High performance, polymer-modified, water-repellent, mould resistant cement-based grout with DropEffect® and Bioblock® technology for joints up to 6 mm.
Where to use
Grouting interior and exterior floor and wall tiling (single fired, double fired, klinker, porcelain tile, etc.), stone material (natural stones, marble, granite, agglomerates, etc.)) glass and marble mosaics.
Some application examples
Grouting floor and wall ceramic tiles in interiors.
Grouting swimming pools.
Grouting particularly smooth and glossy floor surfaces (smooth and polished porcelain, pre-smoothened and polished marble, glazed tiles).
Grouting ceramic tile industrial flooring where resistance to chemical agents is not required (garages, warehouses, etc.).
Technical characteristics
Keracolor FF is a blend of cement, very fine-graded aggregates, special polymers, additives and pigments. The use of special hydrophobic additives (DropEffect® and BioBlock® technology) gives grouting mortars highly water-repellent properties, making them less prone to dirtiness and with excellent durability. The addition of BioBlock® technology resists the growth of mould and mildew allowing the grout to be easily cleaned. The following features are obtained when mixed with the right water ratio and used correctly:
Water-repellent and droplet-effect.
Mould and mildew resistant.
Good compressive and flexural strength, good resistance to freeze/thaw cycles, and therefore good durability.
A smooth final surface with low water absorption, therefore easy to clean.
Very good abrasion resistance.
Low shrinkage, therefore absence of cracks and fissures
Good resistance to acids with pH >3.
Excellent value for performance. When mixing Keracolor FF with Fugolastic, a special synthetic resin-based polymeric additive, the final characteristics are improved for use even under harsh conditions (grouting facades, swimming pools, bathrooms, floors with heavy traffic).
Recommendations
Do not mix Keracolor FF with cement or any other products. Never add water to the mixture that is beginning to set.
Do not blend different colours of grout together as there is a risk of colour inconsistency and lack of uniformity of the final shade once the grout has set.
Never mix Keracolor FF with salty or dirty water.
Use the product in temperatures between +5°C and +35°C.
The amount of mix water must be precisely measured. Excess water could induce the appearance of a whitish coat over the surface (efflorescence). Different colour tones could result if mixtures with different water ratios are prepared. Efflorescence over the surface is due to the formation of calcium carbonate and could also be caused by residual moisture contained in adhesives, not fully hydrated grouts, in substrates not adequately dried, or in substrates not adequately protected from rising damp.
After filling the joints, do not sprinkle Keracolor FF powder onto the grout as this can cause uneven colour and reduce the mechanical strength.
Expansion joints and movement joints in floors and walls should never be filled with Keracolor FF, but with the appropriate flexible MAPEI sealant.
The surface of some ceramic tiles or stone materials are rough or contain micro-porosities. It is recommended to carry out a sample test to verify cleanability and when necessary, apply a protective treatment over the surface, but avoiding penetration into the joints. When grouting a swimming pool which is due to be disinfected through saline electrolysis please use Ultracolor Plus or Kerapoxy.
Preparing the joints
Before grouting, wait until the installation mortar or the adhesive has completely hardened. Verify that the waiting time indicated on the relevant technical data sheet has elapsed. The joints must be clean, free of dust and raked back to at least 2/3 of the tile thickness. Excess adhesive or mortar should be removed whilst still fresh. Wet the joints with clean water when using very porous ceramic tiles in high temperatures and in the presence of wind.
Mixing
While stirring, pour Keracolor FF into a clean, rust-free container containing 26-28% by weight, dependant on grout colour, of clean water or Fugolastic (if required in the application). When grouting floors, the mixture can be made thinner by adding more water (approx. 27-30% by weight). Mix with a low speed mixer to avoid excess formation of air bubbles, to a smooth consistency. Wait 2-3 minutes and briefly re-stir before use. Use the mixture within 2 hours of preparation.
Applying the grout
Fill the joints completely with Keracolor FF using the appropriate MAPEI trowel or rubber float, making sure the joints are completely compacted, with no unevenness. Remove excess Keracolor FF, while still fresh, from the surface moving the float diagonally across joints.
Finishing
When the mixture loses its plasticity and becomes matt, usually after 10-20 minutes, clean excess Keracolor FF with a damp hard cellulose sponge (e.g. MAPEI sponge) working diagonally to the joints. Rinse the sponge frequently using two separate buckets of water: one to remove the excess from the sponge and the other with clean water for rinsing out the sponge. Cleaning can also be carried out with a power float. To aid removal of the hardened product from the tiles, use a dampened Scotch-Brite® pad or a disc-type power float with special abrasive-felt discs. If cleaning is carried out too early (when the mixture is still plastic), the grout may be dragged from the joint leading to colour variation. On the other hand, if the grout has already hardened, it is necessary to clean the surface mechanically, which could scratch the surface of the tiles. When applying Keracolor FF in extremely hot, dry or windy climates, it is recommended to wet the joints after several hours. Wet curing of Keracolor FF always improves its final performance. Any residual powdery haze can be cleaned from the surface with a clean dry cloth. After the final cleaning, if the surface of the floors or walls are still contaminated with Keracolor FF, an acid cleaner can be used (e.g. Fila DETERDEK), following the relevant instructions, at least 10 days after grouting the joints. Use DETERDEK only on acid-resistant surfaces and never on marble or limestone materials.
Set to light foot traffic
Floors are set to light foot traffic after approximately 24 hours.
Ready for use
Floors are ready for traffic after approx. 7 days. Swimming pools and tanks can be filled 7 days after grouting.
Consumption
(A+B) / (AxB) x C x D x 1.5 = kg/m²
A = length of tile (mm), B = width of the tile (mm), C = thickness of the tile (mm), D = width of the joint (mm).
Coverage of Keracolor FF varies depending on the width of the joints, the size and thickness of the tiles.
| Colour | White, Manhattan, Medium Grey, Cement Grey, Anthracite, Jasmin |
| Mixing ratio | 100 parts of Keracolor FF with 26-28 parts of water by weight depending on the colour |
| Pot life of mix | approx. 2 hours |
| Waiting time for finishing | 10-20 minutes |
| Set to light foot traffic | 24 hours |
| Ready for use | 7 days |
| Application temp. | +5°C - +35°C |
| Tools cleaning | Water |
| Packaging | 5kg bags |
| Storage | 12 months in a dry place in the original packaging. |
High-performance, anti-efflorescence, non irritating quick-setting and drying polymer-modified mortar with water-repellent DropEffect® and mould-resistant Bioblock® technology for grouting joints from 2 to 20 mm wide.
Where to use
Internal and external grouting of floors and walls in all types of ceramic (double-fired, single-fired, klinker, porcelain, etc.), terracotta, stone material (natural stone, marble, granite, agglomerates, etc.), and glass and marble mosaic.
Some application examples
Grouting floors and walls in areas subject to intense traffic (airports, shopping centres, restaurants, bars, etc.).
Grouting floors and walls in residential areas (hotels, private houses, etc.).
Grouting floors and walls on facades, balconies, terraces and on swimming pools.
Technical characteristics
Ultracolor Plus is a mortar formulated to be non-irritating, made up of a blend of special hydraulic binders, graded aggregates, special polymers, water repellent admixtures, organic molecules and pigments. With Ultracolor Plus, the Ultracolor technology is based on a special, self-hydrating hydraulic binder which guarantees perfect colour uniformity, by two innovative technologies which are the result of MAPEI research: BioBlock® and DropEffect®. BioBlock® technology consists in special organic molecules which, by distributing themselves evenly in the micro-structure of the joints, block the formatio of micro-organisms that cause mould damage. The DropEffect® technology, with a synergic effect, reduces the absorption of surface water. When it is mixed with water in the proportions recommended and correctly applied, Ultracolor Plus forms a grouting mortar with the following characteristics:
Water-repellent and droplet-effect.
Uniform colour and free of staining since Ultracolor Plus does not produce efflorescence. From an analysis carried out using an electronic microscope, note that, compared with a Portland cement-based binder in a normal cementitious grouting mortar, the special cements in Ultracolor Plus do not generate the calcium hydroxide (hydrolysis lime) crystals during the hydration process, which cause efflorescence.
Colours resistant to ultra-violet rays and atmosphericagents.
Short waiting time before cleaning and easy finishing.
Ready for light foot traffic and for use after a short period of time
Smooth, compact finished surface, with low water absorbency for easy cleaning.
Shrinkage compensated, therefore free from cracks.
Optimum resistance to abrasion, compression and flexural strength, even after freeze/thaw cycles, and therefore optimum durability.
Good resistance to acids with pH >3%
Recommendations
Ultracolor Plus does not contain Portland cement and must not be mixed with gypsum or other hydraulic binders; never add water to the mix once it has started to set.
Never mix Ultracolor Plus with salty or dirty water.
Use the product at temperatures between +5°C and +35°C.
Carry out grouting only on substrates which are sufficiently dry or have been waterproofed, to avoid a whitish film forming on the surface.
In order to avoid an uneven colour finish, we do not recommend sprinkling Ultracolor Plus powder onto the filled grout joints.
When resistance to acids or, where extreme cleanliness or sterile conditions are required, use a suitable acid-resistant epoxy grout.
Expansion and movement joints on walls and floors must never be filled with Ultracolor Plus. Use a suitable flexible sealant MAPEI AC.
The surface of certain tiles or stone material may have micro-porosity or a rough surface. We recommend carrying out a preliminary test to check how easy it is to clean the surface where necessary to apply a protective treatment to the surface, to ensure the grout does not penetrate into the surface porosity of the tiles.
If an acid-based cleaner is used to clean the joint, we recommend testing the product befoehand to check the resistance of the colour. Always make sure that the joints are thorougly rinsed down to avoid leaving traces of acid in the joints.
Preparing the joints
Grouting may take place when the adhesive is completely set. Make sure that the waiting times indicated in the technical data sheets are followed. The joints must be clean, free of dust and empty down to at least 2/3 of the thickness of the tiles. Any adhesive or mortar which has seeped into the joints while laying the tiles must be removed while still fresh. With very absorbent tiles, high temperatures or windy conditions, dampen the joints with clean water.
Mixing
Before mixing the grout with water, dry-blend the product to avoid color variations in the finished grout, which may arise from pigment settling during transport. If two or more bags are to be used, all of the contents should be dry-blended together. While stirring, pour Ultracolor Plus into a clean, rust-free container containing 20-26% by weight of clean water. Mix the grout with a low-speed mixer to avoid air entrainment, until a smooth paste is obtained. Let the mix stand for 2-3 minutes and stir again briefly before use. Use the mix within 20-25 minutes of its preparation.
Applying the grout
Fill the joints with the Ultracolor Plus mix using a special MAPEI grout float or rubber squeegee, without leaving any gaps or steps. Remove any excess of Ultracolor Plus from the surface, by moving the float or the rubber squeegee diagonally to the joints while the mix is still fresh.
Finishing
When the mix loses its plasticity and becomes opaque, which usually takes place after 15-30 minutes, clean off the excess Ultracolor Plus with a hard cellulose, damp sponge (e.g. a MAPEI sponge), working in a diagonal direction to the joints. Rinse the sponge frequently, using two different containers of water: one to remove the excess mix from the sponge, and the other, containing clean water, to rinse the sponge. This operation may also be carried out with a machine with a ponge belt. It is possible to finish the surface also when the mix is partially set, after 50-60 minutes, with a damp Scotch-Brite® sponge: pass it over the joints to even out the surface. This operation may be also carried out with a single disk rotary machine with special Scotch-Brit® type felt disk. If the cleaning operation is carried out too soon (the mix is still too plastic), some of the mix may be removed from the joints, which may change their colour. If grouting is carried out in extremely hot, dry or windy weather, we recommend that the joints filled with Ultracolor Plus are dampened after a few hours. Damp curing of Ultracolor Plus improves its final characteristics in all cases. Final cleaning of the powdery film of Ultracolor Plus from the surface may be carried out with a clean, dry cloth. After the final cleaning operation, if the surface still has traces of Ultracolor Plus due to incorrect application, it may be cleaned down with an acidic cleaner (FILA DETERDEK), by following the relevant instructions, at least 24 hours after grouting the joints. Use DETERDEK only on acid-resistant surfaces and never on marble or limestone materials.
Set to light foot traffic
Floors are set to light foot traffic after approximately 3 hours.
Ready for use
Surfaces grouted with Ultracolor Plus may be put into service after 24 hours. Basins and swimming pools may be filled up 48 hours after grouting.
Consumption
(A+B) / (AxB) x C x D x 1.6 = kg/m²
A = length of tile (mm), B = width of the tile (mm), C = thickness of the tile (mm), D = width of the joint (mm).
Coverage of Keracolor FF varies depending on the width of the joints, the size and thickness of the tiles.
| Colour | White, Manhattan, Medium Grey, Grey, Anthracite, Black, Jasmin, Beige, Brown, Chocolate, Limestone |
| Mixing ratio | 100 parts of Ultracolor Plus with 20-26 parts of water by weight depending on the colour |
| Pot life of mix | 20-25 minutes |
| Waiting time for finishing | 15-30 minutes |
| Set to light foot traffic | approx. 3 hours |
| Ready for use | 24 hours (48 hours for basins and swimming pools) |
| Application temp. | +5°C - +35°C |
| Tools cleaning | Water |
| Packaging | 5kg bags |
| Storage | 24 months in a dry place in the original packaging. |
Pure, mould-resistant, acetic, silicone sealant available in 8 colours and transparent to compliment the Mapei grout range.
Where to use
Mapesil AC is an acetic-crosslinking silicone sealant suitable for sealing glass, ceramic and anodised aluminium. After first having used a bonding enhancer, Primer FD can also be used on concrete, wood, metal, painted surfaces, plastic and rubber. Mapesil AC is used for:
Sealing expansion joints of ±25% expansion of the initial size.
Forming a perfectly elastic gasket between different elements in building, mechanical engineering, ship-building, automobile, manufacturing, etc.
Some application examples
Sealing joints in wall and floor coverings of ceramic and cement, provided they are not subject to heavy abrasion.
Sealing joints between sinks or sanitary ware and ceramic tiles in kitchens, bathrooms and showers with colours coordinated with the grouts.
Sealing expansion joints in swimming pools.
Assembling compositions of glass tiles and artistic stained glass windows.
Sealing glazing of door and window frames.
Sealing air ducts, water pipes.
Sealing portholes, windows, glazed frames.
Sealing tanks, service pipes and boilers.
Sealing materials of different thermal exposure coefficient.
Adhesive and sealant for general use.
Technical characteristics
Mapesil AC is a one-component, acetic crosslinking, solvent-free silicone sealant, available coloured or transparent. It is a thixotropic paste which is easily trowellable both horizontally and vertically. It crosslinks following exposure to atmospheric humidity at ambient temperatures, and forms an elastic product with following properties:
excellent durability. Seals remain unchanged even after many years exposure to climatic extremes, industrial pollution, sudden temperature changes and immersion in water.
High elasticity.
Excellent bonding to glass, ceramic and anodised aluminium.
Mildew resistant.
Waterproof and permeable to vapour.
Resistant to chemical agents.
Flexible down to -40°C and resistant to temperatures at +180°C.
Easily workable.
Recommendations
Do not use Mapesil AC for joints in exterior between ceramic tiles and light-coloured natural stone because dirt could accumulate by the joints. Use Mapesil LM.
For sealing surfaces sensitive to acids such as lime stone, use a neutral silicone sealant (e.g. Mapesil LM).
The use of Mapesil AC is not recommended on highly plasticised material or on bituminous surfaces because of the release of substances that reduce bonding and penetrate into the sealant, altering the colour and resistance.
The resistance of Mapesil AC to chemical agents is generally excellent; however, due to the numerous products and working conditions to which Mapesil AC can be applied, it is always advisable to do a sample test in cases of doubt.
Do not use Mapesil AC to seal aquariums.
For sealing floor joints subject to heavy traffic, use a polyurethane (e.g. Mapeflex PU 45 FT) or epoxy-polyurethane (e.g. Mapeflex PU20) sealant.
Preparation
All the surfaces to receive the sealant must be dry, solid and free from dust and loose particles, oils, grease, wax, old paint and rust.In order that the seal can carry out its function, provision must be made for it to elongate and compress freely. During application it is therefore necessary that:
It adheres only to the side of the walls of the joint and not to the base of the joint.
The joint is sized so that the estimated maximum extension is not greater than 25% of the initial width (calculated at +20°C).
When the width of the joint is 10 mm, the thickness must be equal to the width; for widths between 11 and 20mm the thickness must always be equal to 10mm; for widths greater than the thickness must be equal to half the width. To control the depth of the joint and to prevent Mapesil AC from adhering to the base, the bottom of the joint should be filled with a sized Mapefoam, a polyethylene cord.
Application of Primer FD
Where the use of Primer FD is necessary, it must be applied with a small brush onto the appropriate areas of the joints and left to dry for several minutes to allow the solvent to evaporate. Then apply Mapesil AC.
Application
Mapesil AC is packed in cartridges of 310ml; to use, cut the cartridge above the end of the thread and screw on the nozzle, which should be cut at 45° to produce a hole corresponding to the size of the joint. Insert the cartridge into the gun and extrude the sealant. The surface of Mapesil AC must be finished off with a damp tool, preferably moistened with soapy water, before a superficial film has formed.
Crosslinking
When exposed to air and humidity, Mapesil AC crosslinks and becomes elastic. The speed at which Mapesil AC crosslinks depends only slightly on temperature, but is fundamentally linked to humidity in the atmosphere.
| Colour | White, Manhattan, Cement Grey, Anthracite, Black, Jasmine, Vanilla, Beige, Tansparent |
| Time for formation of skin | 10 |
| Application temp. | +5°C - +50°C |
| Tools cleaning | To clean partially cross-linked Mapesil AC from tools and contaminated surfaces, common solvents may be used (e.g. ethyl acetate, petrol, toluene). Once cross-linking is complete, silicone rubber can only be cleaned mechanically. |
| Packaging | 310 ml cartridges |
| Storage | 24 months in a dry cool place in original cartridges. |
