Palace Chemicals’ reinforced fibre technology ‘sets new standards in levelling’

TODAY’s flooring industry is increasingly looking for products which combine speed, reliability and long-term performance, especially when working with challenging substrates, large-format tiles and underfloor heating systems.

Palace Chemicals says it’s responded with its advanced Reinforced Fibre Technology (RFT). ‘This fibre-enhanced chemistry is designed to deliver improved shrinkage resistance, flexural strength, as well as impact and abrasion resistance, helping professionals achieve flawless results even in demanding conditions.’

Says the company: ‘The Palace levelling range stretches from deep-fill performance to rapid turnaround ‘fast access’ solutions, all supported by the structural benefits of RFT This gives the company’s levellers optimum strength and stability, as they change the mechanics by giving added reinforcement dispersed throughout the mix, helping control how the levelling compound responds to stress from heat, load and the service environment.

‘Across the range, RFT brings tangible benefits. The incorporation of microfibres and performance fillers delivers increased strength, flexibility and resistance to cracking. The fibres create a stable internal matrix, distributing load and stress more evenly through the compound. This not only supports thicker applications but also helps ensure levelling remains consistent across various substrates.’

This enhanced flexibility is particularly important in modern flooring environments, where surfaces are increasingly subject to movement, thermal variation and vibration. Continues the company: ‘RFT products also contribute to long-term durability and provide installers with a greater margin for when site conditions are not always in their favour — essential qualities for achieving reliable, professional results.

‘Key products in the range include THICK BED REINFORCED FLOOR LEVELLING COMPOUND which can be used up to an 80mm bed depth, through to solutions where a rapid early strength finish is required such as FAST-FLEX, both of which have given proven performance when used with a range of under floor heating types.

‘These products have the ability to level floors in a single pour and are suitable for different types of installation, conforming to all relevant standards and providing the usual Palace technical excellence and lifetime guarantee of effectiveness, where a specification has been provided by the company.

‘The Palace RFT technology is included in our THICK BED FLOOR LEVELLING COMPOUND which is suitable for applications on a wide range of floor surfaces, such as tamped or worn concrete, sand/cement screeds, mastic asphalt, plywood and other dense, impermeable surfaces.

‘This product is particularly suited for installation within heated sub-floor specifications, where its ability to be laid to a thick-bed is usually sufficient to accommodate most types of wire or pipe-based heating systems. Its fibre-reinforced performance also gives the wet mix enhanced cohesion and reduced segregation, as fibres help keep the mix stable, reducing aggregate settlement and surface bleeding, which then prevents surface laitance on the cured floor top.’

Adds the company: ‘THICK BED FLOOR LEVELLING COMPOUND fast setting and flexible, offering high early strength to take foot traffic after just three hours. It can be laid from 3mm up to 80mm bed depth, making it ideal for use with underfloor heating systems. It’s suitable for either pump or trowel application and can receive tiles after just four hours or a vinyl covering after 24 hours.’

Says Palace: ‘Sitting alongside THICK BED is FAST-FLEX FLOOR LEVELLER. Designed for versatility and speed, Fast-Flex delivers excellent flow, superb surface smoothness and outstanding early strength. It supports bed depths from 2mm to 50mm, making it suitable for everything from minor corrections to substantial levelling tasks.

‘It provides excellent levelling and flow to give a super-smooth finish, and its high early strength characteristics mean that it can take foot traffic after just three hours. It is suitable for pump application. Tiles can be fixed after just four hours and other floorcoverings after 24 hours.’

Continues the company: ‘While Palace’s RFT-enhanced levellers prepare the ideal subfloor, the company’s fibre-reinforced tile adhesives bring the same reliability and performance into the bond layer. The characteristics of the RFT adhesive technology, with microfibres and specialist fillers, increase the mechanical strength of tile adhesives and improve stability during installation.

‘The fibres add body to the adhesive, creating better grab, improved non-slip characteristics and greater bedding consistency, especially important when working with large-format or heavier tiles.

‘Palace adhesives that feature the benefits of RFT include the S1-classified EASI-FLEX WALL & FLOOR TILE ADHESIVE, EASI-SET, MULTI-FLEX, SUPER-FLEX, which has an S2 classification, EXTRA-LITE and the recently introduced GEL-TEC.’

Adds Palace: ‘Deformability of the adhesive mortar will also benefit from the presence of RFT fibres, enabling both S1 and S2 classifications to be achieved, meaning they can absorb an amount of stress movement per square metre.

‘These added properties allow them to handle all foreseeable levels of substrate movement, thermal expansion and everyday vibrations without risk of failure. Combined with their reinforced polymer content, this leads to more resilient adhesive bond installations and reduces long-term maintenance issues.’

‘Innovation in order to provide our customers with more technically competent products, which are also easier to use, is a key motivation at Palace Chemicals,’ says Steve Ball, commercial director. ‘Our floor levelling and tile adhesive range, which includes products containing Reinforced Fibre Technology, is a great example of this.’

www.palacechemicals.co.uk