Cement and hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose interaction: The performance of cement-based adhesives

Cellulose ethers are often used to improve the properties of cement-based ceramic adhesives during their setting and hardening stages. The chemical and structural characteristics of a cellulose ether significantly improve some properties like the rheological and water retention characteristics as well as the mechanical properties of the adhesives. Since the effects of cement type are seldom studied in literature, this study aims to examine how the interaction of different cellulose ether-cement combinations will affect the properties of ceramic adhesives. In the experimental program, five different cement types and four different cellulose ethers based on hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (HEMC) were utilized to obtain 20 ceramic adhesives. The performance of the adhesives was determined using the readily available standards. It was found out that in addition to HEMC type, the cement type has an effect on the properties of ceramic adhesives. As a result, it was shown that the cement fineness is also a parameter that contributes to the physical jamming effect of the cellulose ether molecules, thus affecting the water retention properties of the ceramic adhesives.