89 92

CALUMEX UPC WHITE White Calcium Aluminate Cement

 setting time UPC White

16

14
14 min
12

10
10 min
minutes

0
initial set final set

Vicat
 compressive strength UPC White
70

60
compressive strength MPa

50

40

30

20

10

0
6 hours 24 hours 2 days 7 days
tested EN196-1 prisms 16x4x4 cm
 progressive strength development UPC White
80

70
compressive strength MPa

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
6 hours 24 hours 2 days 7 days 14 days 28 days
tested EN196-1 prisms 16x4x4 cm
 25
bound water

20
bound water %

15

10

0
5 10 15 20 25 30
time hours
differential thermal analysis (DTA) / thermogravimetric analysis (TG)
 porosity / bound water
45

40

35

30

25
porosity %

20

15

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
bound water %
relation porosity / bound water
 shrinkage
0,03

0,02

0,01
shrinkage mm/m

0,00
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300

-0,01

-0,02

-0,03
time / minutes
 used as binder

White
mixed with
Portlandcement
 mixratio White OPC : UPC WHITE

r-1:0 r-3:1 r-2:1 r-1:1 r-1:2 r-1:3 r-0:1

WHITE
PORTLANDCEMENT 300 225 200 150 100 75
CEM I 52,5 N

75 100 150 200 225 300

Total 300 300 300 300 300 300 300

 Setting times
4:30
4:00:00

4:00

3:30

3:00:00

3:00

2:30
time hrs:min:sec

2:00

1:30
1:10:00

1:00 0:50:00
0:40:00
0:30:00
0:30 0:25:00 0:24:00
0:21:00
0:20:00 0:18:00
0:15:00 0:14:00
0:10:00

0:00
r-1:0 r-3:1 r-2:1 r-1:1 r-1:2 r-1:3 r-0:1

Initial set Final set

 compressive strength
80,00

70,00 67,315
64,365

59,44 59,39
60,00 58,51 58,595
56,735
54,85 53,35
53,17 52,61 52,99
52,175 52,42 51,40 50,98
compressive strength (Mpa)

50,00 47,4
46,215 46,94 46,14 46,10
45,535 45,17 45,63
43,77 43,01
42,56

40,00 39,48 39,28

37,57 38,23
34,86

30,38
30,00 28,56

24,35

20,00
16,20
15,69
14,35

10,00 8,19
4,29
2,04
0,00
0,00
OPC 1:0 UPC OPC 3:1 UPC OPC 2:1 UPC OPC 1:1 UPC OPC 1:2 UPC OPC 1:3 UPC OPC 0:1 UPC
6 hours 24 hours 2 days 7 days 14 days 28 days
based on the chemical reaction on hydration
by fast release of alumina ions from its main
phase 12CaO 7Al2O3
(C12A7 ”mayenite”)
reacting quickly with available
calcium and sulphate ions forming high
amounts of so called “ettringite” crystals
(Aft also KLEIN’s compound)
tri-sulpho-aluminate salt;
ettringite crystals
needle, ladth or rod like crystals (morphology can vary)
formed at early stage of hydration

• fine needles, hexagonal shaped crystals

• on average 1 ~ 7 μ in size
• volume increase on hydration
• binds excess water (32 water molecules)
• improve the density filling the pore structure

ettringite crystal
0,007 mm 7 μ
0.0003 inch

human hair
0,070 mm
70 μ
0.0035 inch
combines all features of Calcium Sulpho Aluminate Cement
with a white consistent colour;
ü rapid hardening
ü high early strength
ü excess water bound on hydration
ü progressive strength development
ü compensated shrinkage
ü improved bond strength
ü reduced alkali
ü accelerated autogenous drying
ü closed pore structure
ü low porosity
European Standard for tile adhesives and –grouts

modern unglazed tiles called “ultragres” or “porcelanosa” and getting

bigger and thinner

thickness between 3 and 6 mm.(0,12”~0,24”) is becoming the standard.

water absorbency is <0.05% on the surface and water absorbency on
the bottom < 0.3% (EN-ISO 10545-3)

use of class C2 is essential to garantee sufficient bond strength

EUF (European Tile Setters
Federation ) divides large sized
tiles in;

XL (surface area of 1 square meter

or 10 square feet)

XXL (surface area of at least 3m or

32 squarefeet)
Large size tiles are inserted on a flat surface with a back and forth
movement, crosswise to the adhesive grooves

pressed firmly from the center towards the edges in order to flatten the
adhesive grooves, minimizing the amount of air inclusions

a maximum contact surface and an optimal adhesive distribution gives the

optimum bond

in most cases more water is added to make

the adhesive more fluid

large tiles require fewer joints and are usually

finer in width than 2 mm./0,08”
how to obtain sufficient contact surface when
installing these type of large “gres” tiles
assuring sufficient bond strength to comply to
standard C2 FTE S2 ?

• C2 : improved adhesive
• F :Fast Setting
• T :Thixotropic
• E : Extended Working Time
• S2 : Highly Deformable
Cellulose ethers and higher dosage of Redispersable Polymer Powder
(RDP dosage advised S2 is more than 5%) cause retardation of cement hydration ,
has an impact on the rheology and cause air entrainment

UPC WHITE as binder / addition to Portlandcement;

• accelerated set
• rheology modification
• low porosity, high density
• improved bond strength
• excess water bound , autogenous drying
• positive volume change, less stress
• rapid and complete drying of interfacial surface
• low alkali cement

placing natural stone the risk of stains forming on the

surface is minimized
controlled formation of ettringite crystals play an important role in cement tile grouts
in order to fill the thin, fine joints used in the application of large size tiles the grout
contains a lot of water impacting shrinkage, porosity, efflorescence and wear resistance

CALUMEX® UPC WHITE as binder

• quick hardening and drying
• closed fine matrix
• high density
• leaving less pores
• high wear resistance
• compensating shrinkage ensuring a durable and stable joint
• low alkali content prevents discoloration
• no lime bloom
for making ‘’ fast set terrazzo’’

ü high reflection value

ü quick de-molding
ü compatible with various aggregates
ü recycled glass
ü reduced risk efflorescence
ü fast polishing
 self leveling easy handling

rapid hardening fast polishable

• decorative concrete
• countertops
• glass fiber reinforced concrete (GRC)
• architectural precast
• dry-mixed mortars
• self levelling topping mortar