You could be forgiven for thinking that a ‘glue’ used for sticking tiles to a wall or floor in your common-place bathroom or kitchen is a simple affair. But over recent years these products have become very complex, with an increasing array of natural but well-processed industrial minerals being coupled with a huge selection of man-made additives. This article will not only look at what is contained in tile adhesive to make it work, but also the minerals that are used along the way in making other components.
Tile adhesives are available in many forms but most commonly, and firstly for cost, as a single component - bagged powder - that is reconstituted with water before use. Then for convenience as their direct opposite, adhesives can be made in the form of a ready-mixed paste that is used straight out of the bucket.
Secondly, there are two...