Technical Data

Product Bulletin
EMPICOL ® and NANSA ® surfactants
Powder air entraining agents for mortar and plaster
Product Description
EMPICOL® and NANSA® surfactants are primarily used as air entraining agents for mortar and plaster application. The
products rely on the ability of surfactants to lower surface tension in aqueous media by adsorption at the interface which leads
to better mortar workability. Additionally, the mortar workability loss with time is reduced due to the formation of fine and stable
air bubbles, which are explained by the following phenomena:
• The repulsion of surfactant ‘head groups’ retains the
thickness of the lamellar and reduces bubble film
drainage.
• Rapid diffusion of surfactant to the expanded surface
reinforces film thickness, preventing natural deformation
of the film.
• A densely packed surfactant film can reduce diffusion of
gas through the liquid interface and help prevent bubble
destruction.
These lead to the following advantages:
• Greater consistency and product quality.
• Air entrainment improves workability and helps produce
dense, uniform, and close textured surface.
• Air entrainment increases freeze thaw resistance.
Typical Dosage
The application dosage is usually between 0.005 and 0.05% by
weight of cement. The amount of air introduced is dependent on
the type of mortar and on the mixing device used.
The optimum dosage of the product to meet specific requirements
should always be determined by trials using materials and
conditions that will be experienced in specific applications. This
allows the optimization of air entraining agent dosage along with
other additive dosages and provides a complete assessment of
the mortar and plaster mixes.
Product Range
Products Description
EMPICOL® 0045/B surfactant Sodium lauryl sulphate
EMPICOL® LX/B surfactant Narrow cut sodium alkyl sulphate
EMPICOL® LZ/B surfactant Broad cut sodium alkyl sulphate
NANSA® HS80 surfactant Sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate
NANSA® LSS495/H surfactant Sodium alpha olefin sulphonate
Brick mortar and plaster tile
application
Brick mortar and plaster applications
Performance Characteristics
The example given illustrates the ability of the product to
form air bubbles and a stable bubble network.
Mortar air content, %
30
25
20
15
10
5
Amount of surfactant 0.01%
by weight of cement
EMPICOL® 0045/B surfactant
EMPICOL® LZ/B surfactant
0 15 30 45 60
Retention time, min
Mortar mix properties:
w/c = 0.65, Cement CEM I 52.5N = 251.2 g,
and EN-196 sand = 1350g.

Huntsman EMEA
Business Offices
Everslaan 45
3078 Everberg
Belgium
Telephone: +32 2 758 9211
Telefax: +32 2 758 9946
Customer Service:
Tel: +32 2 758 9266
Fax: +32 2 758 9068
www.huntsman.com
Copyright © 2008 Huntsman Corporation. All rights reserved.
EMPICOL ®
and NANSA ®
are registered trademarks of Huntsman Corporation or an affiliate thereof in
one or more, but not all countries.
Huntsman Corporation warrants its products meet the specifications stated in the sales contract. Typical
properties, where stated, are to be considered as representative of current production and should not be
treated as specifications. While all the information presented in this document is believed to be reliable
and to represent the best available data on these products, NO GUARANTEE, WARRANTY, OR
REPRESENTATION IS MADE, INTENDED, OR IMPLIED AS TO THE CORRECTNESS OR
SUFFICIENCY OF ANY INFORMATION, OR AS TO THE MERCHANTABILITY OR SUITABILITY
OR FITNESS OF ANY CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR OTHER PRODUCTS FOR ANY PARTICULAR
USE OR PURPOSE, OR THAT ANY CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR OTHER PRODUCTS OR THE USE
THEREOF ARE NOT SUBJECT TO A CLAIM BY A THIRD PARTY FOR INFRINGEMENT OF ANY
PATENT OR OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHT. THE USER SHOULD CONDUCT A
SUFFICIENT INVESTIGATION TO ESTABLISH THE SUITABILITY OF ANY PRODUCT FOR ITS
INTENDED USE. Liability of Huntsman Corporation and its affiliates for all claims, whether arising out of
breach of contract, warranty, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise, is limited to the purchase price of
the material. Products may be toxic and require special precautions in handling. For all products listed,
the user should obtain detailed information on toxicity, together with proper shipping, handling, and
storage procedures, and comply with all applicable safety and environmental standards. Toxicity and risk
characteristics of chemical compounds and other products may differ when used with other materials or
in a manufacturing or other process. Those risk characteristics should be determined by the user and
made known to handlers, processors, and end users.