SikaCeram®-188 MY
C2TE High performance cementitious tile adhesive
SikaCeram®-188 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.
- Easy to use with excellent workability and thixotropic consistency
- SikaCeram®-188 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
- Easy to use with excellent workability and thixotropic consistency
Usage
SikaCeram®-188 MY is 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 / location. SikaCeram®-188 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
- Under floor heating
Advantages
- Easy to use with excellent workability and thixotropic consistency
- SikaCeram®-188 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
- Easy to use with excellent workability and thixotropic consistency
Packaging
- 20 kg bag
- 25 kg bag
Colour
Grey powder
Product Details
APPROVALS / STANDARDS
SikaCeram®-188 MY is classified as C2TE in compliance with EN 12004.
SikaCeram®-188 MY is a cementitious adhesive (C) with improved adhesion (2), slip resistance (T), and extended open time (E).
Shelf Life
6 months from date of production
Storage Conditions
Store properly in dry conditions, in undamaged and unopened, original sealed packaging. Not sensitive to frost.
Maximum Grain Size
0.4 mm
Tensile Adhesion Strength
| Standard Condition | ≥ 1.0 N/mm² |
| Heat Ageing | ≥ 1.0 N/mm² |
| Water Immersion | ≥ 1.0 N/mm² |
Application
Slip Resistance
| ≤ 0.5 mm | (EN 1308:1999) |
Mixing Ratio
- 4.55–5.2 L of water per 20 kg bag
- 5.75–6.5 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.
Open Time
| ≥ 0.5 N/mm² at 30 minutes (at 23° C) | (BS EN 1346:1997) |
Under unfavourable conditions (direct sun, high ambient temperature and strong wind), the open time may be shorter.
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
Once the tiles are placed into the mortar, they can be adjusted for ~30 minutes (at +20 °C).
Fresh Mortar Density
~1.70 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) and 2100 cm² (external 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 of 5 minutes). Then, remix the material for 15 seconds - the product is now ready for use. SikaCeram®-188 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®-188 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. Once the surfaces have been appropriately prepared, apply SikaCeram®-188 MY onto the substrate using an appropriate serrated trowel. SikaCeram®-188 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. If a surface film has developed, pass a notched trowel through the adhesive. Rework the adhesive before placing the tiles within the open time. When placing the tiles into the adhesive, press them in using the Tarver Method; press, slide perpendicular and return. Ensure full coverage of adhesive and no voids is underneath the tiles. For tiles with lugs, grooves or uneven backing, it may be required to back butter the tile with adhesive before placing them.
The final bed thickness of SikaCeram®-188 MY should be at least 1 mm for wall and 3 mm for floor. Once tiling works are completed, do not disturb
the tiled surface for at least 6–8 hours (at +20 °C).
As a guide:
SikaCeram®-188 MY is used for fixing absorbent tiles up to a maximum size of 10,000 cm² (e.g. 60 cm × 120 cm) for indoor floors, up to 3600 cm² (e.g. 60 cm × 60 cm) for indoor walls and outdoor paving, and 2100 cm² (e.g. 30 cm × 60 cm or 45 cm × 45 cm) for façades without any mechanical clamps.
For external areas, protect from direct sunlight and rain by means of a shelter. It is the user’s responsibility to determine the condition and suitability of all surfaces prior to application.
CLEANING OF TOOLS
Clean all tools and application equipments with clean water immediately after use. Hardened or 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 C2TE tile adhesive is described as improved cementitious adhesive with reduced slip and extended open time.
C2TE tile adhesives are normally used as adhesives for walls and floors.
- C2 - Tensile adhesion ≥ 1.0 N/mm² (after normal curing, water immersion, heat aging and freeze-thaw cycles).
- T - Slip ≤ 0.5 mm
- E - Open time ≥ 30 minutes
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: