Construction and Building Materials 23 (2009) 1022–1027

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Construction and Building Materials

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/conbuildmat

Bond strength and transversal deformation aging on cement-polymer

adhesive mortar
Flavio L. Maranhão a,b,*, Vanderley M. John a,1
a
Department of Construction Engineering, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Almeida Prado, trav. 2, n. 83, Edif. de Eng. Civil – Cid.,
Universitária, São Paulo 05508-900, Brazil
b
São Judas University, R. Taquari, 546 – Mooca – São Paulo/SP – CEP 03166-000, Brazil

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Polymer-modified mortar is widely used to set ceramic tiles used as external finishing for high rise build-
Received 22 August 2007 ings in countries such as Brazil, Israel, Singapore and Portugal, mainly because it shows better bond
Received in revised form 7 April 2008 strength and flexibility as compared to the traditional ones. Despite this, the results in the literature
Accepted 6 May 2008
already published concerning the long-term performance of those composite mortars are is not conclu-
Available online 15 July 2008
sive.
This paper, based on a laboratory program, compared the performance over time of four commercial
Keywords:
polymer-modified adhesive mortars exposed to a typical Brazilian outdoor aging environment and to
Polymer mortar
Mechanical properties
an indoor environment in terms of mortar flexibility and the bond strength to porcelain tiles.
Aging The results show that under laboratory condition, the mortars are more flexible and have higher bond
strength than under external condition, and that there is an important correlation between the transver-
sal deformability and the bond strength.
Ó 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
Adhered ceramic tiles are widely used as external finishing for
high rise building in countries such as Brazil [1], Portugal [2], Sin-
gapore [3] and Israel [4], although many cases of water tightness
cause joints and tiles detachments.
In order to set the tiles, polymer-modified mortars have been
used mainly because they improve workability, water retention,
mechanical properties, bond strength, flexibility and hydrophobic
properties as compared to traditional mortars.
Many scientific studies on those materials focus on microstruc-
ture [5–8], polymer cement matrix interaction [9], mortar hydra-
tion evolution [10,11], film formation process [12,13] and
mechanical properties improvements [14]. Yet, few focus on
long-term performance and flexibility.
The authors focus on mortar flexibility that generally used dif-
ferent specimen dimensions, load rates, cure and storage condi-
tions to evaluate the mortars, making the results difficult to be
compared [15–21]. Generally, those authors pointed out that the
* Corresponding author. Address: Department of Construction Engineering,
Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Almeida Prado, trav. 2, n. 83,
Edif. de Eng. Civil – Cid., Universitária, São Paulo 05508-900, Brazil. Tel.: +55 11
3091 5234; fax: +55 11 3091 5544.
E-mail addresses: flavio.maranhao@poli.usp.br (F.L. Maranhão), vanderley.
john@poli.usp.br (V.M. John).
1
Tel.: +55 11 3091 5234.
higher the polymer content, the higher the flexibility and that a
wet environment exposition causes a significant reduction in
flexibility.
The long-term performance of the adhesive mortars is a very
important safety requirement for tile cladding and its degradation
causes many detachments [22]. However, the results so far pub-
lished are not conclusive. There are results showing that of an over
10-year long outdoor natural aging, the bond strength to a concrete
substrate (pull-out are not affected by aging [23] and that is con-
siderably reduced along the same time [5]). Others, based on accel-
erated aging tests, showed reductions in bond strength in ceramic
tiles from 50% to 70% as compared to initial values [24]. It is possi-
ble that the different conclusions are related to different aging fac-
tors as well as to variations in polymer type and properties.
No research focusing on the flexibility long-term performance
was identified.
The purpose of this paper is to compare the performance over
time of different polymer-modified adhesive mortars exposed to
a typical Brazilian outdoor aging environment and to an indoor
environment in terms of mortar flexibility and the bond strength
to porcelain tiles.
2. Experimental procedures
The performance up to 180 days of four different adhesive
mortar samples available in the Brazilian market to set porcelain

0950-0618/$ - see front matter Ó 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2008.05.019
 F.L. Maranhão, V.M. John / Construction and Building Materials 23 (2009) 1022–1027 1023

Project Design Specimens were kept in laboratory conditions for 72 h. After

Mortar A Mortar B Mortar C Mortar D
Laboratory Storage External storage
Flexibility Bond strength
28 days 90 days 180 days
Fig. 1. Experimental program design.
stoneware tiles, exposed both to internal and external environ-
ment were tested (Fig. 1).
In the internal environment, the specimens were stored under
laboratory conditions with temperature and relative humidity
around 25 °C and 60%, respectively, along the whole time.
In the external environment, the specimens allowed water and
other environmental degradation agents to be in direct contact
with the polymer-modified mortars without any protection. There-
fore, the exposition is considerably different from a mortar used in
a regular façade or wall, where the tiles at least provide some pro-
tection to the mortar layer.
The exposition site was Itupeva, Brazil (23°10’S and 47°02’W,
675 m above sea level) from December 2003 to June of 2004. The
specimens inclination was 45° to the horizon, facing north. The ac-
tual temperature and rainfall were not recorded, but the annual
average temperature in the city is 21 °C (varying between 23.8 °C
in January and 19.2 °C in June) and the average precipitation is
1.393 mm/year. Previously to any laboratory tests, these samples
were conditioned for 24 h under laboratory condition.
2.1. Materials
The mortars used in this experimental program (Table 1) are
from the Brazilian market. There are a two-component mortar
(A), two dry-set mortars designed to set large tiles on façades (B
and C), and a dry-set mortar designed to set tile over tile adhesion
(D) and it is only recommended for interior environment.
The AC III Brazilian classification is equivalent to the C2 in the
EN 12004 standard and the AC II is equivalent to C1 in the same
standard.
2.2. Methods
The mortar mixture procedures used were performed according
to Brazilian Standard NBR 14082 [25]: the powder is gradually
added to the water (or emulsion in the case of mortar A) using a
laboratory planetary mixer for 2 min, followed by a maturation
time of 15 min.
that period, they were moved to the laboratory storage or external
areas, according to the experimental plan. After 28, 90 and
180 days, tests were conducted.
The flexibility was measured with the transversal deformation
test based on EN 12002 [26], using 280 mm  45 mm  3 mm
specimens. The specimens were submitted to a load rate of 1 N/
min in an Instron Universal Machine with a cell load of 1 kN and
using the apparatus presented in Fig. 2. For each age and mortar,
at least five specimens were tested. The ultimate load was also
recorded.
The bond strength tests were based on NBR 14084 [25], using
direct pull-out test with a load cell unit of 5.0 kN. However, instead
of the standard ceramic tile, a 0.2% water absorption porcelain
stoneware was used in this study. Mortar was applied using a
6 mm  6 mm trowel on a standard concrete substrate. After
5 min of waiting, the 50  50 mm porcelain stoneware was posi-
tioned and pressed with a 2.0 kg dead load for 30 s. For each age
and mortar, a minimum of 10 results were produced.
3. Results
In Tables 2 and 3 all average results are presented.
3.1. Flexibility test
Fig. 3 shows the results over time of the transversal deforma-
tion during the bending test for specimens stored at internal
conditions.
The results obtained under laboratory storage are higher than
usually mentioned in the literature, but are in accordance when
the author used similar storage conditions [20]. As expected, the
mortars classified as ACIII in Brazilian Standard (A and B) showed
the highest results and the latex mortar was the highest one. The
lowest value was obtained in mortar C at 28 days, 6.08 mm, and
the highest one was 16.25 mm in mortar A at 90 days.
The transversal deformations of the specimens after 180 days
are slightly lower than at 28 days. Mortar C showed the highest in-
crease over the days, more than 15%, while mortars A and B, de-
creased 6.0% and 8.0%, respectively.
Fig. 4 shows the ultimate load results over time during bend-
ing test for specimens stored at internal conditions. In this case,
mortars A and D showed the highest values and all mortars in-
creased over 30% along time, except for mortar A, which in-
creased only 8%. The highest single value obtained was in
mortar A at 180 days (4.0 N) and the lowest one was in mortar
C at 28 days (1.0 N).
The ultimate load results showed a higher dispersion than the
transversal deformation, with coefficient of variation higher than
15% in all cases and, in some, higher than 30%. Mortar C at 180,
which showed a coefficient of variation of 3.00%, was an exception.
Figs. 5 and 6 show the transversal deformations and ultimate
load average results for external storage conditions. As identified
in laboratory storage, mortar A showed the highest values, but,

Table 1
Mortar used in the experimental program

Nomenclature Classification according Type Water Compressive strength at 28 days (MPa) – CSTB Flexural strength at 28 days (MPa) CSTB
to Brazilian Standard (latex)/powder 2669-4/93 2669-4/93
NBR 14081 ratio
Internal storage External storage Internal storage External storage
A ACIII Latex 35% latex 7.80 8.43 5.35 5.97
B ACIII Dry-set 32% 4.42 5.23 2.83 4.04
C ACII Dry-set 32% 6.87 7.49 4.94 5.37
D ACII Dry-set 27% 8.70 7.31 4.33 3.14
1024 F.L. Maranhão, V.M. John / Construction and Building Materials 23 (2009) 1022–1027

Fig. 2. Method used to measure the adhesive mortars deformability.

Table 2
Results for internal storage conditions

Mortar A Mortar B Mortar C Mortar D

28 days 90 days 180 days 28 days 90 days 180 days 28 days 90 days 180 days 28 days 90 days 180 days
Transversal deformation (mm) 13.64 14.87 12.78 9.88 9.72 9.04 7.15 8.16 8.36 7.56 7.08 7.62
Ultimate load (N) 3.00 3.10 3.24 1.80 2.43 2.72 1.60 1.70 2.06 2.10 2.05 3.00
Bond strength (MPa) 2.44 2.88 2.79 1.64 1.80 1.94 1.27 1.47 1.22 0.79 0.80 0.92

Table 3
Results for external storage conditions

Mortar A Mortar B Mortar C Mortar D

28 days 90 days 180 days 28 days 90 days 180 days 28 days 90 days 180 days 28 days 90 days 180 days
Transversal deformation (mm) 2.85 2.71 2.82 1.83 1.67 1.86 2.05 1.89 1.53 1.60 1.60 1.18
Ultimate load (N) 8.00 7.62 7.1 4.75 3.88 2.55 9.40 7.64 5.88 5.00 6.18 3.65
Bond strength (MPa) 2.36 2.21 1.97 0.90 0.59 0.99 1.49 1.95 1.49 0.13 0.06 0.05

Fig. 3. Transversal deformation under INTERNAL storage conditions.

Fig. 4. Ultimate load on the flexibility test for INTERNAL storage conditions.

Comparing the internal and external results, it is clear that the

in this case, mortar B did not show better results than the other
two mortars at the three ages evaluated.
Under external storage, along time the transversal deformation
and the ultimate load were reduced. In the transversal deforma-
tion, mortars C and D, classified as ACII in the Brazilian Standard,
showed the highest reduction, decreasing 18% and 15% from 28
to 180 days, respectively, while the other mortars decreased less
than 1.0% and do not seem to be influenced by age.
On the other hand, in the ultimate load tests, all mortars
showed higher decreases from 28 to 180 days, except for mortar
A, which decreased 10%. The other mortars decreased more than
30%, and mortar B reached 50%.
storage condition influenced the transversal deformation and ulti-
mate load results in all mortars tested, making the mortar less flex-
ible and more rigid. This is caused by a better hydration of the
polymer matrix [7].
For the transversal deformation (Fig. 7), the highest result ob-
tained under external conditions was 3.55 mm, which is 50% lower
than the lowest value under laboratory storage conditions.
Those results are in accordance with other results already pub-
lished for specimens immersed along 40 days in water [20].
For the ultimate load, the external values were two point five
times or more than the internal ones, except for mortar B at 90
and 180 days, and mortar D at 180 days.
 F.L. Maranhão, V.M. John / Construction and Building Materials 23 (2009) 1022–1027 1025

Fig. 5. Transversal deformation under EXTERNAL storage conditions.

Those results confirm that the main factor that influences the
cement-polymer mechanical performance is water [5,6,29], be-
cause it acts in the polymer matrix which is responsible for flexibil-
ity. Other authors already showed that water absorption causes an
irreversible alteration in the cement matrix porous system and a
reversible swelling and softening in the polymer [7,27].

3.2. Bond strength

Fig. 8 shows the bond strength results at internal storage.

Fig. 6. Ultimate load under EXTERNAL storage conditions.
Under laboratory conditions, mortar A showed the highest bond
strength results followed by mortars B, C and D, respectively. With
time, it shows slight increase in bond strength. Mortar B, classified
as ACIII, showed the highest increase, with 19.0%, followed by D, A
and C, with 16%, 15% and 4%, respectively.

Fig. 7. Comparison of the flexibility of samples stored under laboratory and external conditions.
1026 F.L. Maranhão, V.M. John / Construction and Building Materials 23 (2009) 1022–1027
Fig. 8. Bond strength at INTERNAL storage condition.
Fig. 9. Bond strength at EXTERNAL storage condition.
The coefficient of variation in mortars A, B and C was similar
and ranged from 7% to 20%. Mortar D showed the highest values,
reaching 40%.
Fig. 9 shows the bond strength results at external storage
conditions.
Under external exposition, mortar A continued to show the
highest bond strength values, followed by C, B and D. The coeffi-
cient of variation in this case, was higher than that observed in
the internal exposition. For mortar A and C, it ranges from 10% to
20%, while in mortars B and D, it was higher than 50%.
On the other hand, under external storage, a slight decrease was
observed in bond strength over time. The highest decrease was ob-
served in mortars D and A, which reduced 93% and 16%, respec-
tively. The others do not seem to be influenced.
Fig. 11. Correlation between the bond strength and the transversal deformation average values.
Fig. 10. Bond strength ratio: external/internal.
Comparing the bond strength values from external and internal
expositions, it is clear that the external ones are lower than the
internal ones, similar to those observed in the transversal deforma-
tion. Those reductions were more important in mortar D, which is
not recommended for external applications areas, followed by B
and A.
Mortar C shows a different behavior with increases in bond
strength.
As in the flexibility test, the bond strength specimens were di-
rectly in contact with the environmental degradation agents with-
out any barrier that could influence the results. Despite this, the
results clearly showed that the external expositions reduced the
bond strength (Fig. 10).
The results obtained are in accordance with other authors when
the immersion cure is used [28].
4. Discussion
The external exposition reduced the transversal deformation
and the bond strength of all mortars tested, but increased the ulti-
mate load on the bending test.
Comparing bond strength and transversal deformation, exposed
in Fig. 11, an important correlation could be identified, if, and only
if, the analysis is divided according to the storage condition. For the
other others variables evaluated in this research a low correlations
were identified, characterized by correlation index lower than 0.5.
Under laboratory condition, the bond strength on a porcelain
stoneware tile, which has water absorption lower than 0.2%, seems
to be a good parameter to estimate the transversal deformation. On
the other hand, under external condition, there seems to be a
 F.L. Maranhão, V.M. John / Construction and Building Materials 23 (2009) 1022–1027
threshold on the transversal deformation that influences the re-
sults. However, a good correlation was identified.
Based on those results, it is clear that flexibility depends on the
water tightness of the ceramic tile system, which, in practical
terms, is controlled by the permeability and integrity of the grout
mortar. In a typical façade, the grout between ceramic tiles is
sometimes applied after the setting of the tiles to the façade. Dur-
ing this period, the mortar is exposed to natural environment,
including rain. More than that, during the service life period, there
is a considerable risk of localized grout failure, making water infil-
tration possible. Considering the low vapor permeability of the
ceramic tile, it is expected that any water will take a long time to
evaporate. These observations must be confirmed by further
investigation.
Therefore, since the mortar bond strength and the flexibility are
dependent of the polymer performance, it is expected that the
polymer benefits on a real façade could be reduced along the clad-
ding service life due water leakages problems. This can be the
cause for important cladding failures, such as detachments.
5. Conclusion
The test program proved that the storage condition influences
the bond strength and transversal deformation of polymer-modi-
fied mortars used to set ceramic tile on building claddings.
Under laboratory condition, the mortars are more flexible and
have higher bond strength than under external condition.
The correlation obtained between the transversal deformability
and the bond strength was dependent on the storage condition,
and mainly on the usage of porcelain stoneware tiles for the bond
strength tests.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank PortokollÒ team for their sup-
port provided with the experiments, specially to Marcos Nunes,
Edson Esmeraldino and Daniele Bertolli. The authors would also
like to thank PortobelloÒ Ceramic Industry for the support in the
initial stages of the research, specially Dr. Jonas Medeiros and New-
ton Carpes.
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