Ensuring frost resistance of water-dispersion compositions for use in construction

The article collects information on current Russian and international standards for monitoring the condition of water-dispersion products during tests of their frost resistance. It provides information on polymer dispersions developed and manufactured by Khoma Company LLC in frost-resistant versions, intended for the production of construction compositions. The processes that occur during the freezing of such heterophase systems are explained. The article considers methods for imparting frost resistance to water-based construction finishing compositions (primers, paints, adhesives, etc.): the introduction of compounds that lower the freezing temperature of water, targeted selection of initial components in the synthesis of film formers, the use of technological methods for the formation of polymer particles of a certain size and structure, a decrease in the concentration of the main substance with simultaneous additional stabilization. The properties of model compositions based on styrene-acrylic dispersions that passed freeze-thaw tests in different modes are presented. The particle size of polymer dispersions, viscosity of the compositions, strength and water absorption indices of films formed before and after the tests are monitored. It is shown that the introduction of the developed stabilizing additive allows to effectively increase the aggregation stability under the action of negative temperatures. It is concluded that water-dispersion systems, even if the manufacturer ensures their resistance to freezing, require special attention to cooling in different modes.