SikaCeram®-128 MY
C2E High performance cement based tile adhesive
SikaCeram®-128 MY is a high performance, thin layer, cementitious tile adhesive, supplied ready to use with the addition of water, for bonding ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles and mosaics of every type of floors and walls internally.
- Easy to use with excellent workability
- SikaCeram®-128 MY can be applied on a vertical surface without sagging or letting the tiles slip, even when heavy tiles are used
- Very good adhesion to most common substrates (concrete, cementitious mortar, stone, bricks, etc.)
- Very good adhesion to existing tiles
- Compatible with Sikalastic®-1 KMY, SikaTop® Seal-107 (MY) and SikaTop® Seal-109 MY
- Can be used with SikaLatex® range of products to increase performance of the adhesive
Usage
SikaCeram®-128 MY, a product used for bonding ceramic tiles in continuous thin layers, up to 10 mm thick. Due to its excellent adhesion, it can be used in situations where traditional tile adhesives for bonding tiles are not suitable due to the type of tile, the substrate or the specific job situation or location. SikaCeram®-128 MY is suitable to bond the following types of tile:- Ceramic, porcelain, homogeneous tiles
- All type of low and high absorption tiles
- Concrete and mortar
- Bricks
- Tiled surfaces (walls and floors)
- Large size tiles
Advantages
- Easy to use with excellent workability
- SikaCeram®-128 MY can be applied on a vertical surface without sagging or letting the tiles slip, even when heavy tiles are used
- Very good adhesion to most common substrates (concrete, cementitious mortar, stone, bricks, etc.)
- Very good adhesion to existing tiles
- Compatible with Sikalastic®-1 KMY, SikaTop® Seal-107 (MY) and SikaTop® Seal-109 MY
- Can be used with SikaLatex® range of products to increase performance of the adhesive
Packaging
25 kg bag
Colour
Grey powder
Product Details
Composition
Cementitious mortar modified with specialized polymers
Shelf Life
6 months from date of production
Storage Conditions
Store properly in dry conditions, in undamaged and unopened, original sealed packaging.
Maximum Grain Size
| 0.4 mm | (EN 12192-1) |
Tensile Adhesion Strength
| 1.0 N/mm² | (EN 1348:2007) |
Application
Mixing Ratio
5.75–6.25 L of water per 25 kg bag
Layer Thickness
3 mm min. / 10 mm max.
Ambient Air Temperature
+5 °C min. / +40 °C max.
Substrate Temperature
+5 °C min. / +40 °C max.
Applied Product Ready for Use
At 25 °C
| Before jointing works | Min. 24 hours |
| Before opening to light foot traffic | Min. 24 hours |
| Before opening to full traffic | Min. 7 days |
Adjustability Time
~30 minutes (at +20 °C)
Fresh Mortar Density
~1.80 kg/l (at +25 °C)
Consumption
This depends on the level, profile and surface roughness of the substrate, the size of the tiles and the technique of placing (simple placing or "back"-buttering).
As a guide, in kilogram of powder per m² on flat surfaces:
| Tiles size | Coverage | Trowel size |
| Mosaics and small tiles | ~2.0–3.0 kg/m² | 3 mm × 3 mm notched trowel |
| Normal size tiles (30 cm × 30 cm) | ~5.0–5.5 kg/m² | 6 mm × 6 mm notched trowel |
| Large size tiles up to 3600 cm² (internal floors) | ~10.0–11.0 kg/m² | 12 mm × 12 mm notched trowel |
The consumption above may only serve as a guide. It is highly recommended to carry-out trials on site to determine the actual coverage.
MIXING
Mix thoroughly with clean water for a minimum of 3 minutes. Leave material to stand in container (for a minimum 5 minutes). Then remix the material for 15 seconds - the product is now ready for use.
SikaCeram®-128 MY must be mechanically mixed using a forced action mixer or in a clean container using a drill and mixing paddle (< 500 rpm). A normal free fall concrete mixer is not suitable.
APPLICATION
SikaCeram®-128 MY is applied using a notched trowel onto the substrate. Choose the size of trowel that will give the right thickness on the back of the tile.
As a guide:
SikaCeram®-128 MY is used for fixing absorbent tiles up to a maximum size of 3600 cm² (e.g. 60 cm x 60 cm) for indoor floors, up to 1800 cm² (e.g. 30 cm x 60 cm) for indoor walls.
Apply a uniform layer SikaCeram®-128 MY by trowel in small areas at the recommended thickness. Then, immediately, adjust the thickness using a notched trowel. Finally, place the tile, pressing it firmly into the mortar.
Open time is approximately 30 minutes under normal temperature and humidity conditions. Under unfavourable conditions, the open time might be shorter. If surface film has developed, pass the notched trowel through the adhesive again.
Once the surfaces has been appropriately prepared in accordance with the above instructions, apply the adhesive onto the substrate using an appropriate serrated trowel. SikaCeram®-128 MY should be applied onto the substrate at a rate of 1 m² at a time. Application rates greater than this can result in the adhesive skinning before the tiles are laid. Once the adhesive is applied onto the substrate ensure that it does not skin prior to bedding the tiles. Rework the adhesive before placing the tiles within the pot life. When placing the tiles into the adhesive press them in by using the Tarver Method; press, slide perpendicular and return. Ensure no voids occur and full coverage of adhesive is under the tiles. For tiles with lugs, grooves or uneven backing it may be required to back butter the tile with adhesive. The final bed thickness of the adhesive should be at least 4 mm for wall tiling and 8 mm for floor tiling. Once the tiling is completed do not disturb the tiled surface for at least 6–8 hours at 20 °C.
CLEANING OF TOOLS
Clean all tools and application equipment with clean water immediately after use. Hardened / cured material can only be removed mechanically.
FAQ
For tiling outdoors, an improved cementitious adhesive with extended open time (C2TE) or an improved deformable cementitious adhesive with extended open time (C2ES1) is recommended.
- C2 Tensile adhesion ≥ 1.0 N/mm² (after normal curing, water immersion, heat aging and freeze-thaw cycles)
- E Open time ≥ 30 minutes
- S1 Transverse deformation ≥ 2.5 mm and < 5 mm
Sika's product:
A C2 tile adhesive is cementitious and has improved characteristic in tensile adhesion. To be categorize as C2, cementitious tile adhesives must meet the tensile adhesion requirement of ≥ 1.0 N/mm² after normal curing, water immersion, heat aging and freeze-thaw cycles (EN 12004).
C2 tile adhesives are normally used as adhesives for low water absorption tiles (eg. porcelain tiles) and large format tiles (600 × 600 mm), and in areas where higher bonding strength is required (eg. outdoors).
Sika's product:
Porcelain tiles are more durable (denser and harder), has lower water absorption properties (≤ 0.5 %), and are normally used in areas with high volume of foot traffic (eg. commercial properties, hotels, offices, and retail outlets). Hence, porcelain tiles require a tile adhesive with improved bonding properties (C2).
Sika's product:
Ceramic tiles are easier to use (less brittle, easy to cut and shape), have higher water absorption properties (˃ 0.5 %), and are normally used for walls and floors in housing projects, interior walls of commercial buildings and low volume foot traffic areas. Therefore, ceramic tiles require a tile adhesive with normal bonding properties (C1).
Sika's product: