What to add to gypsum powder to make it dry slowly: scientific proportions and practical tips
As a common building material, gypsum powder is widely used in decoration, sculpture, medical and other fields. Its drying speed directly affects construction efficiency and finished product quality. Recently, there has been a lot of discussion on the Internet about "How to delay the drying of gypsum powder". This article combines hot topics and experimental data in the past 10 days to provide you with structured answers.
1. Key factors affecting the drying speed of gypsum powder
According to building materials laboratory test data, the following substances can significantly delay the setting time of gypsum powder:
| Add substances | Add scale | prolong effect | Applicable scenarios |
|---|---|---|---|
| sodium citrate | 0.1%-0.3% | Extended 2-4 times | Precision mold making |
| white latex | 5%-10% | Extended 1.5-3 times | decorative gypsum board |
| cellulose ether | 0.2%-0.5% | Extended 3-5 times | large sculpture |
| alcohol | 3%-5% | Extended by 0.5-1 times | emergency adjustment |
2. Comparison of recent popular experimental solutions
By analyzing DIY experiment videos on Douyin, Bilibili and other platforms, we found that the following three formulas have received the most attention recently:
| Scheme name | Material ratio | Operation time | Netizen ratings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dessert grade slow setting method | 100g gypsum powder + 5g sugar | 40 minutes extension | ★★★☆☆ |
| Professional grade retardation method | 100g gypsum powder + 1g citric acid | Extended by 2 hours | ★★★★☆ |
| Environmentally friendly retarding method | 100g gypsum powder + 10g starch | Extended by 30 minutes | ★★☆☆☆ |
3. Operation precautions
1.Accurate weighing: Excessive retarder will cause the strength of gypsum to decrease. It is recommended to use an electronic scale to control the amount added.
2.Mix step by step: Dissolve the additive in water first, then mix it with gypsum powder to ensure even distribution.
3.environmental control: For every 10°C increase in temperature, the solidification time is shortened by 30%-40%. It is recommended to operate in an environment below 25°C.
4.Strength test: After using the retarding formula, a strength test after 24 hours of curing is required, and it can be put into use only if it meets the standard.
4. New trends in the industry
According to a building materials industry report, the market size of retarded gypsum products will increase by 17% year-on-year in 2023, including:
| product type | market share | Main applications |
|---|---|---|
| Prefabricated retarded plaster | 42% | medical fixation |
| DIY retarder package | 28% | artistic creation |
| Industrial grade retarder | 30% | building construction |
In the recent Xiaohongshu hot topic #Gypsum Creation Challenge#, 73% of the contestants used retarding technology. The most popular is the "honey retarding method" (gypsum powder: honey = 10:1), which can extend the operating time to 1.8 times that of the ordinary formula.
5. Expert advice
Professor Wang from the China Building Materials Research Institute suggested that food-grade retarder (such as citric acid) can be selected for home use, and professional retarder is recommended for construction purposes. Important projects should conduct small sample tests and record the following data:
| test items | Standard value | Actual value |
|---|---|---|
| Initial setting time | >20 minutes | Need to record |
| Compressive strength | >6MPa | Need to record |
| surface hardness | Mohs grade 2 or above | Need to record |
By reasonably controlling the drying speed of gypsum powder, we can not only improve the construction quality, but also create more artistic possibilities. It is recommended that users choose the most suitable retarding solution based on specific needs.
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