In general, dry mortar mixes are among the most popular construction materials, both at a construction site and for home repairs. Dry mixes are combined into one class of materials only on the basis of their product form, but their purpose, composition, and application technology may vary significantly.
The composition of a dry mortar mix can almost always be broken down into functional components: as a rule, these are binders, substances responsible for the product properties, and fillers. Often the mixture also includes modifying additives — thickeners, plasticizers, water repellents, antifreeze additives, etc. All of those change the properties of the mix to adapt them to a particular application. For example, a water repellent increases moisture resistance of the mortar, and antifreeze additives are necessary for construction works at low temperatures.
Main substances used as the base of dry mixes are gypsum, limestone, and cement. Most often, only one of these binders is used, but there are mixes that combine different options.
Most mixes contain polymer additives that affect the strength properties of the finished product, structure or coating after hardening. Some additives also improve the most significant characteristic of the dry mortar mix — its adhesive ability.
The most obvious basis for classifying dry mortar mixes is by purpose. Applications of such mixes are very varied, and it is impossible to cover all functional types of this product in a concise article. First of all, the category of dry mortar mixes includes repair, putty, adhesive, leveling, and plaster mixes, as well as mixes for the preparation of brickwork mortar. Some mixes are used for external works, some for internal applications, some for construction, and some for finishing. Thus, though dry mortar mixes constitute a homogeneous class of construction materials with similar properties, they are very diverse, which makes their selection a very detailed and customized process.