ULTRACOLOR

PLUS
High-performance, anti-efflorescence, quick-setting
and drying polymer-modified mortar free from
Portland cement with water-repellent DropEffect®
and mould-resistant BioBlock® technology for
grouting joints up to 20 mm wide, with very low
emission of volatile organic compounds and fully
offset Greenhouse Gas Emissions

CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO AS ISO 13007.3

Ultracolor Plus is a cementitious (C) mortar for grouting (G) improved (2), with reduced water absorption (W),
high resistance to abrasion (A), and fast-setting (F) in class CG2FWA.

CO2 FULLY OFFSET PRODUCTS

Ultracolor Plus is part of the CO2 Fully Offset in the Entire Life Cycle line of products. CO2 emissions
measured throughout the life cycle of products from the Zero line in 2024 using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
methodology, verified and certified with EPDs, have been offset through the acquisition of certified carbon
credits in support of forestry protection projects. A commitment to the planet, to people and to biodiversity. For
more details on how emissions are calculated and on climate mitigation projects financed through certified
carbon credits, visit the webpage zero.mapei.com.au

WHERE TO USE
Internal and external grouting of floors and walls in all types of ceramic (double-fired, single-fired, clinker,
porcelain, etc.), terracotta, stone material (natural stone, marble, granite, agglomerates, etc.), and glass and
marble mosaic.
Some application examples
▪ Grouting floors and walls in areas subject to intense traffic (airports, shopping centres, restaurants, bars, etc.)
▪ Grouting floors and walls in residential areas (hotels, private houses, etc.).
▪ Grouting floors and walls on façades, balconies, terraces, and swimming pools.
 TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Ultracolor Plus is a mortar made up of a blend of special hydraulic binders, graded aggregates, special
polymers, water-repellent admixtures, organic molecules and pigments.

The impact Ultracolor Plus has on the environment throughout its entire life cycle has been measured using
the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) method and reported in EPD n° S-P-07051 and S-P-07044 (Environmental
Product Declaration) in accordance with ISO 14025 standard, certified and published by The International EPD
System.
Ultracolor Plus is a product with very low emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC), which safeguards
the health and safety of installers and final users. It is certified as EC1 Plus by the German institute GEV.
Ultracolor Plus helps earn important Green Star and LEED credits.

The formulation of Ultracolor Plus contains no Portland cement, making it a safe product for users.

With Ultracolor Plus, the Ultracolor technology is based on a special, self-hydrating hydraulic binder that
guarantees colour uniformity by two innovative technologies which are the result of MAPEI research:
BioBlock® and DropEffect®.
The BioBlock® consists of special organic molecules which, by distributing themselves evenly in the micro-
structure of the joints, block the formation of micro-organisms that cause mould damage. The DropEffect®
technology, with a synergic effect, reduces the absorption of surface water.

When it is mixed with water in the proportions recommended and correctly applied, Ultracolor Plus forms a
grouting mortar with the following characteristics:
▪ water-repellent and droplet-effect;
▪ uniform colour and free of staining, since Ultracolor Plus does not produce efflorescence. From an analysis
carried out using an electronic microscope (SEM), note that, compared with a Portland cement-based
binder in a normal cementitious grouting mortar, the special cements in Ultracolor Plus do not generate
the calcium hydroxide (hydrolysis lime) crystals during the hydration process, which cause efflorescence;
▪ colours resistant to ultra-violet rays and atmospheric agents;
▪ short waiting time before cleaning and easy finishing;
▪ ready for light foot traffic and for use after a short period of time;
▪ smooth, compact finished surface, with low water absorbency for easy cleaning;
▪ shrinkage compensated, therefore free from cracks;
▪ excellent resistance to abrasion compression and flexural strength even after freeze-thaw cycles, therefore
optimal durability;
▪ good resistance to acids with pH > 3.

RECOMMENDATIONS
▪ Ultracolor Plus does not contain Portland cement and must not be mixed with gypsum or other hydraulic
binders; never add water to the mix once it has started to set.
▪ Never mix Ultracolor Plus with salty or dirty water.
▪ Use the product at temperatures between +5°C and +35°C;
▪ Carry out grouting only on substrates that are sufficiently dry or have been waterproofed, to avoid a whitish
film forming on the surface.
▪ In order to avoid an uneven colour finish, we do not recommend sprinkling Ultracolor Plus powder onto the
filled grout joints.
▪ When resistance to acids, high hygienic requirements, or sterile conditions are needed, or for swimming
pools and spas with pool water treatment chemicals or cycles that are potentially harmful to cementitious
products, use a suitable epoxy grout from the Kerapoxy range.
▪ Expansion and movement joints on walls and floors must never be filled with Ultracolor Plus. Use a suitable
flexible sealant from the MAPEI range.
▪ The surface of certain tiles or stone materials may have micro-porosity or a rough surface. We recommend
carrying out a preliminary test to check how easy it is to clean the surface where necessary to apply a
 protective treatment to the surface, to ensure the grout does not penetrate into the surface porosity of the
tiles.
▪ If an acid-based cleaner is used to clean the joint, we recommend testing the product beforehand to check
the resistance of the colour. Always make sure that the joints are thoroughly rinsed down to avoid leaving
traces of acid in the joints.
▪ Avoid using bags of grout from different batches in the same area as minor colour variations may occur. Dry
blend the grout bags together if required.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Preparing the joints
Before grouting joints, wait until the adhesive or the mortar has completely hardened, and the waiting times
indicated in the relative Technical Data Sheet have been respected.

The joints must be clean, free of dust, and empty down to at least 2/3 of the thickness of the tiles. Any adhesive
or mortar that has seeped into the joints while laying the tiles must be removed while still fresh.

With very absorbent tiles, or in high temperatures or windy conditions, dampen the joints with clean water.

Preparation of Mix
While stirring, pour Ultracolor Plus into a clean, rust-free container containing 20-26% by weight of clean
water.
Mix the grout with a low-speed mixer to avoid air entrainment, until a smooth paste is obtained.
Let the mix stand for 3 minutes, then mix again briefly before use.
Use the mix within 30 minutes of preparation.
Application
Fill the joints with the Ultracolor Plus mix using an appropriate Mapei trowel or rubber spreader without
leaving any gaps or lippage. Remove excess of Ultracolor Plus from the surface of the tiles by passing the
trowel or spreader diagonally to the joints while the grout is still wet.

Finishing
When the grout loses its elasticity and becomes opaque, normally after 15–30 minutes, wash off any excess of
Ultracolor Plus with a damp hard cellulose sponge (such as the Mapei Sponge) working diagonally to the
joints. Rinse the sponge frequently in two different containers of water: one container to remove the grout
from the sponge and a second container, with clean water, to rinse the sponge. This operation can also be
carried out with a machine with a sponge belt.

It is possible to finish the surface also when the mix is partially set, after 50–60 minutes, with a damp
ScotchBrite® sponge: pass it over the joints to even out the surface.

This operation may also be carried out with a single disk rotary machine with a special Scotch-Brite® type felt
disk.

If the joints are cleaned too soon (while the grout is still plastic) the grout could be dragged from the joints and
leave gaps, which may then change colour more easily.

If grouting is carried out in extremely hot, dry or windy weather, we recommend that the joints filled with
Ultracolor Plus are dampened after a few hours. Damp curing of Ultracolor Plus improves its final
characteristics in all cases.

Final cleaning of the powdery film of Ultracolor Plus from the surface may be carried out with a clean, dry
cloth.

After the final cleaning operation, if the surface still has traces of cementitious residues, it may be cleaned
down with an acidic cleaner (e.g. UltraCare Keranet), after the grout has completely cured.

If it is necessary to use a product to remove residues of grout at the moment of installation, it is recommended
to use UltraCare Keranet Easy spray, suitable for removing excess grout from surfaces during installation.
For the correct use of UltraCare products range, please refer to the relevant Technical Data Sheets.
 Spreading Ultracolor Plus on Cleaning the joints with a
woodeffect porcelain floor tiles with a ScotchBrite® pad (when the product Cleaning and finishing the joints
rubber float is semi hardened) witha hard cellulose sponge

Spreading Ultracolor Plus on Cleaning and finishing the joints

porcelain floor tiles with a rubber float witha hard cellulose sponge Flooring grouted with Ultracolor Plus

Hydration of a Portland cement-based binder in a Hydration of Ultracolor Plus special cement-based

traditional grouting mortar binder. Note the absence of lamellar crystals of
Portlandite (calcium hydroxide), which is the cause of
whitish efflorescence

SET TO LIGHT FOOT TRAFFIC

The floors are set to light foot traffic after approximately 3 hours.

READY-FOR-USE
Surfaces grouted with Ultracolor Plus are ready for use after approximately 24 hours.
Ultracolor Plus can be immersed in water after 48 hours.

CLEANING
Clean tools and containers with plenty of water while Ultracolor Plus is still fresh.
 CONSUMPTION
The consumption of Ultracolor Plus varies according to the size of the joints and the size and thickness of the
tiles.
The table illustrates a number of examples of the consumption in kg/m².
Consumption according to the size of the tiles and the width of the joints (kg/m²)

Joint width (mm)

Tile size (mm)
2 3 5 8 10
75x150x6 0.4 0.6 1.0 1.5 1.9
100x100x7 0.4 0.7 1.1 1.8 2.2
100x100x9 0.6 0.9 1.4 2.3 2.9
150x150x6 0.3 0.4 0.6 1.0 1.3
200x200x7 0.2 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.1
200x200x9 0.3 0.4 0.7 1.2 1.4
300x300x10 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.9 1.1
300x300x20 0.4 0.6 1.1 1.7 2.1
300x600x10 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
400x400x10 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
500x500x10 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.6
600x600x10 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
750x750x10 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
100x600x9 0.3 0.5 0.8 1.3 1.7
150x600x9 0.2 0.4 0.6 1.0 1.2
150x900x9 0.2 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.1
150x1200x10 0.2 0.4 0.6 1.0 1.2
225x450x9 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.8 1.0
225x900x9 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
250x900x9 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.7
250x1200x10 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
600x600x5 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.3
600x600x3 0.1 0.1 0.2
1000x500x5 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2
1000x500x3 0.1 0.1 0.1
1000x1000x5 0.1 0.1 0.2
1000x1000x3 0.1 0.1
3000x1000x5 0.1 0.1 0.1
3000x1000x3 0.1 0.1

FORMULA APPLIED TO CALCULATE CONSUMPTION RATE:

A = tile length (mm)

B = tile width (mm)
C = tile thickness (mm)
D = joint width (mm)

For sizes not covered by the table, our website www.mapei.com.au has a calculator available to estimate
consumption rates according to the size of the tiles and the width of the joints.

PACKAGING
4x5 kg or 8x2 kg Alupack bags, depending on the colour.
 COLOURS
Ultracolor Plus is available in 40 colours of the MAPEI range (please refer to the colour samples).

Ultracolor Plus

100 WHITE

103 MOON WHITE

111 SILVER GREY

123 ANCIENT WHITE

112 MEDIUM GREY

113 CEMENT GREY

114 ANTHRACITE

127 ARCTIC GREY

110 MANHATTAN 2000

187 LINEN

176 GREEN-GREY

174 TORNADO

125 CASTLE GREY

119 LONDON GREY

163 LIGHT LILAC

168 CERULEAN

167 AVIO

169 STEEL BLUE

172 SPACE BLUE

177 SAGE

130 JASMINE

131 VANILLA

137 CARIBBEAN

132 BEIGE 2000

 138 ALMOND

141 CARAMEL

142 BROWN

189 SPELT

133 SAND

134 SILK

188 BISCUIT

135 GOLDEN DUST

152 LIQUORICE

144 CHOCOLATE

149 VOLCANO SAND

145 TERRA DI SIENA

143 TERRACOTTA

136 MUD

120 BLACK

150 YELLOW

Note: Due to the printing process involved, the colours shown are merely indicative.

STORAGE
Ultracolor Plus can be stored for 24 months (for 2 kg and 5 kg bags) in its original packaging in a dry place.
However, after a certain amount of time, the setting time may increase but without modifying the final
characteristics of the product.

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARATION AND APPLICATION

Instructions for the safe use of our products can be found on the latest version of the SDS available from our
website www.mapei.com.au
PRODUCT FOR PROFESSIONAL USE.
 TECHNICAL DATA (typical values)

In compliance with the following standards:

– AS ISO 13007-3 as CG2WAF
– European EN 13888-1 as CG2FWA

PRODUCT IDENTITY
Consistency: fine powder
Colour: 40 colours from the MAPEI coloured grouts
range.
Bulk density: 1400 kg/m³
Dry solids content: 100%
EMICODE: EC1 Plus – very low emission

APPLICATION DATA (at +23°C and 50% R.H.)

Mixing ratio: 100 parts Ultracolor Plus with 20-26 parts water,
depending on the colour
Consistency of mix: fluid paste
Density of mix: 1980 kg/m³
pH of mix: approx. 11
Pot life of mix: 20-30 minutes
Application temperature: from +5°C to +35°C
Waiting time before grouting:
– on walls bonded with normal adhesive: 4–8 hours
– on walls bonded with fast-setting adhesive: 1–2 hours
– on walls with mortar: 2–3 days
– on floors bonded with normal adhesive: 24 hours
– on floors bonded with fast-setting adhesive: 3–4 hours
– on floors with mortar: 7–10 days
Waiting time before finishing: 15-30 minutes
Set to light foot traffic: approx. 3 hours
Ready for use: 24 hours (48 hours for water immersion)

FINAL PERFORMANCE
Flexural strength after 28 days: 9 N/mm²
Compressive strength after 28 days: 35 N/mm²
Flexural strength after freeze/thaw cycles: 9 N/mm²
Compressive strength after freeze/thaw cycles: 35 N/mm²
Resistance to abrasion: 700 (loss in mm³)
Shrinkage: 1.5 mm/m
Water absorption (EN 12808-5) after 30 minutes: 0.1 g
Water absorption (EN 12808-5) after 4 hours: 0.2 g
Resistance to solvents and oils: excellent
Resistant to alkalis: excellent
Resistance to acids: good resistance to acids with pH > 3
 WARNING
Although the technical details and recommendations contained in this product data sheet correspond to the
best of our knowledge and experience, all the above information must, in every case, be taken as merely
indicative and subject to confirmation after long-term practical application; for this reason, anyone who
intends to use the product must ensure beforehand that it is suitable for the envisaged application.
Please refer to the current version of the Technical Data Sheet, available from our website
www.mapei.com.au

LEGAL NOTICE
The contents of this Technical Data Sheet ("TDS") may be copied into another project-related document,
but the resulting document shall not supplement or replace requirements per the TDS in force at the
time of the MAPEI product installation.
The most up-to-date TDS can be downloaded from our website www.mapei.com.au

ANY ALTERATION TO THE WORDING OR REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED OR DERIVED FROM THIS TDS
EXCLUDES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAPEI.

Mapei Australia Pty Ltd

180 Viking Drive, Wacol, Queensland, 4076

+61 7 3276 5000 www.mapei.com.au sales@mapei.com.au

2801-8-2024 en-au (AU)

. Any reproduction of texts, photos and illustrations published here is prohibited and subject to .
prosecution