Ceramic Tile Adhesives

Dear Colleagues,

Due to their excellent performance, durability, resistance to atmospheric agents, and cleanliness, ceramic tiles are unusual construction materials that have been used for millennia. Nowadays, offered in many types, colors, and textures, they are pleasing to the eye. For ceramic tiles to adhere to the substrate, in most cases, ceramic tile adhesive (CTA) is needed. Purchasing CTA is not accompanied by such a pleasant aesthetic experience as buying ceramic tiles, however. The right choice of CTA is essential and depends on the type of ceramic tile, the substrate on which it will be mounted, and the purpose of the ceramic cladding, whether it will be a wall or a floor. The future durability of the ceramic cladding will depend on the correct selection of CTA. For this reason, the composition of the CTA is fundamental to meeting the expectations of all participants in the construction process and future users. In a changing world, it is necessary to talk about CTAs today to raise such issues as:

• Reduction in the environmental burden associated with all the life stages of CTAs;
• The need for a better understanding of the bond strength mechanisms in the tile–CTA–substrate system;
• The necessity to change CTA formulations due to the constant appearance of new tiles (tiles from other materials have been successfully used for years alongside ceramic tiles);
• The need to adapt CTAs due to the increasing consumption of large and extra-large formats of tiles;
• Impact of cold and hot weather on tile systems;
• Proper installation of the tile using CTAs;
• Possible failures of tile systems due to poor installation;
• Assessment and verification of constancy of performance of CTAs;
• Development of new research techniques.

A Special Issue of Ceramics dedicated to CTAs is thus essential, and I invite everyone interested in different aspects of CTAs to publish in this Special Issue of Ceramics.

Dr. Jacek Michalak
Guest Editor

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• ceramic tile adhesive (CTA)
• construction products
• tensile adhesion strength
• standards
• assessment and verification of constancy of performance (AVCP)
• testing