Armocem
Hydraulic Binder for Normal Setting, Fast Drying, Non-Shrinking Screed
ARMOCEM is a special hydraulic binder designed for forming normal-setting, fast-drying screeds with controlled shrinkage. When mixed with aggregate and water, it produces a highly durable screed that supports light foot traffic after just 24 hours and is ready for tile or wood flooring installation within four days. ARMOCEM creates bonded, unbonded, or floating screeds over old or new concrete, ensuring excellent adhesion to cementitious substrates. Its formulation allows applications from 10 mm up to 100 mm thickness, delivering high compressive strength to handle pedestrian traffic and medium loads. Ideal for residential, commercial, and industrial floors requiring quick turnaround and long-term performance.
Technical data:
- Appearance : grey powder
- Application Temperature : 5°C to 40°C
- Thickness : 10 to 100 mm
- Completely dry : 4 days
- Packaging : 20 kg bag
- Shelf life : 12 months from production
How to Apply Armocem
Armocem is mixed on site with graded 0 to 6 mm aggregate and water to cast bonded, unbonded or floating screeds from 10 to 100 mm.
- Prepare the substrate. Armocem can be applied on any cementitious support not subject to rising humidity; otherwise fix polythene sheets, tarred paper or another vapor barrier. For bonded screed (10 to 40 mm) the substrate must be clean, dry and free from inconsistent parts and grease.
- Lay separation or bond layer. For unbonded screed (40 to 100 mm) pour onto polythene or isolating sheets. For bonded screed, prime with Armoprime AC and cast while the primer is tacky, or brush on a bonding slurry (1 part SBR bonding agent, 1 part water, 3 parts cement by volume) and cast fresh on fresh. Floating screeds are a minimum of 55 mm thick over insulation that does not depress more than 3 mm under final load.
- Mix. In a drum, concrete or screw mixer, combine one 20 kg bag of Armocem, 160-180 kg graded aggregate from 0 to 6 mm and 11 – 13 kg water, adjusting water for aggregate moisture, and mix for 3 minutes. Do not mix with sand only or with other cement, lime or plasticizer.
- Cast and trowel. Cast the homogeneous mix immediately and trowel within 30 to 40 minutes, without wetting the surface to smooth it. Where pipes, conduits or heating coils are present keep at least 25 mm of mortar on top and reinforce with wire mesh.
- Joints and interruptions. Form a minimum 10 mm wide flexible expansion joint around the perimeter and columns. If casting is interrupted for more than one hour, make a straight cut and fix 6.0 mm dia., 25 cm long steel dowels at 30 cm spacing.
- Cure and protect. Protect fresh screed from direct sunlight and strong drying wind, and cure with clean water for a minimum of 3 days. Above 35°C cover the work area, keep equipment cool and use cold mixing water.
- Clean tools. Clean tools and equipment with water before the material hardens. Hardened material can only be removed mechanically.
Summary of the method in the Armocem Technical Data Sheet. Always follow the full TDS on site.
Standards & Test Methods
| Standard | Title | Referenced for |
|---|
| BS 8204-1 | Screeds, bases and in situ floorings — Concrete bases and cement-based levelling screeds to receive floorings — Code of practice | Listed in the TDS |
| EN 13813 | Screed material and floor screeds — Screed material — Properties and requirements | Listed in the TDS |
| ASTM C579 | Standard Test Methods for Compressive Strength of Chemical-Resistant Mortars, Grouts, Monolithic Surfacings, and Polymer Concretes | Compressive strength |
Standards and test methods as referenced in the Armocem Technical Data Sheet. Values in the TDS are typical laboratory results under standard conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What thickness can an Armocem screed be laid at?
Armocem screeds can be laid from 10 to 100 mm: bonded screeds from 10 to 40 mm, unbonded screeds from 40 to 100 mm, and floating screeds at a minimum of 55 mm.
When can flooring be laid on an Armocem screed?
The TDS gives a waiting time of 24 hours for ceramic tiles, 3 days for stone and marble tiles, and 4 days for PVC and wood flooring. The screed accepts pedestrian traffic after 24 hours.
What is the Armocem mix design?
One 20 kg bag of Armocem is mixed with 160-180 kg of graded aggregate from 0 to 6 mm and 11 – 13 kg of water, adjusted for the moisture content of the aggregate.
What is the pot life and application temperature of Armocem?
The pot life of the mixture is 60 min and the application temperature is from +5°C to +40°C. Cast immediately and trowel within 30 to 40 minutes.
Can underfloor heating be used with Armocem?
Yes. Heating pipes should be at least 25 mm below the screed surface with reinforcing mesh over them, and the underfloor heating may be commissioned after 4 days.
