Choosing a plasticizer for gypsum

For the production of the most durable and solid products from a gypsum base, a special plasticizer is additionally used. This component is a special fine building powder. It not only allows you to make structures more durable, but also provides better material adhesion during application, plasticity, and the creation of a special porous structure.

A plasticizer for gypsum mass is a special composition that is most often made on a polycarboxylate base. The additive can significantly improve the properties of the material.

When using a plasticizer, the building composition will be highly volatile. He will be able to fill all the elements of relief surfaces, while the number of bubbles is significantly reduced.

Usually, such powders are light in color (white, light yellow, light brown). The substance can significantly improve the quality of the finished gypsum product.

On the Russian market of construction products, you can find a small number of brands that produce such mixtures for gypsum. To date, operating companies producing such converters produce a variety of types of plasticizers.

• Freeplast. This company produces three main types of plasticizers, depending on what exactly they will be used for. The most common option is considered to be the "A" class type. It will be an excellent option if you just need to increase the level of strength of gypsum decorative structures. Option "Profi" are intended to reduce the cost of manufacturing gypsum parts, increase the level of strength. Products "Facade" are used in cases when it is necessary to build gypsum products of maximum strength, which will be located in the open air. The products of the Freeplast company significantly reduce water consumption and increase the level of moisture resistance. Most often, it is used when installing paving slabs, facade structures, decorative stone, landscape details, and exterior elements. Samples of this company have a relatively low cost, excellent quality.

• Cemmix. This manufacturer produces products that significantly accelerate the process of solidification of the mass, it fills the form better and self-compacts. By increasing the activity of building particles, these plasticizers completely involve the material in the work. However, when using such additional additives, the finished gypsum parts may acquire a different shade (yellow, light brown).

• "Owl-2000" most often used for the installation of stucco, decorative stone, garden figures. This type has increased plasticizing characteristics, so the more such powder you add to gypsum, the less water you need. So the plasticizer can significantly reduce costs in the manufacture of plaster objects.

A you can also see a special "Gypsum Converter SVV-500" on sale. It is a finely dispersed powder mixture with a light gray color. The additive contains in its composition a special activator, which ensures the rapid hardening of the gypsum.

This converter is capable of increasing the strength of parts by 7-10 times. In addition, the substance makes the material plastic, improves the surface quality by forming pores. At the same time, the use of such a composition somewhat slows down the setting process of the building mass when applied.

"Gypsum converter SVV-500" contains in its composition a large number of additional components at once, therefore the addition of other substances is not recommended, as this can lead to an imbalance, deterioration of the main characteristics.

It should be stored indoors or outdoors under a canopy. In any case, you need to select places with a stable level of humidity.

Special gypsum plasticizers can be used to create a wide variety of structures. Often, such an additive is used in the manufacture of decorative items that are made using castings.

Plasticizers can be used in bas-reliefs. They are also taken as an additional component for the production of durable plaster. Such compositions allow you to make the installation as durable and reliable as possible.

Before purchasing the most suitable plasticizer, you should pay special attention to some of the nuances. So, be sure to look at the main characteristics of the products. It is better to select products that provide the maximum strength of the products - they should increase the strength level by 5-10 times.

Also, remember that different types of plasticizers are intended for different purposes. So, in hardware stores, buyers will be able to find samples for facades, sidewalk structures, decorative plaster products.

If you don't want to buy ready-made gypsum plasticizers, you can use a simple laundry detergent. Such a component will make the mass stronger and more durable. But at the same time, it is almost impossible to achieve the same result as with ready-made plasticizers.

Plaster plasticizers are complex chemicals. Any household detergent will not be able to provide the same effective result.

Before using special additives for gypsum mixtures, you should read the instructions in advance. It is in it that there will be instructions on the necessary dosages of all constituent elements.

In addition, it is worth remembering that when using such additives, much less water should be poured into the solution. The consumption of plasticizer per 1 kilogram of gypsum can be different depending on what result you want to achieve.

If you need to make a super-strong plaster structure, then it is better to take 1.5-5% of the additive and about 350-370 grams of water. If you just want to make the future product more durable, then you can take only about 0.3-0.5%.

It is recommended to count the required amount of the mixture by the gravimetric method; it is better not to do the dosage by volume.

After mixing all the components, the finished mass should not be used immediately. It should be sufficiently fluid and molded. Only in this form, when pouring, too many pores will not appear on the surface.

Remember some of the rules regarding the storage of such products. After opening the package with the substance and using it, it should be also tightly and tightly closed, nothing should get inside. Otherwise, the additive cannot be used in the future.

What is a plasticizer, see below.