Construction
Berdica Cement offers a broad range of materials, services, expert technical support, and strong market knowledge. Our team of dedicated chemical specialists provides application development and support from market and trend research to product formulation, development, and marketing.
We assist our customers in new dry-mix applications and offer them the most current technology in formulating products that meet customer requirements. Because we are able to help our customers choose the right materials and additives the first time, the product development process is streamlined, and time to market is reduced.
Our strong alliances with world-class suppliers allow us to be a reliable partner of choice for your current and future product
requirements.
BINDERS
The binders can be mineral or organic and are used to glue aggregate and other particles together providing adhesion to the substrate. Due to their physical or chemical reaction, binders play the major role in the final strength of the mortar
Çimsa Super White – CEM I 52,5 R – White Portland Cement
White Cement is similar to ordinary gray Portland Cement in all aspects except for its high degree of whiteness. Obtaining this color requires substantial modification to the method of manufacture and because of this, it is somewhat more expensive than the gray cement.
White cement allows a wide range of use in:
- Decorative Concrete
- Swimming Pools
- Stucco and Plasters
- Tile Grout
- Concrete Masonry and Mortar
- Cast Stone
Calcium Aluminate Cement
Calcium Aluminate Cement (CAC) is classified as a hydraulic binder presenting various advantages, such as fast hardening at room temperature and suitable rheological properties, when compared to traditional materials. Calcium Aluminate Cement will develop as much strength in 24 hours as Portland cement concrete will achieve in 28 days.
Some of the purposes for which CAC may be specified include:
- cold weather work
- resistance to high temperatures
- resistance to mild acids and alkalis
- resistance to sulfates, sea water, and pure water
- rapid hardening
- self-leveling underlayment
Hydrated Lime CL 90 S
Lime is an important component in the external and internal coatings, enhancing the strength, durability, and functionality. It has been used in masonry mortar for centuries and is still used today in both historical and modern applications. Lime based plasters have a greater resistance to deterioration in damp conditions than plasters containing gypsum.
Hydrated lime can be used in many applications, such as:
- Repair Mortar
- Decorative Coating
- Skim Coat/Stucco
- Plug Mortar
- Self-leveling Underlayment
Polymer Binders
Dispersible and redispersible polymer binders are polymer powders such as vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer and vinyl chloride-ethylene. It can be used as co-binders in cementitious dry mortars improving adhesion, flexibility, thixotropic properties, outstanding flow properties, and water repellency. Depending on class of polymer it can be with: great flowing properties, thixotropic effects, leveling effects, hydrophobic properties, neutral on rheology properties, extended open time.
Polymer binders can be used in:
- Tile Adhesives
- Tile Grouts
- Renders and Plasters
- ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems)
- Water Proofing Membranes
- Self-Leveling Compounds
- Wall and Joint Fillers
- Concrete Repair
- Gypsum Joint Fillers
- Crack Fillers
- Repair Mortar
AGGREGATES AND FILLERS
Calcium carbonate
Calcium carbonate is one of most used aggregates. Calcium Carbonate can reach a purity of 99% CaCO3.
The particle size of Calcium Carbonate can vary: 100 µm; 200 µm; 0.2 – 0.5 mm; 0.2 – 0.8 mm; 1 mm; 1.5 mm; 2 mm; 2.5 mm; 3 mm.
There is also available Calcium Carbonate in finer particle size: ultra-fine, top cut from 15 µm to 100 µm.
Usage of Calcium Carbonate:
- Tile Adhesives
- Tile Grouts
- Renders and Plasters
- ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems)
- Water Proofing Membranes
- Self-Leveling Compounds
- Wall and Joint Fillers
- Concrete Repair
- Gypsum Joint Fillers
- Crack Fillers
- Repair Mortar
ADDITIVES
Additives are very important in dry mortars. Without an additive, dry mortars cannot achieve many technical properties. The additives have an organic or inorganic origin, often of polymeric nature. They can improve the mixing of the dry mortar with water and have many other properties.
Cellulose ether
Cellulose ether (white powder) is used as thickening and water retaining agent in dry mortars. It can be dissolved in cold and hot water. Cellulose ether can be unmodified, modified, or in a high grade of modification. Cellulose ether derivatives include methyl cellulose (MC), hydroxypropyl ethyl cellulose (HEC), hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (HEMC), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). Cellulose ether viscosity can vary from 600 mPa·s to 60000 mPa·s.
Cellulose ether properties:
- water retention
- adhesion
- thickening and stabilizing action
- binding ability
- protective colloid
- suspension effect
- emulsion stabilization
Usage of cellulose ether:
- Tile Adhesives
- Renders and Plasters
- Tile Grouts
- ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems)
- Water Proofing Membranes
- Self-Leveling Compounds
- Wall and Joint Fillers
- Concrete Repair
- Decorative Concrete
- Swimming Pools
- Skim Coat/Stucco
- Concrete
- Cast Stone
- Plug Mortar
Thickening agent (Starch ether)
Starch ether can be used in combination with cellulose derivatives in dry gypsum and cement based mortars, tile adhesives, hand or machine spraying mortars, and caulking materials.
Its advantages are:
- improved workability
- sag resistance in tile adhesives
- good compatibility with many cellulose derivatives
Accelerators
Accelerators are used for reducing the setting time and for rapid hardening of the mortar. This allows mortars to be placed in winter without any frost damages happening.
Retarding Agents
Retarders are added to mixed mortar to delay the hydration and hardening of cement, making mortar maintain its plasticity longer.
Superplasticizer
Superplasticizer is dried powder of a sulphonated polycondensation product based on melamine. It is especially optimized for plastification and water reduction of cement and calcium sulphate based materials. It can be used in the following products:
- Self-leveling underlayment (SLU)
- Feather edge products
- Cementitious floor screeds
- Dry-mix concrete
- Repair mortars
- Non-shrink grouts
- Cementitious self-leveling underlayment
- Tile adhesives and joint fillers
Air-entraining agents
Air entraining agents are: Ethoxylated fatty alcohols, olefin sulphonate, sodium dodecylbenzen sulfonate.
These products produce an amount of homogeneously distributed microscopic air bubbles in building mortars. This reduces the density of the wet mortars and improves workability.
Defoaming Agent
The defoamer or anti-foaming agent is a surfactant that eliminates foam in a mixture. The defoamer can also prevent the regeneration of air bubbles over a long time.
Hydrophobic Agents
The hydrophobic agents are incorporated into dry-mix mortar to improve the water resistance of the final product. Reducing water absorption can also minimize the damaging effects of freeze/thaw cycles.
Cellulose fibers
Cellulose fibers are used as thickeners for fiber reinforcement. They can be used in:
- Plaster
- Tile adhesives
- Grouting for gypsum plasterboard
- Glue and reinforcing compounds for thermal insulation systems
- Joint and other fillers
- One or two component glues and sealing compounds
TECHNICAL SERVICES
Our diverse Technical Team has extensive experience and expertise in dry-mix applications. From concept to finished product, we work with you on formula development and sensory evaluation, and from pilot to plant trial, we can assist to ensure you receive the finished product you desire.
We have developed an effective Technical Services program that includes:
- Plant audits
- Formula optimization
- On-site training
- New product development
- Troubleshooting
- Finished product analysis if it is necessary
Our Team has an in-depth knowledge of ingredients, their functional properties and their application in the building materials industry.