Redispersible Polymer Powder — RDP

5002T: use the thixotropic grade when vertical stability is the bottleneck

5002T is positioned as a thixotropic RDP for tile adhesives, renders, plasters and skim coats.

In a vertical mortar, the product must move under a trowel but resist slump or sag after placement. If water retention is already adequate, simply raising cellulose-ether viscosity can make the mix heavy before rest stability is solved.

Qualify 5002T by measuring both application effort and rest stability. Non-sag is useful only if the mortar remains practical to mix, spread and finish.

5010R: multipurpose performance requires version-controlled specifications

5010R is positioned as a multipurpose RDP for tile adhesive, render, putty, bonding mortar and repair mortar.

Its functional direction includes adhesion, flexural performance, workability and impact resistance. That makes it a logical screening grade when a producer wants one broadly useful polymer platform rather than a highly specialized hydrophobic or self-leveling grade.

However, the MICHEM source package contains different 5010R document versions with conflicting technical fields.

An older document records a bulk density of 450–550 g/L and MFFT of 0 °C. A newer supplied TDS records 490–590 kg/m³ and MFFT of 4 °C and identifies PVA as the protective colloid.

Those records should not be blended into a new “average” specification.

For website publication and commercial qualification, MICHEM should designate one approved revision as the current source of truth. Until that revision is confirmed, this page should use 5010R’s functional positioning but avoid presenting the disputed values as one definitive public specification.

This is not a weakness in the product. It is a document-control issue, and document control is part of technical credibility.

5011L: polymer modification for self-leveling cannot sacrifice flow

5011L is positioned for self-leveling flooring compounds and screeds.

Self-leveling compounds need enough cohesion to resist segregation while remaining fluid enough for gravity-driven spreading and surface closure. RDP can contribute to adhesion, flexibility and crack resistance after cure, but it can also change fresh flow or air.

Qualify 5011L together with the water reducer, cellulose ether and defoamer, measuring flow, segregation, air, setting, adhesion and relevant crack-resistance performance.

5034H: hydrophobic modification is more specific than “better water resistance”

5034H is positioned as a hydrophobic RDP for waterproof mortars, tile adhesives and grouts, and repair mortars.

A hydrophobic grade is selected when reduced capillary water ingress or lower water uptake is part of the target.

For waterproof mortar, measure the relevant water property—such as capillary absorption or water uptake—rather than relying on the word “hydrophobic.” Also check wetting, bonding, setting and surface finish.

6001, 6011 and 6021: similar family, different specification profiles

MICHEM’s supplied technical documents provide three useful VAE reference grades:

The 6011 PDF also records pH 6–8.

These fields help with incoming specification and grade identity, but they still do not tell a formulator which product will deliver the best mortar performance.

The supplied 6011 spreadsheet must not be used as the authority for 6011 because its internal content identifies RDP 6001. The formal 6011 PDF is the better source for the 6011 grade record.

This is exactly why commercial qualification should link every grade to a controlled TDS revision rather than copying values from an old spreadsheet into a new website table.

6118E: a flexible tile-adhesive grade, not a generic VAE powder

6118E is positioned for high-quality, low-emission flexible tile adhesives.

The supplied technical data identifies a VAE polymer with PVA protective colloid, solids of at least 98%, bulk density of 490–590 kg/m³ and MFFT of 4 °C.

Its application scope includes natural and artificial stone, wall and floor tiles, large and small formats, and absorbent and non-absorbent tiles. The functional positioning emphasizes flexibility, cohesive strength, open time and impact resistance.

Modern tile adhesive is exposed to multiple failure modes, especially with large-format or low-absorption tile and with thermal or substrate movement. Qualify 6118E using the customer’s tile type, substrate, cellulose ether and cement system rather than a generic mortar-strength test.

MH6041: use the specification together with water-absorption testing

MH6041 is a VAE RDP positioned around adhesion strength, workability and reduced water absorption.

The supplied TDS records ash at 20–25%, solids at ≥98%, bulk density at 450–550 g/L and MFFT at 4 °C.

Its higher ash range distinguishes it from grades such as 6001 and 6011, but ash is a composition/QC field rather than a quality score. If reduced water absorption is the screening reason, include a defined water-uptake or capillary-absorption test.

5030N: preserve the document conflict instead of inventing one specification

5030N is another grade where the supplied source set contains conflicting technical records.

One older PDF lists ash at 12 ± 2%, solids at ≥98%, bulk density at 450–550 g/L and MFFT at 0 °C. An older spreadsheet gives a bulk density of 490–590 kg/m³ and MFFT of 4 °C. A newer standalone TDS describes the grade as a flexible VAE copolymer and gives 490–590 kg/m³ with MFFT 0 °C.

The newest standalone TDS is the most reasonable candidate for current publication, but the source history should still be resolved internally. The notation “ash ≥12 ± 2%” is also awkward and should be verified rather than reproduced.