"Grouting compound" refers to a material used to fill gaps, seal joints, and reinforce structures, particularly in construction, masonry, tiling, and civil engineering applications. There are different types of grouting compounds depending on their composition and intended use.
🔹 Types of Grouting Compounds
Cementitious Grouts
Composition: Cement, sand, water, and sometimes additives (plasticizers, shrinkage compensators).
Uses: Filling tile joints, anchoring bolts, base plates, and precast concrete.
Properties:
High compressive strength.
Economical and easy to apply.
Shrinkage can be an issue without additives.
Epoxy Grouts
Composition: Epoxy resin + hardener + filler.
Uses: Industrial floors, laboratories, food-processing areas, chemical plants.
Properties:
Excellent chemical and water resistance.
High bond strength and low shrinkage.
More expensive and harder to apply than cementitious grouts.
Polyurethane (PU) Grouts
Composition: Polyurethane resin-based compounds.
Uses: Water sealing, crack injection in concrete structures.
Properties:
Expands on contact with water (hydrophilic or hydrophobic).
Flexible and good for dynamic joints or moving cracks.
Acrylic Grouts
Composition: Acrylic polymers + initiators.
Uses: Soil stabilization, tunnel linings, crack injection.
Properties:
Low viscosity (good penetration).
Quick setting.
Lower durability than epoxy/PU.
🔹 Typical Properties of Grouting Compounds
Property Description
Compressive Strength Important for structural support (e.g., >50 MPa for high-performance grouts).
Setting Time Varies by type; fast-setting grouts cure within minutes.
Shrinkage Should be minimal; some grouts have shrinkage-compensating agents.
Flowability Determines ease of placement, especially in tight gaps.
Bond Strength Measures adhesion to surfaces like concrete or steel.
Chemical Resistance Needed for industrial or corrosive environments.
🔹 Applications of Grouting Compounds
Tile and stone installation – Cementitious or epoxy grouts.
Machine base grouting – Non-shrink, high-strength cementitious or epoxy.
Soil or rock stabilization – Acrylic or PU grouts.
Leak sealing in tunnels, dams, and basements – PU grouts.
Underwater structures – Specialized epoxy or PU grouts.
🔹 Brands & Products (Examples)
Sika – SikaGrout®, SikaFix®
Fosroc – Conbextra GP, Conbextra EP10
BASF (Master Builders) – MasterFlow®, MasterSeal®
Mapei – Kerapoxy®, Ultracolor Plus