pH Indicator Mortar Additive for Temporary Marking and Stain Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for delaying mortar solidification using retarders result in colored mortars that cannot be used as final renders or coatings, leading to waste and potential stains, as the color can bleed through layers, and require excessive tinting of mortar.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a pH indicator or unstable organic dye that temporarily marks mortars containing retarders or accelerators, allowing the mortar to regain its original color as it solidifies, enabling its reuse without staining and eliminating the need for excessive tinting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a water-soluble color marker is used to mark mortar containing retarder, then the mortar becomes visible for identification, but the mortar cannot be used as final render or coating due to staining
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a pH-indicating dye that changes color based on the alkalinity of fresh mortar, providing visible marking. As the mortar cures and pH decreases, the dye color fades or changes, eliminating the staining problem while maintaining visibility during the needed period.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the changing pH parameter of mortar during curing to control the visibility of the marker. The marker is visible when pH is high (fresh mortar) and becomes invisible or changes color when pH decreases (cured mortar), solving both visibility and staining issues.
2Loss of information
If mortar containing retarder is tinted with color marker, then equipment can be identified as containing retarded mortar, but the tinted mortar becomes waste and cannot be reused
Solution Approach 1:
The pH-indicating dye provides temporary coloration that fades as mortar cures, allowing identification of retarded mortar in equipment while enabling the mortar to be used for its intended purpose without permanent discoloration or waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a temporary, short-lived color marker that serves its identification purpose and then disappears, allowing the mortar to be used normally without permanent marking. The marker is essentially disposable, fading away after fulfillment of its function.
3Illumination intensity
If colored mortar is applied to surface, then visibility is improved, but the color bleeds through outer layers causing stains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent exploits the pH parameter change during mortar curing to control dye visibility. The dye is visible in fresh alkaline mortar for identification purposes but fades or changes color as pH decreases during curing, preventing bleeding through outer layers while maintaining visibility when needed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method allows for the efficient use of mortars containing retarders or accelerators as ordinary mortars, preventing waste and stains, and enabling their application in any layer, including top coatings, by ensuring the temporary visibility of the marking which fades as the mortar hardens.
Implementation Method 1
The marker is preferably a pH indicator showing a color above a certain pH value to mark the fresh mortar, and which fades to remove the marking as the pH of the mortar decreases while the mortar solidifies or carbonates
Implementation Method 2
as the pH of the mortar decreases while the mortar solidifies or carbonates
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for processing mortar, comprising the steps of mixing a dry mortar mix with water, a substance influencing the solidification rate of the mortar and a marker for producing a perceptible difference between marked and unmarked fresh mortar, and thereby marking the fresh mortar containing said substance. The method further comprises the steps of maintaining the perceptible difference temporarily, bringing the perceptible difference to fade, and at least substantially removing the perceptible difference between marked an unmarked mortar. The invention also relates to the use of a substance for marking mortar, a mortar additive composition and a mortar comprising said mortar additive composition.