Mapei Isolastic

• Suitable For: bonding of ceramic tiles of every type
• Area of use: INT & EXT
• Volume: 1KG 5KG 25KG
• Container Type: bottle
• Type: adhesive
• Colour: pinkish white
• Brand: Mapei
• Manufactuer: Mapei
• Box Size: 1

ISOLASTIC + KERABOND, KERABOND T, or KERABOND PLUS

Isolastic combined with Kerabond, Kerabond T, or Kerabond Plus is ideal for various applications, including:

Ceramic Tiles: Suitable for installation over underfloor heating systems, as well as for ceramic tiles and stone materials in exterior settings like swimming pools, balconies, and terraces.

Façades: Can be used for all types of ceramic tiles, including slim tiles, on façades.

Precast Concrete Walls: Effective for ceramic tiles on precast concrete walls, such as load-bearing panels, precast bathrooms, and walls in tunnel systems.

Old Flooring: Allows for ceramic tile installation over existing flooring materials like ceramic, marble, terrazzo, and wood.

Specialized Surfaces: Suitable for ceramic tiles on asphalt screeds or deformable substrates like gypsum board, reinforced concrete, and fibre-cement board. It is also ideal for large-sized tiles and can be used on surfaces waterproofed with products from the Mapelastic range.

ISOLASTIC DILUTED 1:1 WITH WATER + ADESILEX P10

When Isolastic is diluted 1:1 with water and combined with Adesilex P10, it is appropriate for:

Mosaics on Non-Absorbent Surfaces: Laying glass or ceramic mosaic on surfaces like Mapelastic, Mapegum WPS, and tiles.

Mosaics in Water Applications: Installing glass or ceramic mosaics in swimming pools and storage tanks, even on absorbent surfaces.

Mosaics on Deformable Surfaces: Suitable for laying glass or ceramic mosaics on deformable surfaces, such as plasterboard panels, reinforced cement, and wood or derived materials, as long as they are properly secured.

Preparing the Substrates

All substrates intended to receive Kerabond, Kerabond T, Kerabond Plus, or Adesilex P10 mixed with Isolastic must be clean, mechanically strong, and free from loose particles, grease, oil, paint, wax, and other contaminants. Precast concrete elements or in-situ concrete should be cured for a minimum of three months under favourable weather conditions. Cementitious substrates must not shrink once the tiles are installed; therefore, in warm weather, renders should cure for at least one week for every centimetre of thickness. Cementitious screeds require an overall cure of at least 28 days unless they are made with special MAPEI binders like Mapecem, Mapecem Pronto, Topcem, or Topcem Pronto. To cool surfaces that have become excessively hot from direct sunlight, dampening with water is advised. Gypsum substrates and anhydrite screeds must be thoroughly dry (with a maximum residual humidity of 0.5%, and 0.3% for heated screeds), sufficiently hard, and free from dust. These surfaces should always be treated with Primer G or Eco Prim T, while areas subject to extreme dampness should be primed with Primer S. For existing floors, any traces of grease, wax, or dirt must be removed using appropriate products or by abrading the surface with power tools. It is advisable to consult the relevant MAPEI technical documentation regarding substrate preparation before repairing cracks, consolidating rapid-drying screeds, and levelling installation surfaces.

Mixing Ratio

The mixing ratio is determined by the required degree of deformability of the adhesive. Isolastic should be used as a complete substitute for water when a highly deformable adhesive (class S2 according to EN 12004) is necessary, such as for substrates experiencing significant size variations, including concrete structures cured for less than six months, large-sized tiles or slabs, or those subject to considerable sudden temperature changes. When a deformable adhesive (class S1 according to EN 12004) is needed, Isolastic can be diluted 1:1 with water, suitable for moderately unstable or cured concrete substrates.

Preparing the Mix

When diluting Isolastic with water, first mix part of Isolastic with a small amount of clean water. Next, pour the powder into the liquid while continuously stirring with a slow-speed mechanical mixer until achieving a smooth, lump-free paste. Allow the mix to stand for a few minutes before stirring again and proceeding with application.

Spreading the Mix

Apply the adhesive to the substrate using a notched trowel, selecting a trowel with an appropriate notch size to ensure adequate buttering. For optimal adhesion, begin by spreading a thin initial layer of the adhesive mix on the substrate with the smooth side of the trowel, then immediately apply a second layer to the required thickness using the notched side. Use a trowel suitable for the type and size of the tiles to guarantee proper buttering on the backs of the tiles. In certain situations—such as external installations, large or thin tiles, tiles with reliefs on their backs, flooring that will be polished post-installation, areas subject to high loads, and heated floors or storage tanks—employ the double-buttering technique by applying adhesive to both the substrate and the backs of the tiles to ensure complete coverage and eliminate gaps.

Installing the Tiles

Follow the recommendations outlined in the technical data sheet of the adhesive mixed with Isolastic. It is essential to pay close attention to the open time, which, under equivalent temperature and humidity conditions, will be slightly shorter than the open time of the base product.