Wet mortar is a kind of construction material which is measured and mixed in a professional production plant, and then transported to the place of use by a mixer truck. In order to facilitate the construction operation, often add retarder in wet mortar. So, is wet mortar without retarder okay? We will explore this issue in depth in this article.
Characteristics of wet mortar
Production process
Wet mortar is produced in the production plant after strict measurement and mixing. This approach ensures the quality and consistency of the mortar.
Transportation and Storage
Wet-mixed mortar is transported to the construction site by mixing and transportation trucks, and then stored in special containers for use as needed. However, due to its low usage and high transportation volume, wet-mix mortar often needs to be stored for long periods of time, which puts higher demands on its performance.
Retarding cement hydration
Retarders can slow down the hydration of cement so that the mortar remains plastic for a longer period of time. This is particularly important on construction sites where long storage and manual handling are required.
Improved construction efficiency
By slowing down the setting time of mortar, retarders can improve construction efficiency and reduce material waste.
Challenges in wet mix mortar construction
Construction speed
On many construction sites, operations are slow and it takes a long time to use up all the wet-mix mortar. Without retarders, the mortar may start to set before it is used up, affecting the construction schedule.
Material Waste
If the mortar starts to set before it is used up, it cannot be used again, resulting in material waste.
Wet mortar without retarder
Possible Problems
If no retarder is added to the wet-mix mortar, it may lead to early setting of the mortar during storage and construction, affecting the construction quality and progress.
For example, in a large-scale construction project, the wet-mix mortar started to set only a few hours after delivery to the construction site due to the absence of a retarder, resulting in substantial material wastage and construction delay.
Types of Retarders
Ordinary Retarders
General retarders are generally used in simple construction environments, and their effects are relatively stable.
Specialized Retarders
Special retarders are customized according to different construction needs and environments, with more significant effects.
Selection criteria for retarders
According to weather conditions
The choice of retarder varies under different weather conditions. In hot weather, a stronger retarder should be used, while in cold weather, a weaker product can be selected.
Construction environment
Select the appropriate retarder according to the specific conditions of the construction site, such as operating speed and storage time.
Influence of retarders on the performance of wet mortar
Operability
After adding retarding agent, the workability of wet mortar is greatly improved, and the construction workers can have more time to operate.
Setting time
Retarder can significantly extend the setting time of mortar, thus ensuring the smooth progress of construction.
Economic benefits of retarders
Cost analysis
Although retarder will increase the material cost to a certain extent, but it brings the construction efficiency improvement and material waste reduction, making the overall cost more economical.
Benefit Evaluation
Through the rational use of retarder, the total cost and duration of the construction project have been effectively controlled, with significant benefits.
Environmental protection point of view of retarder
Impact on the environment
The use of retarder has a small impact on the environment, but you need to pay attention to the selection of environmentally friendly products to reduce the pollution of the environment.
Environmentally friendly alternatives
There are also some environmentally friendly retarders on the market, which can replace traditional products and reduce the environmental burden.
Conclusion
To summarize, it is very necessary to add retarder in wet mortar. It not only slows down the hydration rate of cement, improves construction efficiency, reduces material waste, but also ensures construction quality under various environmental conditions. In the future, with the progress of technology and the improvement of industry standards, retarder will play a greater role in building construction.