Tile adhesives are a key building material that enables a strong and durable bond between tiles and various surfaces. In my thesis, I focused on identifying the crystalline phases in tile adhesives using X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). XRPD is one of the main methods for characterizing solid substances. It is based on the diffraction of X-rays with the crystal structure. The diffraction pattern generated is characteristic of each crystalline substance.
In my research, I analyzed ten different samples of tile adhesives. After comparing their diffraction patterns, it was found that most samples predominantly contain silicon dioxide and calcium carbonate. The substances present in smaller quantities were not always identifiable, so I also conducted thermal analysis of the samples. This analysis confirmed the presence of organic additives, which are important for improving the properties of the adhesive, such as flexibility and adhesion.
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