PRODUCT DATA SHEET

SikaCeram®-88
Cementitious tile adhesive

DESCRIPTION SikaCeram®-88 is suitable to bond the following types

of tiles:
SikaCeram®-88 is a one-pack premixed cementitious ▪ Ceramic, homogeneous and mosaic tiles
tile adhesive containing, cement, polymers, quartz ▪ Porcelain tiles (SikaCeram®-88 shall be mixed with
minerals and additives, for bonding ceramic tiles and SikaLatex®-88 or SikaLatex®-118)
mosaics to floors and walls. SikaCeram®-88 can be used on walls and floors intern-
ally, on these substrates:
▪ Concrete and mortar
USES ▪ Bricks
SikaCeram®-88, is used for bonding ceramic tiles in
continuous thin layers, up to 10 mm thick. Due to its CHARACTERISTICS / ADVANTAGES
excellent adhesion strength, it is used to replace the
traditional method of bonding tiles (using cement and ▪ Easy to use with excellent workability and thixotropic
sand). consistency
▪ Very good adhesion to most common substrates
(concrete, cementitious mortar, stone, bricks, etc.)
▪ Can be used with SikaLatex®-88 or SikaLatex®-118 to
increase performance of the adhesive

PRODUCT INFORMATION
Composition Cementitious mortar
Packaging 25 kg bag
Appearance / Colour Grey powder
Shelf Life 6 months from date of production
Storage Conditions Store properly in original, unopened and undamaged sealed packaging in
dry conditions. Not sensitive to frost.
Maximum Grain Size 1.2 mm (EN 12192-1)

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Tensile Adhesion Strength Standard condition ≥ 0.5 N/mm² (EN
12004–2:2017, 8.3)

APPLICATION INFORMATION
Mixing Ratio 5.5–6.0 L of water per 25 kg bag

Product Data Sheet

SikaCeram®-88
December 2021, Version 04.01
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Fresh Mortar Density ~1.79 kg/l at +25 °C
Consumption This depends on the level, profile and surface roughness of the substrate,
the size of the tiles and the technique of placing (simple placing or "back"-
buttering).
As a guide, per m² on flat surface:
Mosaics and small tiles 2.0–4.5 kg/m²
Normal size tiles (20 cm x 20 cm) 4.5–9.0 kg/m²
* This may only serve as a guideline. It is highly recommended to carry-out
trial on site to determine the actual consumption per m².
Layer Thickness 3 mm min. / 10 mm max.
Ambient Air Temperature +5 °C min. / +40 °C max.
Substrate Temperature +5 °C min. / +40 °C max.
Open Time Open time is ~20 minutes under normal temperature and humidity condi-
tions. In unfavourable conditions, the open time may be shorter.
Adjustability Time Once the tiles are placed into the mortar, they can be adjusted within ~20
minutes (at +20 °C).
Applied Product Ready for Use At +25 °C
Before jointing works Min. 24 hours
Before opening to light foot traffic Min. 24 hours
Before opening to full traffic Min. 7 days

BASIS OF PRODUCT DATA tails.

▪ Protect freshly applied material from extreme condi-
All technical data stated in this Product Data Sheet are tions, rain, etc.
▪ Do not attempt to dampen down the adhesive on
based on laboratory tests. Actual measured data may
the floor/wall to extend the open time as this may
vary due to circumstances beyond our control.
affect the bond performance.
FURTHER INFORMATION ECOLOGY, HEALTH AND SAFETY
Expansion Joints User must read the most recent corresponding Safety
Expansion / movement joints must be provided to al- Data Sheets (SDS) before using any products. The SDS
low for movement between adjacent building com- provides information and advice on the safe handling,
ponents. storage and disposal of chemical products and con-
▪ Over existing joints tains physical, ecological, toxicological and other
▪ Where two different substrates meet, e.g. timber safety-related data.
and concrete
▪ Around fix elements on the floor, e.g. columns
▪ At internal vertical corners APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
▪ Around the perimeter of the floor
SUBSTRATE QUALITY / PRE-TREATMENT
▪ At internal floors, where dimensions exceeds 9 m or
6 m when exposed to sunlight. ▪ Ensure all concrete slabs are allowed to cure fully
▪ At external floors where dimensions exceeds 4.5 m and have a wood float finish. Steel trowel finished
▪ On wall surfaces 3–4.5 m apart vertically concrete surfaces must be mechanically abraded pri-
The expansion / movement joints must not be less or to commencement of tiling works.
than 6 mm and not wider than 10 mm, and should go ▪ Ensure all surfaces are sound, dry and free from ex-
right through the adhesive bed to the substrate. It cessive movement, oil, dust, grease, wax, curing
should ke kept free from dirt and adhesive droppings. compounds, release agents and any other loose or
The joints should be filled with Sikaflex®-11 FC+ or contaminating materials. All dust, loose and friable
Sikaflex® PRO-3 for floors, and Sikasil®-129 Kitchen & material must be completely removed from all sur-
Bathroom for walls. faces before application of the SikaCeram®-88,
preferably by brush and/or vacuum.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS ▪ Weak concrete and/or cement laitance must be re-
moved. Repairs to the substrate, filing of blowholes /
▪ When use in conjuction with SikaLatex®-88 / SikaL- voids, etc. must be carried out using products from
atex®-118, please ensure that all ratio of SikaLatex®- the SikaTop® or Sika® MonoTop® range of material.
88 / SikaLatex®-118 to SikaCeram®-88 are consistent. ▪ If the substrate is very porous, and/or if the temper-
Please refer to respective data sheet for more de- ature is high and the relative humidity is low, it is ad-

Product Data Sheet

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 visable to dampen down the substrate's surface with ive using a notched trowel. Rework the adhesive be-
water (do not leave any standing water) or apply fore setting the tiles within the open time. When set-
Sika® Primer-11 WMY. Please contact Sika's local ting the tiles into the adhesive, use the Tarver Meth-
representative for further information on the recom- od; press, slide perpendicular and slide return. This
mended primer for the specific substrate. method will ensure that any air entrapped between
▪ The maximum variation in the level of the substrate the beads comes out easily at the ends. For tiles with
must not exceed 5 mm for floors (using a 3 m lugs, grooves or uneven backing, it is required to back-
straight-edge) and 4 mm for walls (using a 2 m butter the tile with adhesive before setting them
straight-edge). down. The final bed thickness of SikaCeram®-88
▪ Cementitious substrates must be at least 1 month should be at least 4 mm for wall and 8 mm for floor.
old. All rendered surfaces must be allowed to cure Once the tiling works are completed, do not disturb
for at least 7 days prior to the commencement of the tiles for at least 6–8 hours.
tiling works. Allow a waiting time of 24–48 hours if As a guide:
repair materials (e.g. SikaTop® / Sika® MonoTop®) SikaCeram®-88 is used for fixing absorbent / ceramic
are used to repair the substrate. tiles up to a maximum size of 3 600 cm² (e.g. 60 cm x
▪ All types of cement board / dry walls should be fixed 60 cm) for indoor floors, up to 1 800 cm² (e.g. 30 cm x
in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions 60 cm) for indoor walls.
and the relevant standards.
▪ The recommended thickness for fibre cement sheets CLEANING OF TOOLS
is 9 mm min. for heavy duty commercial applications,
and 6 mm min. for underlay or wall / floor. Clean all tools and application equipment with clean
▪ The recommended thickness for compressed fibre water immediately after use. Hardened / cured mater-
cement sheets is 15 mm min. for floor, and 9 mm ial can only be removed mechanically.
min. for wall.
▪ The recommended thickness for gypsum plaster- LOCAL RESTRICTIONS
board sheets is 10 mm min. for wall.
Please note that as a result of specific local regulations
MIXING
the performance of this product may vary from coun-
Place about 80 % of the pre-measured clean water or try to country. Please consult the local Product Data
SikaLatex®-88 / SikaLatex®-118 into a clean container Sheet for the exact description of the application
and gradually add the whole bag of SikaCeram®-88 in- fields.
to it while continuously mixing. Add the remaining wa-
ter until the desired consistency is obtained. Mix thor- LEGAL NOTES
oughly for a minimum of 3 minutes.
Leave the material to stand in the container for a min- The information, and, in particular, the recommenda-
imum of 5 minutes. Then, remix the material for an- tions relating to the application and end-use of Sika
other 15 seconds. SikaCeram®-88 is now ready for use. products, are given in good faith based on Sika's cur-
SikaCeram®-88 must be mechanically mixed using a rent knowledge and experience of the products when
forced action mixer or in a clean container using a drill properly stored, handled and applied under normal
and mixing paddle (< 500 rpm). Do not use a free fall conditions in accordance with Sika’s recommenda-
concrete mixer to mix SikaCeram®-88. tions. In practice, the differences in materials, sub-
strates and actual site conditions are such that no war-
APPLICATION ranty in respect of merchantability or of fitness for a
particular purpose, nor any liability arising out of any
SikaCeram®-88 is applied using a notched trowel onto legal relationship whatsoever, can be inferred either
the substrate. Choose the size of trowel that will give from this information, or from any written recom-
the right thickness on the back of the tile. mendations, or from any other advice offered. The
After the surfaces of the substrate has been prepared, user of the product must test the product’s suitability
apply SikaCeram®-88 onto the substrate using a for the intended application and purpose. Sika re-
notched trowel. SikaCeram®-88 should be applied serves the right to change the properties of its
onto the substrate at a rate of 1 m² per installation. products. The proprietary rights of third parties must
Applying at rates greater than this can result in skin- be observed. All orders are accepted subject to our
ning of adhesive before the tiles are laid. Once the ad- current terms of sale and delivery. Users must always
hesive is applied onto the substrate, ensure that skin- refer to the most recent issue of the local Product
ning has not occured prior to setting the tiles. If a sur- Data Sheet for the product concerned, copies of which
face film has developed, make a pass over the adhes- will be supplied on request.

Sika Kimia Sdn. Bhd.

Lot 689, Nilai Industrial Estate,
71800 Nilai, Negeri Sembilan D.K.
Malaysia
Phone: +606-7991762
e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.sika.com.my

SikaCeram-88-en-MY-(12-2021)-4-1.pdf

Product Data Sheet

SikaCeram®-88
December 2021, Version 04.01
021710101000000030

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