A construction method for surface protection of a ceramic tile joint material using a normal temperature curing resin material

Abstract

The application discloses a construction method for surface protection of ceramic tile caulking material by using normal-temperature curing resin material, and belongs to the technical field of building decoration construction, and comprises the following steps: cleaning, polishing and leveling pretreatment are performed on the surface of the cured ceramic tile caulking material, dust, oil stains and dregs are removed, and the surface is kept dry; the normal-temperature curing resin material is uniformly coated on the surface of the pretreated caulking material, a continuous protective coating with a thickness of 0.1mm-0.3mm is formed; after the coating is completed, natural standing and curing are performed at normal temperature and pressure for 2h-6h until the coating is completely crosslinked and shaped. The application does not need special curing equipment such as heating or light during the whole construction process, is simple to operate, and is high in construction efficiency; the formed resin protective coating is dense and continuous, has strong adhesion to the surface of the caulking material, can effectively block stain penetration, and can significantly improve the stain-proof, wear-resistant, yellowing-resistant and aging-resistant performance of the caulking material, solves the problems of easy dirt, blackening, cracking and falling of the traditional caulking material, and prolongs the service life of the caulking material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of building decoration and construction technology, and more specifically to a construction method for protecting the surface of tile grouting materials using room temperature curing resin materials. Background Technology

[0002] Tile laying is a widely used finishing process in building decoration projects. After the tiles are laid, the gaps between adjacent tiles need to be filled with grout to achieve aesthetics, waterproofing, and to prevent tile displacement. Currently, commonly used tile grouting materials on the market mainly include cement-based grouting materials, traditional sealant, and epoxy colored sand grouting materials. Among them, cement-based grouting materials are the most widely used due to their low cost and ease of application. However, as a porous inorganic material, it has a large number of micropores and capillary channels on its surface. In actual long-term use, liquid pollutants such as sewage, oil stains, beverages, and condiments from daily life can easily penetrate into the grouting material through these micropores, causing irreversible discoloration such as yellowing, blackening, and mold. Once pollutants penetrate, conventional wiping and cleaning methods are difficult to completely remove them, seriously affecting the aesthetics and hygiene of the interior decoration. Furthermore, cement-based grout has limited mechanical strength. During long-term use, factors such as friction from foot traffic, furniture dragging, thermal expansion and contraction, and building micro-vibrations can cause the grout surface to wear, powder, crack, and even partially detach. This not only reduces the grout's lifespan but can also lead to loosening and warping of tiles due to loss of effective support at the tile edges. While traditional grout sealants and epoxy colored sand products offer improvements in stain resistance and strength compared to cement-based grout, their application costs are higher, and they still face risks of yellowing, cracking, and separation from the tile interface after long-term use. Therefore, they cannot fundamentally solve the technical challenge of long-term protection for grout materials.

[0003] To address the aforementioned issues, existing technologies have developed improved solutions involving applying a protective coating to the surface of the sealant. For example, after the sealant has cured, a layer of varnish, sealant, or resin coating is applied to its surface to form a surface isolation layer that prevents contaminant penetration and improves wear resistance. However, existing protective construction methods generally suffer from the following drawbacks: First, some coating systems require specific conditions such as heating and baking or ultraviolet light to cure, necessitating the use of specialized curing equipment on-site. This limits construction conditions, complicates procedures, and increases energy consumption, making it difficult to flexibly promote and apply in partial repairs or large-scale construction of already occupied, fully-furnished apartments. Second, while some single-component coatings that can dry at room temperature are convenient to apply, their adhesion to the surface of the grouting material is insufficient, resulting in a thin and poorly dense coating. Over long-term use, this coating is prone to peeling, flaking, and abrasion, leading to limited protective effects and poor durability. Third, existing technologies lack systematic optimization and control over the thickness of the protective coating, pretreatment requirements, and curing parameters. This results in inconsistent coating quality, often exhibiting defects such as sagging, orange peel, pinholes, or cracking, leading to actual protective effects far below expectations.

[0004] Therefore, developing a construction method that requires no special curing equipment, can be cured at room temperature, is easy and quick to apply, and can form a protective coating on the surface of the sealant that has strong adhesion, is dense and durable, and has excellent anti-fouling and wear-resistant properties has become a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the present invention provides a construction method for surface protection of tile grouting material using room temperature curing resin material.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution, comprising the following steps: (1) Surface pretreatment of grout material: Clean, grind and level the surface of the cured tile grout material to remove surface dust, oil and scum, and keep the surface dry; (2) Coating of protective material: Apply room temperature curing resin material evenly to the surface of the grout material after the pretreatment in step (1) to form a continuous and uniform protective coating, and control the coating thickness; before applying the protective layer, neatly stick the protective film along the edge of the tile gap to ensure that the edge of the coating is neat and clean.

[0007] (3) Curing at room temperature: The ceramic tile coated in step (2) is left to stand and cure under normal temperature and pressure until the protective coating is completely cross-linked and formed.

[0008] Preferably, in the above-mentioned construction method for protecting the surface of tile grout material with room temperature curing resin material, the room temperature curing resin material is a compound of one or more of the following: a two-component room temperature curing epoxy resin system, a room temperature curing polyurethane resin system, a room temperature curing modified acrylic resin system, a one-component room temperature curing polyurea resin system, or an organosilicon resin system.

[0009] Preferably, in the above-mentioned construction method for protecting the surface of tile grout material with room temperature curing resin material, when the room temperature curing resin material is a two-component room temperature curing epoxy resin system, it is prepared by mixing epoxy resin matrix and curing agent at a mass ratio of 1:0.8 to 1.2. After mixing, the mixture is stirred evenly and allowed to stand to defoam before being applied.

[0010] Preferably, in the above-mentioned construction method for protecting the surface of tile grout material with room temperature curing resin material, in step (1), the surface moisture content of the pretreated grout material is controlled below 8%, and the surface is free of protrusions, cracks and loose parts.

[0011] Preferably, in the above-mentioned construction method for protecting the surface of tile grouting material with room temperature curing resin material, in step (2), the coating method is either brushing or scraping; the thickness of the protective coating is controlled between 0.1mm and 0.3mm.

[0012] Preferably, in the above-mentioned construction method for surface protection of tile grouting material using room temperature curing resin material, in step (3), the ambient temperature for room temperature curing is 5℃~40℃, and the curing time is 1h~48h.

[0013] Preferably, in the above-mentioned construction method for protecting the surface of tile grout material with room temperature curing resin material, in step (3), the coating is protected during the curing period to avoid dust and water stains.

[0014] Preferably, in the above-mentioned construction method for protecting the surface of tile grout material with room temperature curing resin material, after the curing is completed in step (3), the method further includes a step of polishing the surface of the protective coating.

[0015] Preferably, in the above-mentioned construction method for protecting the surface of tile grout material with room temperature curing resin material, the tile grout material is a cement-based grout material or a reactive resin grout material.

[0016] As can be seen from the above technical solution, compared with the prior art, the present invention discloses a construction method for surface protection of tile grout materials using room temperature curing resin materials. The entire construction process is naturally cured under normal temperature and pressure conditions, without the need for special curing equipment such as heating, baking, or ultraviolet irradiation. The process is simple and efficient, and suitable for various indoor and outdoor decoration site construction. The resulting room temperature curing resin protective coating is dense and continuous, which can effectively block the penetration of stains and significantly improve the wear resistance, yellowing resistance, and aging resistance of the grout surface. It overcomes the defects of traditional grout materials such as easy dirt accumulation, blackening, cracking, and peeling, and extends their service life. At the same time, the resin material selection is flexible, covering a variety of room temperature self-curing systems such as two-component epoxy resin systems, polyurethane resin systems, modified acrylic resin systems, or silicone resin systems, which have strong applicability. Through precise control of surface pretreatment, coating thickness, and curing parameters, it is ensured that the coating and the grout surface are neat, firmly bonded, and free from sagging and peeling, with stable and reliable molding results. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0018] This invention provides a construction method for surface protection of tile grout using a room-temperature curing resin material. The method mainly includes the following steps: After the tile grout has fully cured, its surface should be pre-treated. The purpose of pre-treatment is to remove dust, oil, and loose layers from the grout surface, improving the adhesion of the subsequent resin protective coating. Specifically, the following steps can be taken: First, use a lint-free cloth or a high-pressure air gun to remove loose dust and particles from the grout surface. Then, use 200-400 grit sandpaper to lightly sand and level the surface, removing protrusions, burrs, and loose material, ensuring a smooth and clean surface. After sanding, wipe the grout surface with anhydrous ethanol or acetone to remove residual oil, and allow it to air dry naturally or with hot air. The moisture content of the pre-treated grout surface should ideally be below 8%, and the surface should be free of visible cracks, sand, and loose areas. Excessive moisture content will hinder the full wetting and cross-linking adhesion of the resin material to the grout surface, leading to decreased adhesion or even peeling after curing.

[0019] After the surface pretreatment of the sealant is completed, the protective film is neatly applied along both edges of the joint. A room-temperature curing resin material is then evenly coated onto the sealant surface in the middle of the protective film to form a continuous and uniform protective coating. The room-temperature curing resin material described in this invention refers to a resin system that can achieve self-crosslinking and curing through chemical reaction under normal temperature (typically 5℃~40℃) and normal pressure conditions. Specific types can be selected within a certain range to adapt to different usage environments, costs, and construction habits.

[0020] As a preferred option, a two-component room-temperature curing epoxy resin is selected as the room-temperature curing resin material. This two-component room-temperature curing epoxy resin is prepared by mixing an epoxy resin matrix and a curing agent at a mass ratio of 1:0.8 to 1.2, with a more preferred mass ratio of 1:1. Mixing can be done manually or mechanically, with the stirring speed controlled at a low speed range (e.g., 200-500 rpm) for 3-5 minutes until the resin matrix and curing agent are fully and uniformly mixed. The mixed resin system often contains air bubbles introduced during the stirring process. Direct application may result in pinholes or air bubble defects in the cured coating. Therefore, the mixed resin material should be allowed to stand for 2-5 minutes to fully defoam, allowing the air bubbles to escape before the coating operation.

[0021] In addition to two-component room-temperature curing epoxy resin, the room-temperature curing resin material described in this invention can also be one or more of room-temperature curing polyurethane resin, modified acrylic resin, and other room-temperature curable resins. For example, the room-temperature curing polyurethane resin can be a single-component moisture-curing type or a two-component reactive type, which can be directly applied and used without complicated mixing.

[0022] The protective material can be applied by brushing or scraping, depending on the site conditions, area, and efficiency requirements. During application, ensure the resin material evenly covers the sealant surface, avoiding missed areas, runs, and accumulation. The thickness of the protective coating is a key factor affecting the final protective effect and coating stability. If the coating is too thin (less than 0.1 mm), its mechanical strength and abrasion resistance will be insufficient, making long-term protection difficult. If the coating is too thick (greater than 0.3 mm), significant internal stress will be generated during curing, leading to shrinkage, cracking, or peeling from the sealant surface, and affecting transparency. Therefore, the thickness of the protective coating in this invention is controlled within the range of 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm, more preferably within 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm. If a single application cannot achieve the target thickness, multiple thin coats can be applied, with the interval between each coat determined by the surface dryness of the previous coat.

[0023] After coating, the tiles are left to stand naturally at room temperature and pressure, allowing the protective coating to cross-link and cure at room temperature. A significant advantage of this invention is that the curing process requires no heating or baking, nor special curing equipment such as ultraviolet or infrared irradiation; curing can be completed under normal indoor conditions. The preferred room temperature curing environment is 5℃ to 40℃. Within this temperature range, the cross-linking reaction rate of the resin material is moderate, and the coating can be completely cured within 1 hour to 48 hours. If the ambient temperature is below 5℃, the curing speed will slow down significantly, and the curing time needs to be extended accordingly; if the ambient temperature is above 40℃, the pot life (operable time) of the resin material will be shortened, potentially affecting the uniformity of large-area construction.

[0024] During the curing process, care should be taken to avoid contaminating the coating surface with dust, water stains, oil, or other impurities, as this can affect the final coating's surface smoothness, transparency, and protective performance. For outdoor construction sites or environments with high dust levels, temporary protection can be provided by covering the surface during the curing period.

[0025] After curing, the protective coating surface can be finished as needed. For example, use a soft polishing cloth, wool wheel, or fine sandpaper to gently wipe the coating surface to further achieve the required smoothness, gloss, and stain resistance.

[0026] To make the technical solution of the present invention clearer, the construction method of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. It should be noted that the following embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0027] Example 1 Pretreatment: After the grout material such as ceramic tile cementitious base has completely cured, wipe the dust off the surface of the grout material with a dust-free cloth, then use 200-grit sandpaper to lightly sand the surface of the grout material to remove surface protrusions, burrs and slag, then wipe it with anhydrous ethanol to remove oil, and let it air dry naturally until the surface moisture content of the grout material is measured to be 6% (below the required limit of 8%).

[0028] Preparation of protective material: Take a two-component room-temperature curing epoxy resin, where component A is the epoxy resin matrix and component B is an amine curing agent. Accurately weigh component A and component B at a mass ratio of 1:1, place them in a clean container, and stir at low speed with a stirring rod for 5 minutes to mix them evenly. Then let it stand for 3 minutes to eliminate air bubbles generated during stirring.

[0029] Apply protective film: Apply the protective film neatly and firmly along the tile grout lines.

[0030] Protective coating application: Use a dropper bottle (or glue gun) to evenly apply the prepared epoxy resin material along the direction of the sealant between the protective films.

[0031] Protective coating film formation: Using a special elastic scraper and appropriate force, scrape the protective layer material along the surface of the protective film. The wet film thickness is about 0.2mm. Ensure that the resin material completely covers the surface of the sealant without any missed areas or drips.

[0032] Remove the protective film: After ensuring there are no missed areas, remove the protective film.

[0033] Curing at room temperature: Allow the coated tile area to cure for at least 24 hours at room temperature (25℃). Avoid walking, touching, and dust accumulation during this period. After 48 hours, check that the coating has fully hardened and formed, with a transparent and glossy surface. A light scratch with a fingernail will leave no obvious mark, completing the surface protection application of the grout material.

[0034] Example 2 Pretreatment: For the cured ceramic tile cement-based grout, first use a high-pressure air gun to blow away the dust in the gaps and on the surface, then use 320-grit sandpaper to sand the surface of the grout to level it, then wipe it with degreaser to remove oil stains, and let it air dry naturally until the surface moisture content is about 5%.

[0035] Protective material selection: Commercially available single-component room temperature curing polyurethane resin coating (moisture curing type) is selected. This material does not require mixing after opening the can and can be used directly.

[0036] Protective coating application: Apply using a small spray gun. Load polyurethane resin into the spray gun's container, adjust the air pressure and paint flow rate, and spray a single coat evenly from a distance of approximately 15-20 cm from the caulking material surface. Control the coating thickness to approximately 0.15 mm, and check the coated area for any missed areas or runs.

[0037] Room temperature curing: Allow the sprayed tile area to cure for 5 hours at an ambient temperature of 20℃. After curing, lightly buff the coating surface with a soft polishing cloth to improve surface smoothness and stain resistance, thus completing the application.

[0038] Example 3 Pretreatment: Following the pretreatment steps in Example 1, the surface of the sealant was cleaned, sanded, degreased, and dried, controlling the surface moisture content to 7%. A protective film was then applied.

[0039] Protective material selection: Use room temperature self-crosslinking modified acrylic resin emulsion with a solid content of 40% to 50%, which can evaporate water and crosslink groups to form a film at room temperature.

[0040] Protective coating application: Apply by brush. Dip a soft brush in an appropriate amount of modified acrylic resin emulsion and brush it evenly onto the surface of the grout, controlling the coating thickness to be approximately 0.25mm. For wider or deeper grout gaps, a second coat can be applied after the first coat has surface dried, with the total thickness not exceeding 0.3mm.

[0041] Curing at room temperature: Allow to cure at 25℃ for 3 hours. After the coating is surface dry, no special curing is required. Continue to leave it at room temperature for 6 hours until fully cured. The cured coating is colorless and transparent, bonds firmly to the surface of the sealant, and has good flexibility and water resistance.

[0042] (v) Comparative test verification To verify the technical effectiveness of the construction method of the present invention, the following comparative experiments were conducted.

[0043] The experiment used the same batch of laid tiles and the same type of cement-based grout, and treated them using the following three methods: Comparison Sample 1: Original grout material without any surface protection; Comparison Sample 2: One coat of commercially available water-based acrylic varnish (single-component, air-drying type) was applied, with a thickness of approximately 0.1 mm; Experimental sample: The construction method of Example 1 of this invention was adopted (two-component room temperature curing epoxy resin, thickness 0.2mm).

[0044] Three samples were placed in the same indoor environment for stain resistance testing (a mixture of soy sauce and vinegar was added, and the samples were wiped after standing for 24 hours) and abrasion resistance testing (1 kg pressure was applied to the samples and they were rubbed back and forth 50 times with a scouring pad). The test results are as follows: The comparison results show that the resin protective coating formed by the construction method of the present invention can significantly improve the anti-fouling and wear-resistant properties of the sealant, effectively solving the defects of traditional sealant materials that are easy to get dirty, easy to wear, and have a short life.

[0045] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on its differences from other embodiments. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. For the apparatus disclosed in the embodiments, since they correspond to the methods disclosed in the embodiments, the description is relatively simple; relevant parts can be referred to the method section.

[0046] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A construction method for surface protection of tile grout using room-temperature curing resin materials, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: (1) Surface pretreatment of grout material: Clean, grind and level the surface of the cured tile grout material to remove surface dust, oil and scum, and keep the surface dry; (2) Coating of protective material: The room temperature curing resin material is uniformly coated on the surface of the sealant material after the pretreatment in step (1) to form a continuous and uniform protective coating, and the coating thickness is controlled. (3) Curing at room temperature: The protective coating applied in step (2) is left to stand at room temperature and pressure to cure until the protective coating is completely cross-linked and formed.

2. The construction method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The room-temperature curing resin material is a blend of one or more of the following: two-component room-temperature curing epoxy resin, room-temperature curing polyurethane resin, room-temperature curing modified acrylic resin, or one-component room-temperature curing polyurea resin.

3. The construction method according to claim 2, characterized in that, When the room temperature curing resin material is a two-component room temperature curing epoxy resin, it is prepared by mixing epoxy resin matrix and curing agent at a mass ratio of 1:0.8 to 1.

2. After mixing, the mixture is stirred evenly and allowed to stand to defoam before coating.

4. The construction method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step (1), the surface moisture content of the pretreated sealant is controlled below 8%, and the surface is free of protrusions, cracks and loose parts.

5. The construction method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step (2), the coating method is either brushing or scraping; the thickness of the protective coating is controlled between 0.1 mm and 0.3 mm.

6. The construction method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step (3), the ambient temperature for room temperature curing is 5℃~40℃, and the curing time is 1h~48h.

7. The construction method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step (3), the coating is protected during curing to prevent it from getting dusty and wet.

8. The construction method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the curing is completed in step (3), the process also includes a step of polishing the surface of the protective coating.

9. The construction method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The tile grouting material is a cement-based grouting material or a reactive resin grouting material.

Images