Redispersible polymer powder (RDP) is a free-flowing powder made by spray drying, primarily from ethylene-vinyl acetate, ethylene-vinyl acetate-vinyl pivalate, or acrylate polymers. It rapidly redisperses into a stable polymer emulsion upon contact with water, making it widely used in construction, building materials, and industrial adhesives.

1. Tile Adhesives and Stone Adhesives

RDP plays a central role in tile adhesives. Due to the smooth surface and low water absorption of tiles, long-term, reliable bonding with cement mortar alone is difficult. Adding an appropriate amount of RDP significantly improves the flexibility and bond strength of tile adhesives, enabling them to withstand thermal expansion and contraction, as well as external loads, and preventing hollowing and detachment. RDP also enhances compatibility with various substrates (such as concrete, gypsum board, and insulation board), making it widely used for indoor and outdoor wall and floor paving.

2. External Insulation Systems (EIFS/ETICS)

In external insulation systems, RDP is used in insulation board bonding mortars and anti-cracking mortars for plastering. Its main functions include:
Improving adhesion: ensuring a secure bond between the insulation board and the base layer.
Enhancing flexibility: reducing cracking caused by thermal stress.
Improving water resistance: enhancing the overall durability of the insulation system.
Therefore, RDP is a key additive in modern energy-saving building insulation systems.

3. Self-leveling Mortar and Flooring Materials

RDP can significantly improve the flow and application properties of self-leveling mortar. Its main functions are:
Improving the mortar’s flow and leveling properties, resulting in a smooth and even construction surface.
Enhancing adhesion and wear resistance, extending the service life of the floor.
Improving impact resistance, suitable for industrial plants, shopping malls, and residential floors.

4. Repair Mortar and Interface Mortar

When repairing concrete or renovating old walls, RDP significantly improves the mortar’s adhesion, ensuring it adheres securely to smooth or dense substrates. It also enhances the mortar’s crack resistance and flexibility, ensuring the repair layer blends seamlessly with the existing structure and preventing secondary cracking.

5. Waterproof Mortar and Flexible Waterproof Coatings

RDP has excellent film-forming properties and flexibility, making it widely used in waterproof mortars and polymer-cement-based waterproof coatings. After the mortar hardens, it forms a flexible polymer film, improving the system’s impermeability and water resistance. RDP ensures a long-lasting and effective waterproofing layer, especially in humid or waterlogged environments such as kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and rooftops.

6. Gypsum-Based Products

In gypsum-based putty, bonding plaster, and gypsum-based self-leveling, RDP improves the adhesion and workability of gypsum products. Since gypsum products are generally brittle, the addition of RDP improves flexibility and abrasion resistance, while also increasing crack and water resistance, extending the material’s service life.

7. Tile Grouts and Caulking Compounds

RDP’s flexibility and hydrophobicity make it an ideal additive for caulking compounds. It enhances the grout’s shrinkage and crack resistance, and improves its water resistance and stain resistance, thereby maintaining the long-lasting beauty of tile decorations.

8. Dry-Mix Mortar and Putty Powder

RDP is widely used in various dry-mix mortar systems, such as plaster mortar, leveling mortar, and interior and exterior wall putty powder. Its main functions include:
Improving application and ease of application;
Increasing bond strength to prevent hollowing and peeling;
Enhancing weather resistance to extend the life of wall decoration layers.

9. Adhesives and Modified Cement Products

In construction adhesives, masonry mortars, and modified cement boards, RDP provides excellent flexibility and adhesion, meeting the performance requirements of modern prefabricated buildings and lightweight building materials.

Redispersible polymer powder (RDP) has a wide range of applications, encompassing virtually all cement- and gypsum-based materials involved in building bonding, repair, waterproofing, and decoration. Its core value lies in enhancing bond strength, improving flexibility, and enhancing water resistance and durability. With the rise of green building and energy-saving and environmentally friendly concepts, demand for RDP will continue to grow, and it will play an increasingly important role in high-performance building materials.