joints between materials. Furthermore, because HPMC increases water retention in mortar mixes they require less frequent re-wetting during construction activities which can save both time and money. Finally, using HPMC helps reduce shrinkage cracking in mortar due to its ability to control rheology and thixotropy which are essential elements for preventing cracks from forming due to drying out during curing periods.
Conclusion
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) plays an important role in improving the physical properties of dry mix mortars such as open time, workability and water retention. Furthermore its ability to control rheology and thixotropy help reduce shrinkage cracking which can lead to costly repairs if left unchecked. For these reasons alone it’s easy to see why HPMC is such a key ingredient when it comes to formulating high quality dry mix mortars for various construction applications.
