SikaCeram®-288 Flex S1

Cementitious high performance deformable adhesive with no vertical slip and extended open time for thin tiles, large tiles and demanding applications (Formerly SikaCeram®-288 H)

SikaCeram®-288 Flex S1 is a cementitious, deformable, high performance floor and wall tile adhesive with reduced slip and extended open time. For residential, industrial and commercial wet and dry environments up to 15 mm thickness. Suitable for bonding all types of ceramic, porcelain, marble and natural stone tiles to all types of absorbent construction material substrates. Particularly suitable for façades, heated floors, swimming pools and industrial floors. Indoor and outdoor use. EN 12004: Classification C2TES1*.

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Usage

Bonding the following types of tiles:

Bonding tiles for the following applications:

Packaging

25 kg bag

Advantages

Colour

Grey or White powder

Product Details

Product declaration

C2TES1* according to EN 12004-1

C2TES1* according to ISO 13007-1

*Tensile adhesion strength test after freeze-thaw cycles not conducted due to tropical climatic conditions

 

Chemical base
Portland cement, selected aggregates, water retention additives, re-dispersible polymer

 

Shelf Life
12 months from date of production .

 

Storage Conditions
Store in dry conditions at temperatures between +10°C and +40°C. Protect from direct sunlight and frost.

System structure

 

For the following substrates, a primer must be used:

 

Substrate

Primer

Calcium sulphate substrate (gypsum, gypsum fibre boards, calcium sulphate screed)

SikaCeram®-935 Floor Leveler Primer diluted with water in ratio 1:1

 

Transverse deformation

≥ 2.5 mm and < 5 mm              (EN 12004-2 / ISO 13007-2)

 
Tensile adhesion strength

Initial / dry condition


≥ 1.0 N/mm2

After water immersion / wet condition

 

≥ 1.0 N/mm2

After heat ageing

 

≥ 1.0 N/mm2

After > 30 minutes, open time ≥ 0.5 N/mm2

Application

Slip resistance


≤ 0.5 mm

(EN 12004-2 / ISO 13007-2)

 

Mixing ratio


Packing

Water to powder ratio by weight

Quantity of water per bag

25 kg, Grey

0.26–0.306.50–7.50 L
25 kg, White0.33–0.358.25–8.75 L

 

Fresh mortar density


Grey

1.55 ± 0.20 kg/L (+27 °C)

White

1.60 ± 0.20 kg/L (+27 °C)

 

Layer thickness


15 mm max.

 

Ambient air temperature


+5 °C min. / +35 °C max

 

Substrate temperature


+5 °C min. / +35 °C max

 

Maturing time


~5 minutes

 

Pot life


≥ 180 minutes (100 g mass, +27 °C)

 

Open time


> 30 min

(EN 12004-2 / ISO 13007-2)

 

Adjustability time


~40 min (+27 °C)

 

Applied product ready for use


Waiting time

Grouting floors/walkability

24–36 hours

Grouting walls 4–6 hours
Water immersion ~21 days
Values determined in laboratory conditions: +23 °C ± 2 °C, R.H. 50 % ± 5 %. Higher temperatures will reduce the indicated waiting time, and lower temperatures increase waiting time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumption


Consumption is dependent on the substrate, surface profile, roughness, size of the tiles, the joints between them, and application technique (i.e. single spreading / floating method or double spreading / buttering method). Apply the product to a test area to calculate the exact consumption for the specific substrate conditions and proposed application.

 

As a guide for a single adhesive layer:

 

Size of tiles

Notched trowel size

Consumption (Grey) dry powder

Consumption (White) dry powder

Small

6 mm

2.25–2.75 kg/m22.25–2.75 kg/m2

Medium

8 mm

2.75–3.25 kg/m22.75–3.25 kg/m2

Large

10 mm

3.50–4.00 kg/m23.50–4.00 kg/m2

MIXING


Important: Avoid over-mixing to minimise air entrainment.

Requirement: Use a low speed electric single paddle mixer (< 500 rpm) with spiral paddle for mixing.

  1. Pour the minimum recommended quantity of clean cold water into a clean mixing container.
  2. Gradually add SikaCeram®-288 Flex S1 powder to the water while mixing.
  3. Mix thoroughly for ~5 minutes until a uniformly coloured, smooth mix is achieved. Add additional water, if necessary, to the maximum specified amount.
  4. Do not mix for ~5 minutes to allow mixed product to ‘mature’.
  5. Remix for ~15 seconds.

 

APPLICATION


 

Important: Apply sufficient adhesive to ensure adequate ‘wetting’ of the backs of the tiles.

 

Important: Coverage on the back of the tiles must be 100 %.

 

Important: Tiling must be carried out on freshly applied adhesive. Exert adequate pressure to ensure 100 % complete and uniform contact with the adhesive to achieve optimum adhesion.

 

Important: If a skin forms on the surface of the adhesive, immediately remove the adhesive layer with a trowel, discard material and apply a fresh layer of SikaCeram®-288 Flex S1 adhesive.

 

Important: Protect freshly applied material from freezing conditions and rain, etc.

 

Important: For natural stone tiles, always carry out a preliminary test application first.

 

 

Note: On cementitious substrates, SikaCeram®-288 Flex S1 can be used for laying non-absorbent tiles on non-heated floors in outdoor and indoor applications up to 32 ft2 (e.g. 4 ft × 8 ft). On walls indoor up to 8 ft height up to 32 ft2 (e.g. 4 ft × 8 ft) and outdoor up to 20 ft height up to 8 ft(e.g. 2 ft × 4 ft).

Note: For tiles > 900 cm2 (e.g. 30 × 30 cm), the double-spreading (buttering) technique is always recommended.

  

  1. Apply sufficient adhesive to the prepared fixing surfaces with the flat side of trowel.
  2. Comb additional adhesive with appropriate square notched trowel to the required bed thickness.
  3. Wherever needed (for large tiles), back butter the tiles for full bedding.
  4. Place tiles into wet, sticky adhesive and use rubber mallet to fully embed the tiles.
  5. Adjust tiles if required. Provide support wherever needed.
  6. Clean off surplus adhesive from tile face and between tile joints before the adhesive has dried.

CLEANING OF TOOLS


Clean all tools and application equipment with water immediately after use. Hardened material can only be mechanically removed.

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