R&D & Formulation Support
A construction chemical only creates value when it performs effectively within the complete formulation.
MICHEM combines product research, physical testing, application evaluation and technical support to help customers select suitable materials, optimize formulations and solve practical production or application problems.
Whether you are developing a new product, replacing an existing additive or improving an established formulation, our technical team can help create a clearer path from initial evaluation to commercial production.
Formulation System
Dry-mix mortar, concrete and coating formulations are influenced by the interaction of many different materials.
Cement or gypsum type, aggregate grading, filler composition, polymer content, water demand, additive dosage and mixing conditions can all affect the final result. Temperature, humidity and local application practices may create further differences.
This means that a product cannot be selected effectively based only on one specification, such as viscosity or solids content.
MICHEM evaluates additives according to their intended role in the complete formulation. We consider what the customer needs to improve, how different ingredients may interact and whether the proposed product is suitable for the actual application environment.
The objective is not to recommend the highest grade or the most complex formulation. It is to identify a practical product combination that meets the required performance without adding unnecessary cost or complexity.
Two Laboratories
MICHEM is equipped with both a physical laboratory and an application laboratory. Together, they connect product characteristics with real formulation performance.
The physical laboratory evaluates relevant product characteristics and helps determine whether a product meets its defined grade requirements.
Physical data provides an essential basis for product comparison, batch evaluation and quality control. It also helps our technical team understand how differences between grades may influence product selection.
However, physical data alone cannot fully represent how a material will behave in mortar, concrete or coatings.
The application laboratory evaluates products within representative formulations and use conditions.
Depending on the product and application, evaluation may focus on properties such as water retention, thickening, workability, open time, sag resistance, adhesion, flexibility, flow, setting behavior, water resistance or surface quality.
Application testing helps connect the technical data sheet with the customer’s actual performance requirements.
By combining physical and application evaluation, MICHEM can provide recommendations based on both measurable product characteristics and practical use.
Product Development
Customers approach MICHEM with different starting points. Some already have a stable formulation and need a suitable replacement product. Others are developing a new material and need assistance selecting several additives.
Our formulation support can be adapted to each situation.
For a new tile adhesive, wall putty, render, plaster, self-leveling compound or other construction material, we help identify the functional requirements of the formulation before recommending products.
The evaluation may include cellulose ether selection, polymer powder type, functional additives, fibers or concrete admixtures, depending on the application.
An existing formulation may require better workability, longer open time, improved adhesion, greater flexibility, reduced water absorption or more stable application performance.
Our team reviews the target improvement and identifies which part of the additive system may need adjustment.
When customers need to replace a current supplier or product grade, technical data alone may not provide an accurate comparison.
MICHEM can recommend potential alternatives for evaluation based on the existing product, intended application and required performance. Comparative application testing can then help determine whether further formulation adjustment is necessary.
Problems such as excessive water demand, poor workability, rapid loss of consistency, sagging, insufficient open time, entrapped air, delayed setting or unstable surface quality may involve more than one ingredient.
Our technical team helps customers examine the problem from a formulation perspective rather than assuming that a single additive is always the cause.
A formulation that performs well in one market may behave differently when cement, gypsum, sand, fillers, climate or construction practices change.
MICHEM helps customers consider these variables when selecting products or adjusting additive combinations for a new market.
Product System
MICHEM supplies HPMC, HEMC, HEC and CMC grades for different construction and industrial applications.
Our technical team helps customers evaluate cellulose ethers according to properties such as:
A suitable cellulose ether is selected according to the complete formulation and required application performance—not viscosity alone.
Different redispersible polymer powders can influence adhesion, cohesion, flexibility, workability, water resistance and durability.
MICHEM’s portfolio includes multipurpose, flexible, hydrophobic and thixotropic grades. Our team helps customers evaluate which type is more appropriate for tile adhesives, repair mortars, insulation systems, waterproof mortars, self-leveling compounds and other polymer-modified products.
The recommended grade depends on the performance target, binder system and positioning of the finished product.
Our concrete admixture portfolio includes polycarboxylate, melamine-based and naphthalene-based water-reducing agents.
Formulation support focuses on the intended balance between water reduction, flow, workability retention, compatibility and production requirements.
Because cement characteristics and other formulation components can influence performance, product selection should be confirmed through application testing with the customer’s own raw materials.
MICHEM supplies different fiber types for mortar and concrete systems, including polypropylene, engineering, cellulose, glass and steel fibers.
Our team helps customers consider fiber selection according to objectives such as shrinkage crack control, toughness, dimensional stability, reinforcement and long-term durability.
Starch ethers, hydrophobic agents, defoamers, gypsum retarders, calcium formate and other functional additives are used to fine-tune specific properties.
Although their dosage may be relatively low, changing one of these materials can influence several parts of the formulation. MICHEM therefore evaluates functional additives in relation to the complete system and the customer’s priority performance requirements.
How It Works
We begin by understanding what you manufacture and what the finished product needs to achieve.
This may include the product type, target market, application method, required performance level and any existing problem that needs to be solved.
For an existing formulation, our team reviews the available information about binders, fillers, aggregates, polymers and functional additives.
Customers do not need to provide unnecessary proprietary information. The objective is to obtain enough relevant information to understand the formulation structure and identify likely areas for improvement.
Based on the application and performance target, MICHEM recommends one or more suitable product grades for evaluation.
When several additives are involved, we consider how the products may work together rather than selecting each material independently.
Physical and application testing helps compare the selected products and identify an appropriate adjustment direction.
The evaluation may include different grades or dosages, depending on the technical objective and available formulation information.
Laboratory testing provides a practical starting point, but final performance should be confirmed using the customer’s actual raw materials, equipment and production conditions.
Our technical team supports the customer during this evaluation and reviews the trial results when further adjustment is required.
Once a product or formulation direction has been approved, MICHEM continues to provide product-use guidance, troubleshooting and optimization support during regular production.
Performance Areas
MICHEM’s formulation support is built around practical performance targets rather than isolated product parameters.
Depending on the application, we can help customers evaluate:
Improve mixing consistency, spreading, trowelability and overall ease of application.
Help mortar retain sufficient water for hydration, application and curing.
Maintain usable application time under the intended construction conditions.
Improve stability on vertical surfaces and reduce movement after application.
Support bonding performance and internal strength in polymer-modified systems.
Improve the ability of a formulation to accommodate movement and reduce brittle behavior.
Optimize flow performance and water demand in concrete and self-leveling systems.
Reduce unwanted air where density, strength, surface quality or bonding performance may be affected.
Adjust setting behavior or early-strength development according to the binder system and application conditions.
Reduce water absorption and improve durability in exposed or moisture-sensitive applications.
Project Information
The more clearly the application and target are defined, the more focused the product recommendation can be.
Useful project information may include:
Our team will review the available information and determine the most practical next step, such as product selection, sample testing, comparative evaluation or formulation adjustment.
Technical Guidance
Formulation support is not limited to laboratory testing.
MICHEM also provides product guidance and technical training to help customers better understand how different construction chemicals function within their formulations.
Support may cover product characteristics, grade differences, application suitability, dosage considerations, testing observations and common formulation problems.
For distributors, this technical knowledge can also support more professional communication with local customers. For manufacturers, it can help production and laboratory teams evaluate materials more efficiently.
Long-Term Development
Customer requirements continue to change as raw materials, standards, market positioning and application conditions evolve.
A formulation that works today may need to be adjusted when a new cement source is introduced, a higher performance level is required or the product enters a different market.
MICHEM aims to support this continuing development. From the first product sample to regular production and future formulation improvement, our technical team remains available to help customers evaluate new requirements and identify suitable solutions.
Next Step
Tell us what you manufacture, the materials you currently use and the result you want to achieve.
Whether you need to select an additive, replace an existing product, improve formulation performance or investigate a production problem, MICHEM can help you identify the next practical step.