What is cement mortar? Classification, identification, application

Cement mortar is a construction material made from mixing cement, water and additives, with the characteristic of hardening quickly within 30 - 60 minutes after mixing. This type of material is commonly used in the construction industry due to its high waterproofing ability and durability.

Cement mortar is classified based on 3 main factors: purpose of use (masonry mortar, tiling mortar, wall plastering mortar, decorative mortar), binding ingredients (cement mortar - sand, cement mortar - lime - sand, clay mortar - cement - sand) and volume weight (regular mortar KLR>1500kg/m³, lightweight mortar KLR<1500kg/m³).

To evaluate the quality of standard cement mortar, it is necessary to rely on 5 criteria: water retention, plasticity, adhesion, bearing capacity and expansion. In which, the ability to retain water and maintain the uniformity of the mortar from mixing to use is the most important factor.

Cement mortar is widely used in construction such as: building houses, creating concrete and foundations; plastering and tiling; repairing damaged parts; making waterproofing layers and creating foundations. There are many popular cement mortar grades on the market such as grades 10, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125, of which grades 75 and 100 are the most commonly used.

“In 2010, world cement production was 3.3 billion tons. The three largest cement-producing countries in the world are also the three most populous countries on the planet: the People's Republic of China (3 billion), India (3 million) and the United States (1,8 million), accounting for more than half of the world's total cement production.” according to Wikipedia.

What is cement mortar?

Cement mortar has two main components, cement and water, they have the characteristic of hardening quickly, without elasticity because cement is very hygroscopic. Normally, after about 2 - 30 minutes from mixing, the mortar will dry, so it should be used immediately because otherwise it will no longer be useful.

Because of its fast hardening ability, cement mortar is widely used in waterproofing, roofing, and swimming pool flooring. There are many types of cement mortar on the market with different mixing ingredients, so choosing the right mortar will depend on the specific purpose of use.

How to classify cement mortar?

According to reliable news sources, Kosmos found that cement mortars are classified based on three main criteria: purpose of use, binder composition and volumetric weight.

Based on intended use

Currently, cement mortar is divided into 4 types according to the purpose of use:

• Mortars
• Mortar
• Wall plaster
• Decorative stucco,…

In addition, people also produce cement mortar to meet needs such as:

• Waterproof mortar
• Mortar resistant to salinity
• High temperature resistant mortar.

Based on adhesive ingredients

Normally, cement mortar is classified according to the adhesive composition, including 3 main types:

• Cement-sand mortar
• Cement - lime - sand mortar
• Clay – cement – ​​sand mortar.

Based on volume mass

Through the process of researching and verifying information from many sources, Kosmos learned that cement mortar is divided into 2 main types based on volume weight:

• Regular mortar: KLR>1500kg/m³
• Lightweight mortar: KLR<1500kg/m³.

*KLR: Specific gravity.

How to identify standard cement mortar?

According to data provided by reputable sources that Kosmos has compiled, to determine whether cement mortar meets standards or not, you can base on the following 5 ways of identification.

Based on water retention

To ensure the quality of cement mortar, it is extremely important to maintain the water retention capacity from mixing to use. If the mortar is left for more than 60 minutes, stratification may occur, causing the sand layer to move to the bottom, while the water layer above will reduce the quality and affect the construction work.

Many factors such as the quality of raw materials, mixing method and type of mortar used can affect the water retention capacity of cement mortar. This requires regular monitoring, control of mortar consistency and plasticity during use to ensure the quality of the final product.

Based on flexibility

The flexibility of mortar reflects its flexibility, determined by the mixing ratio, quality of raw materials and specific mixing time.

Based on adhesion

Adhesion determines the ability of materials to adhere during construction. Mortar with high adhesion can increase product quality and prolong the life of the project.

To ensure good adhesion, maintaining the correct ratio of ingredients is extremely necessary. At the same time, cleaning the construction surface before plastering, cladding or covering with mortar also plays an important role.

Based on bearing capacity

The strength of cement mortar depends on the type of binder, the cement-sand ratio in the mortar, the water/binder balance, the quality of the sand, the storage conditions and the time for the mortar to harden. They are usually measured in units such as kN/cm² or daN/cm².

Based on expansion

Shrinkage and expansion represent the degree of dryness, hardness or flexibility of the mortar. Mortar with high shrinkage and expansion can easily cause cracking and peeling after completing the project.

What are the uses of cement mortar?

Through the process of verifying information from many sides, Kosmos found that cement mortar has many applications in life:

• Use cement mortar to build houses, create concrete, foundations, or other basic construction projects.
• Cement mortar is used to plaster walls, tile or stone, and create surface coatings in construction.
• Use cement mortar to repair damaged parts and renew old structures.
• Cement mortar is suitable for waterproofing and surface coating to prevent water and moisture from penetrating.
• Cement mortar is used to create foundations, floors or foundation mortar in construction projects.

Wall plaster for tiling walls

Use cement mortar to bond tiles to the floor

How many popular types of cement mortar are there on the market?

The grade of cement mortar usually indicates the durability of the mortar based on the compressive pressure it can withstand after hardening. In the market today, there are many types of cement mortar such as grades 10, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125. Among them, grade 75 cement mortar and grade 100 cement mortar are the two most popular types.

Cement mortar grade lookup table

Below is a material comparison table for cement mortar grades (grades 10, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125) for 1 cubic meter of cement mortar that Kosmos has compiled from many reputable sources.

The material mix for 1m³ of mortar includes cement, lime and yellow sand, with yellow sand defined as sand with a modulus index greater than 2 (ML>2).

The material mix for 1m³ of mortar includes fine sand, with sand determined to have a large modulus index in the range of 1,5 to 2,0 (ML = 1,5 ÷ 2,0).

Material mix for 1m³ yellow sand cement mortar, with sand determined to have a modulus index greater than 2 (ML > 2).

Material mix for 1m³ of cement mortar - fine sand, with sand determined to have a large modulus index in the range from 1,5 to 2,0 (ML = 1,5 ÷ 2,0).

Related question

Popular types of imitation cement materials at Kosmos

With the development of technology and increasing aesthetic demands, the construction and decoration materials market has seen the emergence of many lines of imitation cement products, bringing modern beauty and sophistication to living spaces, typically the material lines at Kosmos warehouse:

• Bamboo charcoal panels with cement and concrete patterns reproduce 70 - 80% of the beauty of real materials
• Gray cement wall and ceiling panels, moisture-proof and termite-proof
• Cement-like plastic flooring with convenient IXPE base layer.

Kosmos faux cement panels decorate living room walls

Kosmos warehouse contains large quantities of interior and exterior decorative panels and flooring

>>> Unique cement panels for modern interior style.

Top 5 quality cement mortars today?

Currently on the market there are many different types of cement mortar, below are 5 popular types that customers can refer to:

1. Sika Waterproofing Mortar
2. Sotin waterproof cement mortar
3. Mapei waterproof cement mortar
4. Lanko waterproof mortar
5. Mova waterproof mortar.

Cement mortar is an important construction material, widely used in many projects. Understanding the classification, identification and application of cement mortar helps us choose and use this material effectively, ensuring the quality and durability of the project.