Accelerating the search for lithium carbonate alternatives

The construction industry has been struggling with the challenges posed by the increasing shortage of lithium carbonate, which has led to price hikes. Lithium carbonate plays a crucial role in construction, as an additive that acts as a hardening accelerator for alumina-based cement, particularly in ternary binder systems. Given this situation, the quest for alternative options that reduce the sector's reliance on lithium has taken on greater significance. 

Lithium carbonate is currently used in several applications within the construction sector: 

Flooring Compounds: especially self-leveling underlayment (SLU) and self-leveling overlayment (SLO), heavily depend on lithium carbonate. This versatile additive enables the creation of robust, load-bearing floors capable of withstanding heavy weights and enduring repeated traffic, all while significantly reducing the curing time. 

Fast-Setting Ceramic Tile Adhesives: Another common application of lithium carbonate is in the formulation of fast-setting ceramic tile adhesives. When installing stone tiles, it becomes imperative to minimize adhesive setting time. This is essential to prevent the migration of salts from the cement into the stone fissures, which could potentially ruin the final appearance and result. 

Finally, lithium carbonate also plays a role in repair mortar and no-mix mortars.

In the pursuit of reducing lithium carbonate reliance while maintaining the industry's performance standards, our committed team of construction professionals has been actively looking out for alternative solutions.  

IMCD offers the answer to your lithium-free ternary binder system formulations, that will ensure that your construction projects remain on track, even in the face of lithium-related challenges.