SikaCeram®-888 Tile Grout EP
SikaCeram®-888 Tile Grout EP is solvent free, hygienic, hard wearing, stainless, chemical resistant, two component water dispersed coloured epoxy tile grout and tile adhesive for fixing tiles / filling joints between ceramic tiles, vitrified tiles, glass mosaic tiles, porcelain tiles, marble and stone. Available in various colours. It is ideal for applications in areas demanding perfect cleanliness, high chemical and mechanical resistance. Suitable for use in hot and tropical climatic conditions.
- Very good workability
- Easy application
- Long open time
- Easy to clean joints with water
- Rapid hardening without cracking or shrinkage
- Waterproof and impermeable to liquids
- High mechanical resistance
- Good abrasion resistance
- Very good adhesion to ceramic tiles, mosaics, etc.,
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Good chemical resistance
- Resistant to steam cleaning
- Stainless and colourfast
Usage
Grouting and bonding the following types of tiles:- Ceramic and porcelain tiles
- Ceramic-, glass-, marble-, wood- made mosaic
- Marble and other natural stone
- Gypsum or cement based substrates
- Old tiles
- Iron
- Fiberglass reinforced plastic
- Swimming pools (including seawater pools), thermal pools, GRP pools, fountains, etc.
- Kitchens, tanneries, paper-mills, slaughterhouses, professional kitchens, etc.
- Laboratories of all kinds
- Hospitals (including operating theatres)
- Manufacturing areas
- Storage tanks
- Sewage treatment plants
- Animal facilities (agriculture, stables and zoos etc.)
- Sanitary applications like bathrooms, toilets, around urinals, etc.
- Industrial washing facilities (with high pressure water etc.)
- Food industry such as in diaries, pickling and preserves production, fruit juices /aerated drinks production etc.
- Interior and exterior use
Advantages
- Very good workability
- Easy application
- Long open time
- Easy to clean joints with water
- Rapid hardening without cracking or shrinkage
- Waterproof and impermeable to liquids
- High mechanical resistance
- Good abrasion resistance
- Very good adhesion to ceramic tiles, mosaics, etc.,
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Good chemical resistance
- Resistant to steam cleaning
- Stainless and colourfast
Packaging
| Part A+B pre-batched | 5 kg set |
| Part A | 4.5 kg |
| Part B | 0.5 kg |
| Part A+B pre-batched | 1 kg set |
| Part A | 0.9 kg |
| Part B | 0.1 kg |
Each pack contains 1 sponge, 1 pair gloves, 1 application manual for on site use.
Colour
| Part A | Coloured paste |
| Part B | Amber coloured viscous liquid |
Available in below colour shades:
| Pure White | Light Ivory |
| Anthracite | Cement Grey |
| Brown | Chocolate |
| Black | Beige |
| Ocean Blue | Sea Blue |
Product Details
Product declaration
- RG according to EN 13888
- RG according to ISO 13007-3
- R2T according to EN 12004-1
- R2T according to ISO 13007-1
Chemical base
Epoxy resin, quartz aggregates and special additives
Shelf life
| 5 kg pack | 12 months from date of production |
| 1 kg pack | 18 months from date of production |
Storage conditions
The product must be stored properly in undamaged original sealed packaging in dry and cool conditions at temperatures between +5 °C and +35 °C. Protect from direct sunlight, heat and moisture.
Density
| Part A+B mixed | 1.60 ± 0.05 kg/L |
| Part A | 1.85 ± 0.1 kg/L |
| Part B | 0.95 ± 0.05 kg/L |
All density values at +30 °C.
Shore D hardness
| 1 day | ≥ 50 |
| 7 days | ≥ 70 |
| 28 days | ≥ 80 |
Abrasion resistance
| ~0.4 g (H22/1000/1000, 28 d) | (ASTM D4060) |
Compressive strength
| ≥ 45 N/mm2 | (ANSI 118.3 / ASTM C579) |
| ≥ 45 N/mm2 | (ISO 13007-4 / EN 12808-3) |
Flexural strength
| ≥ 30 N/mm2 | (ISO 13007-4 / EN 12808-3) |
Tensile strength
| ≥ 20 N/mm2 (7 d, +25 °C) | (ASTM D638) |
Tensile adhesion strength
| After > 20 min, open time | ≥ 0.5 N/mm2 |
Shear Adhesion
| Initial | ≥ 2 N/mm2 |
| After water immersion | ≥ 2 N/mm2 |
| After thermal shock | ≥ 2 N/mm2 |
Shrinkage
| ≤ 1.5 mm/m | (ISO 13007-4 / EN 12808-4) |
| ≤ 0.25 % | (ANSI 118.3 / ASTM C531) |
Service temperature
+5 °C min. / +70 °C max.
Water absorption
| ≤ 0.1 g after 240 minutes | (ISO 13007-4 / EN 12808-5) |
Chemical resistance
| Chemical | Resistance on spillage test for 28 days |
| Acetic Acid (5%) | A |
| HCl (37%) | D |
| Formic Acid (2.5%) | D |
| HNO3 (25%) | D |
| H2SO4 (50%) | D |
| NaOH (50%) | A |
| Xylene | A |
| Soap Solution (10%) | A |
| Lactic Acid (10%) | D+ |
| Acetone | A |
| Diesel | A |
| Ammonia (25%) | A |
| Tartaric Acid (50%) | D |
| Tannic Acid (50%) | A |
| KMnO4 (10%) | D |
| CaCl2 (10%) | D |
| KOH (50%) | D |
| Chloroform | A |
| Glycerol | A |
| N-Butyl Acetate | A |
| Benzene | A |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | A |
| Ethyl Methyl Ketone | A |
| Toluene | A |
| Di Chloro Methane | A |
| Sodium Bi-Sulphate (10%) | D |
| Sodium Bicarbonate (20%) | D |
| HgCl2 (10%) | D |
| Ethanol | A |
| H2O2 (30%) | A |
| Sodium Hypochlorite (6%) | D |
| Tea | D |
A = Resistant, D = Resistant but with discoloration and/or loss of gloss, C = Not Resistant, + = More
Application
Slip resistance
| ≤ 0.5 mm | (EN 12004-2 / ISO 13007-2) |
Mixing ratio
Part A : Part B = 9 : 1 (by weight)
Consistency
| Non-sag in vertical joints | (ANSI A118.3) |
Ambient air temperature
+5 °C min. / +40 °C max.
Substrate temperature
+5 °C min. / +40 °C max.
Pot life
~95 minutes (100 g mass, +25 °C)
| Water cleanability up to 95 minutes | (ANSI 118.3) |
Open time
| ~45 minutes | (ISO 13007-2) |
Setting time
| < 7 days to achieve service strength | (ANSI 118.3) |
Applied product ready for use
| Foot traffic | ~24 hours |
| Full cure | ~3 days |
| Water immersion | ~7 days |
Note: Values are obtained in laboratory condition at +25 °C. Higher temperatures will reduce the indicated waiting time, lower temperatures increase waiting time.
Consumption
TILE ADHESIVE
Consumption is dependent on the substrate, surface profile, roughness, size of the tiles, the joints between them and application technique (single spreading/floating method or double spreading/buttering method).
As a guide for a single adhesive layer:
| Size of tiles | Notched trowel size | Consumption |
| Small | 6 mm | ~2 kg/m2 |
| Medium | 8 mm | ~2.5 kg/m2 |
| Large | 10 mm | ~3 kg/m2 |
These figures are theoretical and do not allow for any additional material due to surface porosity, surface profile, variations in level or wastage etc.
TILE GROUT
Consumption is dependent on the surface profile and roughness of the substrate as well as on the size of the tiles and the joints between them.
As a general guide, the approximate consumption can be calculated by volume, where ~1.6 kg/m2 per mm of material is required.
Consumption of tile grout can be also calculated through the following formula:
((L1 + L2) × W × T × D) / (L1 × L2), where:
L1 = Length of tile (mm) - First side
L2 = Length of tile (mm) - Second side
W = Joint width (mm)
T = Tile thickness (mm)
D = Mixed density of tile grout (kg/L)
Note: Final result will be in kg/m2. All figures are theoretical and do not allow for any additional material due to surface porosity, surface profile, variations in level and wastage etc.
As a guide the following table can be used for calculating approx. area in sq.ft. per kg:
| Tile dimensions | Joint width 2 mm | Joint width 3 mm | Joint width 4 mm |
| 100 × 100 × 3 | 60 | 40 | 30 |
| 150 × 150 × 4 | 67 | 45 | 34 |
| 200 × 150 × 5 | 62 | 41 | 31 |
| 200 × 200 × 5 | 72 | 48 | 36 |
| 200 × 300 × 6 | 72 | 48 | 36 |
| 300 × 300 × 6 | 90 | 60 | 45 |
| 400 × 400 × 6 | 120 | 80 | 60 |
| 450 × 450 × 7 | 115 | 77 | 58 |
| 500 × 500 × 8 | 112 | 75 | 56 |
| 600 × 600 × 8 | 135 | 90 | 67 |
EQUIPMENT
MIXING
- Electric single paddle mixer (< 400 rpm) with spiral paddle
APPLICATION
- Notched trowel
- Grouting float / Trowel
- Grout spreader
- Sponge
- Soft cloth
- Grout finishing tool
MIXING
Important: Mix full units only
Important: Avoid over-mixing to minimise air entrainment.
- Mix Part A (resin) for ~30 seconds.
- Add Part B (hardener) to Part A.
- Mix continuously for 3 minutes, until a uniform mix is achieved.
- During the final mixing stage, scrape down the sides and bottom of the mixing container with a flat or straight edge trowel at least once to ensure complete mixing.
APPLICATION
TILE GROUT
Important: Use a soft felt to emulsify the product while cleaning in case of tiles with textured surface.
Important: Always perform a preliminary test on cleanability and staining if applying on tiles in colour contrast or any type of cladding with absorbent or porous surface.
- Apply SikaCeram®-888 Tile Grout EP using a grout spreader, squeegee or grouting float/trowel.
- Completely fill and compact the joints uniformly using cross-hatch techniques.
- If required, finish grout with a grout finishing tool while grout is wet.
- Using the same spreader/ float, remove excess grout from the tile surfaces, moving the tool diagonally across the joints.
- When the grout is touch dry (depending on the absorbency of the tile), use a damp sponge or sponge float to clean the tile surfaces. Clean sponge regularly with clean water.
- When grout has set hard enough in the joint (finger-nail hard), polish the tile surfaces by wiping with a clean, soft dry cloth.
TILE ADHESIVE
Important: Apply sufficient adhesive to ensure adequate ‘wetting’ of the backs of the tiles.
Important: Coverage on the back of the tiles must be 100 %.
Important: Tiling must be carried out on freshly applied adhesive. Exert adequate pressure to ensure 100 % complete and uniform contact with the adhesive to achieve optimum adhesion.
Important: If a skin forms on the surface of the adhesive, immediately remove the adhesive layer with a trowel, discard material and apply a fresh layer of SikaCeram®-888 Tile Grout EP adhesive.
Important: Protect freshly applied material from extremely high or low (freezing) temperatures, rain, direct exposure to sun, for at least 12–24 hours from application.
Important: For natural stone tiles or marble, always carry out a preliminary test application first.
Important: Avoid application in direct sunlight and/or strong wind / draughts.
Note: For tiles > 900 cm2 (30 × 30 cm), the double-spreading (buttering) technique is always recommended.
- Apply sufficient adhesive to the prepared fixing surfaces with the flat side of trowel.
- Comb additional adhesive with appropriate square notched trowel to the required bed thickness.
- Wherever needed (for large tiles), back butter the tiles for full bedding.
- Place tiles into wet, sticky adhesive and use rubber mallet to fully embed the tiles.
- Adjust tiles if required. Provide support wherever needed.
- Clean off surplus adhesive from tile face and between tile joints before the adhesive has dried.
CLEANING OF TOOLS
Clean all tools and application equipment with water immediately after use. Hardened material can only be removed mechanically.