How long does gypsum dry?

Knowing how much gypsum dries is very important not only for builders, but also for those who make something with their own hands. Drying times for stucco and craft formulations can vary significantly. In addition to the standard numbers, you need to know what exactly to add to slow down the hardening, and to what extent these additives affect the process.

Here we can only say about the average indicators, which are given with solid amendments. Clean plaster can set in at least 10 minutes. The maximum curing time is only 25 minutes. The setting time of alabaster is noticeably shorter, only 5 to 10 minutes.

These average numbers can be influenced by:

• brands of the supplied product, corresponding to the permissible load per 1 sq. cm (at least 4 of them are known only in our country);

• the amount of water used in mixing (of course, with a greater dilution, both gypsum and alabaster will harden more slowly);

• humidity in the ambient air (the effect is similar, although somewhat less);

• the temperature of the air and water used for mixing, as well as the temperature of walls and other structures;

• fraction according to which the powder is ground;

• the occurrence of various impurities and their composition.

But still, humidity and temperature, as well as the brand of the product, do not affect too much. The time difference is unlikely to be more than 10-30%. Therefore, in pure form, both gypsum and alabaster are prepared in modest portions. There should be exactly as many of them as can be applied in a few minutes. Otherwise, some of the batch will go to waste; the amount required is determined by skill.

Since alabaster is usually not applied in a layer greater than 1 cm, the setting begins in 4 minutes. Finishing is possible after 60 minutes. The highest hardness is reached after 24 hours.

Sometimes for lovers of ornamental art, plaster also hardens excessively quickly. Like construction, it begins to acquire hardness after 4 minutes. This process continues for another 26 minutes. Therefore, the total hardening time is 30 minutes.... The conclusion is very simple and transparent: no matter how difficult it is, you should strive to use the prepared composition immediately.

Most often used citric acid. Three grams of the drug are diluted in 1 liter of water. If you use milk powder instead of acid, you need to put 10 g. The same amount is used glue MC. All these reagents act in the same way - they allow to increase the solidification time up to ¼ hour.

Additionally apply:

• PVA glue (25% of the volume of water in solution);

• milk fat content from 3.2% in the amount of 10-20% of the water volume;

• table vinegar (60 g per 0.5 l) - an excellent reagent, according to a number of authors, increases the solidification time by 50 minutes;

• laundry / liquid soap - respectively, 100 g or 200 g per 1 liter (setting time rises by 20-30 minutes);

• professional plasticizers (sometimes referred to as retarders).