| HS Code | 285348 |
| Product Type | General Purpose VAc-Acrylate RDP |
| Chemical Family | Vinyl Acetate-Acrylate Copolymer |
| Physical Form | Free-flowing white powder |
| Redispersibility | Excellent |
As an accredited General Purpose VAc-Acrylate RDP factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | General Purpose VAc-Acrylate RDP is packaged in 25 kg multi-layer paper bags with moisture-proof lining. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL: 20-foot container loaded with General Purpose VAc-Acrylate RDP, palletized, protected from moisture, secure for transport. |
| Shipping | General Purpose VAc-Acrylate RDP is shipped as a free-flowing white powder in multi-layer paper bags with polyethylene liners, typically 20 kg each. Keep pallets dry and ventilated; avoid moisture and direct sunlight. Non-hazardous for transport, but use dust masks and gloves during handling. |
| Storage | Store General Purpose VAc-Acrylate RDP in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight and moisture. Keep in original, unopened packaging, tightly sealed. Avoid high humidity and temperature extremes. Use within shelf life, typically 6–12 months. Once opened, reseal promptly and protect from water contact to prevent caking or performance loss. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is typically 12 months from production when stored in original, unopened packaging under cool, dry conditions. |
In cementitious tile adhesive dry mixes, general-purpose vinyl acetate-acrylate redispersible polymer powder (VAc-acrylate RDP) is metered at 2.0–3.5 wt% of total dry mix in C2TE-class formulations based on CEM I 42.5 R, graded silica sand, cellulose ether, calcium formate and limestone filler. The powder is dry-blended in a twin-shaft paddle mixer with working volume of 500 L before bagging. Pre-blending the polymer powder with cellulose ether and calcium formate for 120 s prior to aggregate introduction reduces polymer-rich agglomerates that later appear as surface defects on large-format porcelain installations. Water demand is typically held at 0.24–0.26 w/c. The wet mortar is mixed in a planetary paddle mixer conforming to EN 196-1 at 300 rpm for 3 min, left to slake for 5 min, and remixed for 15 s. Application with a 6 mm × 6 mm notched trowel on exterior concrete or interior heated screed substrates yields an open time sufficient for positioning porcelain tiles up to 1.2 m × 1.2 m, provided the surface drying rate does not exceed the film-forming capacity of the redispersed latex. Under EN 12004-2:2017, the C2TE designation requires tensile adhesion strength of at least 1.0 N/mm² after water immersion, heat ageing and freeze–thaw conditioning, and at least 0.5 N/mm² after extended open time. Testing is performed with 50 mm × 50 mm steel pull dollies bonded with two-component epoxy and a calibrated pull-off tester conforming to EN 1348:2007.
During cement hydration, the redispersed polymer particles coalesce into a continuous acetate-acrylic film that bridges capillary pores and forms a low-modulus interlayer at the tile-adhesive interface. Coalescence competes with early cement hydration for free water. At the lower end of the dosing range, water immersion before 7 days may permit uncoalesced particles to swell and reduce interfacial tensile adhesion. At 3.5 wt%, the polymer network becomes denser and the wet adhesive may display trowel stickiness at substrate temperatures above 30 °C. Pull-off failure mode is recorded after each conditioning regime because adhesive failure at the tile interface below 0.5 N/mm² indicates incomplete film wetting on low-porosity porcelain. On production lines using 600 L horizontal ribbon blenders, addition sequence deviations create localized polymer-rich streaks that shift failure mode from cohesive within the mortar to adhesive at the tile interface. The terminal finished product is a cementitious C2TE adhesive for large-format porcelain tile and low-absorption stone in interior and exterior service.
| Application segment | Standard designation | Test method designation |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramic tile adhesive | EN 12004-2:2017 | EN 1348:2007 |
| Self-leveling underlayment | EN 13813:2002 | EN 12706:2009 |
| ETICS base coat | ETAG 004:2013 | EN 1015-12:2016 |
| Cementitious waterproofing slurry | EN 14891:2017 | EN 1015-11:2001 |
| Concrete repair mortar | EN 1504-3:2005 | EN 1542:1999 |
| Tile grout | EN 13888:2009 | EN 12808-2:2008 |
Flow behaviour in cementitious self-leveling underlayment mixes is controlled by the dosage of general-purpose VAc-acrylate RDP at 1.0–2.5 wt% of dry mix in combinations of ordinary Portland cement, calcium sulfoaluminate clinker, α-hemihydrate gypsum, fine limestone filler and polycarboxylate superplasticizer. The polymer powder is pre-dispersed in a high-shear counter-current mixer before the addition of fine aggregate below 0.2 mm to prevent localized lumps that later block pin rakes on job sites. Water addition is fixed at 20–24 wt% of dry mix. Deviations of ±1 wt% from the target water content produce visible bleeding or a loss of flow diameter measured by a flow cone per EN 12706:2009. The fresh mortar is pumped through continuous screw pumps with rotor-stator elements and discharged through a smoothing rake, followed by a pin or needle roller to release air bubbles entrapped during mixing. The polymer powder stabilizes the fresh suspension and reduces segregation of fine particles during the first 15 min of flow.
The function of the redispersed film in self-leveling underlayment is not limited to surface hardness. It reduces the compressive-to-flexural strength ratio and improves adhesion to mechanically prepared concrete substrates measured by EN 1015-12:2016. Under EN 13813:2002, project specifications commonly require class CT-C25-F6 or CT-C30-F7. Addition levels near 1.0 wt% are used when surface indent resistance and rapid early strength are dominant, while levels near 2.5 wt% are specified when the subfloor will receive moisture-sensitive coverings and controlled surface absorption is required. At relative humidity above 70% RH, the open drying time before tile installation routinely extends beyond 48 h, and residual moisture must be checked before covering. Published film-formation kinetics under high-alkali calcium sulfoaluminate cement are limited, so dosage adjustments are validated with plant-scale slump-flow trials rather than extrapolated from ordinary Portland cement data. The terminal product is a smooth, self-finished subfloor capable of receiving ceramic tile, vinyl sheet or resin floor coverings.
In exterior thermal insulation composite systems, the cement-bound base coat on expanded polystyrene board is formulated with VAc-acrylate RDP at 2.0–4.0 wt% of dry mix to secure alkali-resistant glass fibre mesh and to provide an impact-resistant render under the finishing coat. The polymer powder is dry-mixed with CEM I 52.5 R, limestone filler, cellulose ether and air-entraining admixtures to produce a smooth trowel-applied mortar having a wet density of 1.4–1.6 kg/L. The base coat is applied in two passes: a first pass of approximately 3 mm, mesh embedding, then a second pass to a total thickness of 5–7 mm. On production lines with single-shaft planetary mixers, the polymer powder is mixed with water at 0.20–0.23 w/c. Water additions above 0.25 w/c lead to sagging and mesh float-out, while water below 0.19 w/c causes insufficient mesh wetting and reduced tensile bond to EPS. Pull-off adhesion to EPS after dry and water immersion conditioning is evaluated under ETAG 004:2013 and reported according to EN 1015-12:2016. The finish coat then provides weather protection, and the complete system receives a final mineral or resin-bound texture. In long-term exterior exposure, the VAc-acrylate film must resist alkaline hydrolysis from the cement matrix; acetate groups are progressively hydrolysed, and polymer selection with controlled acetate content is preferred for façades exposed to high driving rain. The terminal product is an ETICS base coat with embedded reinforcement mesh, forming the structural weathering layer of the insulation assembly.
Flexible cementitious waterproofing slurries used beneath ceramic tiling on balconies and wet rooms are formulated with VAc-acrylate RDP at 3.0–6.0 wt% of dry mix, often in combination with fine silica sand, cement, calcium carbonate and hydrophobic agents. The high polymer content forms an integrated film within the cementitious matrix and remains effective only when the slurry is cured under continuously moist conditions for at least 72 h. Dry curing below 50% RH arrests latex coalescence at the surface and produces microcracks that reduce water impermeability in EN 14891:2017 testing. The slurry is mixed in a low-shear paddle mixer at 400 rpm for 2 min and applied by trowel or brush in two or three coats totalling 1.5–2.0 mm, with reinforcement by nonwoven polyester fabric at corners and coves. The redispersed polymer lowers the elastic modulus and allows the membrane to bridge static cracks up to the deformation capacity of the specific system. Published data for crack bridging under dynamic loading at addition levels below 3.0 wt% remain limited.
The critical process limit is film re-dispersion during first contact with mixing water. If the polymer powder is not fully attached to cement particles during dry mixing, hydrophobic film fragments can float to the surface of the wet slurry and form highly elastic but low-strength skins. On production-scale intensive mixers, pre-blending the RDP with fine filler for 120–180 s prevents such segregation. Water addition is kept within 28–35 wt% for trowel-grade formulations and 35–42 wt% for brush-grade slurries. After application, terminal use requires ceramic tile installation using a C2 adhesive that is compatible with the membrane. Adhesion between membrane and tile adhesive is measured by EN 1015-12:2016, and the hardened waterproofing layer is checked for pinholing, film thickness, and adhesion to the substrate. The finished product is a flexible cement-based waterproofing membrane with crack-bridging capability under tile finishes in interior and exterior wet areas.
Where vertical and overhead concrete repair demands low shrinkage and high bond strength, VAc-acrylate RDP is metered at 2.0–4.0 wt% of dry mix in structural repair mortars specified under EN 1504-3:2005. The dry blend comprises CEM I 42.5 R, supplementary cementitious materials, graded quartz aggregates, polypropylene fibres and powder defoamer. The polymer powder is combined with the binder fraction in a compulsory pan mixer to keep film-forming polymer particles attached to cementitious fines rather than concentrating in aggregate voids. Water content is maintained at 0.12–0.16 w/c. Exceeding the upper limit creates polymer-assisted slump and reduces compressive strength below class R4 requirements, while lower water limits produce insufficient film coalescence and decreased pull-off strength under EN 1542:1999. The mixed mortar is forced into prepared cavities using a trowel or wet spray equipment with screw pump delivery, and finished with a steel float to close surface pores. The polymer film in the hardened mortar redistributes stress at microcrack tips, giving the repair layer greater deformation tolerance than unmodified cementitious repair mortar. In applications subject to freeze–thaw and de-icing salts, additional air entrainment and a protective coating are required because the polymer film alone does not prevent chloride ingress into the substrate concrete. The terminal product is a structural patch repair layer that restores concrete cover and provides adhesion to prepared reinforcement, with coating compatibility verified before overcoating.
Cementitious tile grouts for ceramic and porcelain tile joints are formulated with VAc-acrylate RDP at 1.0–2.5 wt% of dry mix, usually on a white cement base with calcium carbonate, quartz filler and water-retention agents. The polymer powder increases cohesion of the wet grout, reduces surface porosity and lowers water absorption of the hardened joint, which is classified under EN 13888:2009 as CG2W or CG2WA depending on abrasion resistance and water absorption requirements. In production, the polymer powder is pre-blended with water-retention agents and pigments in a high-speed plowshare mixer before being introduced to the main ribbon blender to prevent colour streaking. The grout is mixed with water at 18–22 wt%, forced into joints with a rubber float, and washed after initial stiffening without disturbing the joint profile. The redispersed acetate-acrylic film reduces efflorescence by limiting free lime migration to the joint surface, but it does not eliminate efflorescence when the underlying screed is continuously wet. The terminal product is a hard, low-absorption joint with increased flexural capacity measured by EN 12808-2:2008 and improved colour consistency under interior and exterior service conditions.
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General-purpose vinyl acetate–acrylate redispersible polymer powder (VAc-acrylate RDP) is produced by spray-drying an aqueous carboxylated copolymer dispersion based on vinyl acetate and a lower alkyl acrylate, typically butyl acrylate or methyl methacrylate, in the presence of poly(vinyl alcohol) and an anti-caking mineral additive. The product is classified as general-purpose when the dry polymer exhibits a glass transition temperature between -5 and +5 °C, a minimum film formation temperature of 0–5 °C, and redispersion in water temperatures from 10 to 30 °C without coalescing solvent. Commercial model nomenclature is supplier-specific and commonly encodes the ash level, anti-caking type, and nominal film hardness. A typical powder specification includes 98.0–99.0 wt% non-volatile content, 1.0–2.0 wt% residual moisture by halogen drying, 10–13 wt% ash content after 1000 °C ignition, bulk density of 450–600 g/L, and median particle size of 50–150 µm by laser diffraction. Scanning electron microscopy shows irregular secondary agglomerates of primary polymer particles approximately 1–5 µm in diameter, with nitrogen adsorption specific surface area between 5 and 15 m²/g. When redispersed at 50 wt% solids in deionized water using a high-shear laboratory mixer at 1500 rpm for 5 min, the pH of the dispersion is 6.5–8.5 and the Brookfield viscosity at 20 rpm is 1000–4000 mPa·s. The free film dried at 23 °C and 50% relative humidity has a tensile strength of 5–10 N/mm² and elongation at break of 100–300% when tested as a 0.2 mm film according to ISO 527-3. Water uptake of the free film after 24 h immersion in water at 23 °C is typically 8–15 wt%.
| Parameter | Typical range | Test basis |
|---|---|---|
| Non-volatile content | 98.0–99.0 wt% | ISO 3251 |
| Ash content after 1000 °C ignition | 10–13 wt% | ISO 3451-1 |
| Bulk density | 450–600 g/L | ISO 60 |
| Residual moisture | ≤2.0 wt% | ISO 15512 Method A |
| pH of 50 wt% aqueous dispersion | 6.5–8.5 | ISO 976 |
| Minimum film formation temperature | 0–5 °C | ISO 2115 |
During redispersion testing, a 50 wt% dispersion prepared at 1500 rpm for 5 min is passed through a 125 µm sieve; residue should be below 2 wt% of powder solids. Incomplete redispersion under low shear can produce microgels that appear as surface defects in self-leveling mortars. The protective colloid dissolves and releases the original polymer particles; film formation occurs after water removal by cement hydration and evaporation. The minimum film formation temperature is influenced by residual alcohol and the plasticizing effect of water. At wet mortar temperatures below 10 °C, film formation is retarded and adhesion development slows.
Compared with vinyl acetate–ethylene (VAE) RDP, the VAc-acrylate copolymer replaces ethylene with a harder acrylate comonomer, which raises the polymer glass transition temperature and increases tensile strength and thermal stability while reducing low-temperature flexibility and water-vapour permeability. The carboxylated acrylate units provide additional interaction with cement hydration products, but they also increase sensitivity to low pH and multivalent cations. In cementitious tile adhesives tested according to EN 1348:2007, general-purpose VAc-acrylate RDP at 2.5–3.0 wt% addition commonly yields dry tensile adhesion values of 1.0–1.5 N/mm², statistically comparable to VAE grades in the same formulation. After 7 days water immersion, VAc-acrylate RDP formulations retain 60–75% of the dry adhesion value, whereas VAE grades may retain 70–85% and pure acrylic grades 80–95% because of lower film water uptake. Pure acrylic RDPs offer superior hydrolytic stability and UV resistance but typically have higher raw material cost and can produce greater air entrainment during high-shear mixing. Compared with styrene-acrylic RDP, the VAc-acrylate powder generally has lower cost and lower odor, but also lower UV resistance and lower tensile strength in exterior exposure. VAc-acrylate RDP is selected when the required balance is dry adhesion, cost control, and compatibility with ordinary Portland cement hydration.
The following table summarises typical property ranges drawn from manufacturer technical data sheets and formulation studies using EN 1348:2007 for tile adhesive strength.
| Property | VAc-acrylate RDP | VAE RDP | Pure acrylic RDP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polymer glass transition temperature | -5 to +5 °C | -15 to +5 °C | -20 to +10 °C |
| Free film water uptake after 24 h | 8–15 wt% | 10–25 wt% | 5–10 wt% |
| Dry tensile adhesion in C2 tile adhesive at 2.5 wt% addition | 1.0–1.4 N/mm² | 0.9–1.3 N/mm² | 1.1–1.6 N/mm² |
| Adhesion retention after 7 d water immersion | 60–75% | 70–85% | 80–95% |
| Relative UV resistance | moderate | moderate | high |
A C2TE-class ceramic tile adhesive formulation containing 35 wt% CEM I 42.5R, 2.5 wt% general-purpose VAc-acrylate RDP, 0.35 wt% methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, 0.2 wt% calcium formate, and graded quartz sand to 100 wt% is dry-mixed in a 2000 L horizontal ribbon blender at 80 rpm for 8 min. After the dry mix is blended with 24 wt% water and applied with a 6 mm square-notched trowel, the contact open time measured according to EN 1346:2007 is 30 min. The 28-day tensile adhesion strength by EN 1348:2007 is 1.1–1.4 N/mm² after normal conditioning. The polymer powder develops a coherent film at the tile–mortar interface and reduces interfacial shrinkage stress. At addition levels above 3 wt%, air content measured by the pressure method of EN 1015-7 increases from approximately 6% to 9–12%, and wet density decreases by 3–5%. Defoamer addition at 0.05–0.15 wt% is required in plant-scale mixing to maintain a consistent air void structure.
At addition levels above 3 wt% of total dry mix, the effect of VAc-acrylate RDP on early hydration and rheology becomes nonlinear. Isothermal conduction calorimetry at 25 °C shows a delay in the main alite hydration peak of 30–90 min when the powder dosage increases from 1 to 5 wt% of cement mass. The delay is associated with adsorption of poly(vinyl alcohol) and carboxylate groups onto silicate surfaces. Compressive strength at 24 h according to EN 196-1:2016 can decline by 15–25% relative to the unmodified reference, while 28-day strength usually recovers to 90–100% depending on defoamer type and cement C₃A content. In continuous high-shear mixing equipment, air entrainment can exceed 12% unless a polyether or silicone-based defoamer is added at 0.05–0.15 wt%. Published data for this specific configuration is limited above 5 wt%; production-scale verification is required for repair mortars and self-leveling compounds where higher polymer contents are specified.
Silo storage and pneumatic conveying of general-purpose VAc-acrylate RDP require headspace relative humidity below 60%. The powder is hygroscopic; moisture uptake above 1.5 wt% can initiate particle bridging in screw feeders and reduce flowability. In a production dry-mix plant using a 500 kg ribbon blender, batch-to-batch variation in bulk density is typically ±5% when the powder is transferred by vacuum conveyor at 6–8 m/s air velocity. Discharge from a silo with a 60° cone and aeration pads is stable at silo fill levels above 70%, but below 30% fill, intermittent ratholing can occur if the anti-caking content is below 10 wt%. Opened bags stored at relative humidity >60% for more than 48 h should be pre-dried before mixing. Combination with amine-based additives is not recommended because amine species can destabilize the protective colloid, reduce powder flow, and generate ammonia during wet mixing. Shelf life in unopened bags below 30 °C and 60% relative humidity is usually 12 months; blocking tendency after consolidation under a 10 kg load for 24 h should remain below 5 wt% retention on a 2 mm sieve.
In self-leveling underlayments, general-purpose VAc-acrylate RDP is added at 2–4 wt% together with a polycarboxylate ether superplasticizer and a calcium sulfate/Portland cement binder. The powder lowers the elastic modulus of the topping and reduces surface cracking. A formulation at 3 wt% RDP can maintain a ring flow of 140–160 mm when tested by the flow method of EN 13813:2002, while providing 28-day flexural strength of 7–9 N/mm². Incomplete redispersion occurs when mixing water temperature is below 10 °C; the water batch should be maintained at 15–25 °C. In gypsum-based fillers, the same grade is used at 2–5 wt% of hemihydrate binder to improve adhesion to concrete and reduce efflorescence, but carboxylate groups can retard setting. Published retardation indices for specific gypsum grades are limited and require preliminary testing.
For polymer-modified repair mortars, VAc-acrylate RDP is added at 3–6 wt% to improve adhesion to concrete and reduce shrinkage. A repair mortar with 4 wt% RDP may exhibit a compressive modulus of 10–15 GPa compared with 20–25 GPa for an unmodified control when measured according to EN 13412. The reduced modulus lowers cracking risk but also decreases early load-bearing capacity. The polymer phase is not inert; calcium ions from cement hydration interact with carboxylate groups on the acrylate units, producing ionic crosslinks and increasing the modulus of the polymer phase. This effect is pH-dependent and is more pronounced in high-C₃A cements. At pH above 12.5, carboxylate groups are ionized and the polymer can adsorb onto calcium hydroxide and ettringite surfaces, reducing the rate of calcium hydroxide crystal growth without significantly reducing the ultimate degree of hydration at 28 days.
