Blog

Starch ether gypsum thickening

Analysis of Thickening Performance of Starch Ether

in Building Gypsum (β-Hemihydrate)

Starch ether is a type of etherified starch produced through chemical reactions using raw materials such as potato, corn, and tapioca. It is widely used in building dry-mix mortars. Its primary functions include thickening, anti-sag, reduction of application viscosity, improvement of workability, and extension of open time. This article explores the thickening performance of starch ether in building gypsum (β-hemihydrate) based on practical test data.

I. Test Data Overview

The following table presents test results of starch ether from different origins and types in building gypsum, with a dosage of 0.3‰ and a water addition of 65%:

Test No. Origin Dosage / ‰ Water Addition / % Consistency / mm Remarks
1# / 0 65 182
2# China 0.3 65 165
3# China 0.3 65 97 302
4# China 0.3 65 150 501
5# China 0.3 65 120 801
6# Netherlands 0.3 65 83
7# Netherlands 0.3 65 120
8# Austria 0.3 65 135
9# Germany 0.3 65 133
10# Germany 0.3 65 80
11# Germany 0.3 65 160
12# Thailand 0.3 65 180

Note: 302, 501, and 801 are our company’s products.

II. Results Analysis

From the test data, it can be observed:

Starch ethers of European origin show significant thickening effects, with some samples even exhibiting extreme thickening (e.g., Test Nos. 6# and 10# have consistency values lower than the blank group).

Conventional starch ethers provide moderate thickening effects. However, through formulation optimization, our products 302, 501, and 801 demonstrate excellent performance in specific applications:

Type 302 is suitable for tile adhesives, with a consistency of 97 mm.

Type 501 is suitable for cement-based putty products, with a consistency of 150 mm.

Type 801 is specially designed for gypsum products, with a consistency of 120 mm.

III. Conclusion

The thickening effect of starch ether is significantly influenced by raw materials and production processes. Selecting the appropriate starch ether product can effectively enhance the construction performance and final quality of building gypsum. Through targeted research and development, our starch ethers can achieve ideal results in specific applications.

For further information on starch ether products suitable for different scenarios (such as 302, 501, 801), please feel free to contact us. We offer professional technical support and solutions.

Drymix mortar Tech+

Why Does Dry Mix Mortar Cake During Storage?

Discover why dry mix mortar cakes during storage and transportation. Learn how moisture, packaging, raw materials, and formulation affect storage stability, and explore practical solutions to maintain product quality… Continue reading

Why Does Tile Grout Change Color After Curing?

Discover the most common causes of tile grout color inconsistency after curing and learn practical solutions through proper formulation, pigment selection, moisture control, and construction practices… Continue reading

Tile adhesive bond strength

Learn the most common reasons why tile adhesive loses bond strength and discover practical solutions through proper formulation, additive selection, substrate preparation, and construction practices… Continue reading

Gypsum Mortar Shrinkage: Causes and How to Prevent Cracks

Understand the main causes of gypsum mortar shrinkage and learn how to prevent cracks using HPMC, gypsum retarder, and proper formulation and construction practices… Continue reading

gypsum mortar water retention

Learn practical ways to enhance the water retention of gypsum mortar using HPMC, starch ether, and proper mixing techniques to improve workability and reduce cracks… Continue reading

Extend gypsum setting time

Learn why gypsum mortar loses workability too quickly and discover practical solutions using gypsum retarders, HPMC, and formulation optimization to extend working time without compromising strength… Continue reading

Tile Adhesive Crack Resistance Solutions

This article analyzes 5 main causes of tile adhesive cracking: insufficient flexibility, poor water retention, excessive shrinkage, poor substrate preparation, and incorrect additive selection, with solutions including HPMC, RDP, and other crack-resistant additives… Continue reading

Lightweight Gypsum Plaster Cellulose Ether

This article compares the performance of * 60010 and Sidley ME 42M07 cellulose ethers in lightweight gypsum plaster, including consistency, setting time, strength, and bond performance, providing data reference for dry-mix mortar formulation selection… Continue reading

Tile Adhesive Formulation

This article presents a C0 grade tile adhesive formulation trial comparing high, medium, and low viscosity cellulose ethers on open time and tensile bond strength, providing data reference for formulation optimization and cellulose ether selection… Continue reading

Tile adhesive open time

This article tests cellulose ethers (MP 17N01, ME 14N02, etc.) with varying viscosities and dosages to verify their effect on the open time of C1 tile adhesive, providing experimental data and conclusions… Continue reading

November 6, 2025 Drymix mortar Tech+ , ,
About SIDLEYchem