7.2 The ideal temperature range for melting and handling
molten sulfur mortar is from 265 to 290°F (130 to 145°C).
Within this range the mortar is a smooth, free-flowing liquid
with a mirror-bright surface appearance.
7.2.1 If the mortar is maintained below 265°F, some of the
liquid will congeal over the top or around the sides of the
vessel, or both.
7.2.2 If the mortar is heated above 290°F, the mortar
thickens and loses its mirror-bright surface appearance.
7.3 Fill the vessel not more than one-half full of sulfur
mortar.
7.3.1 Heat slowly until the mortar has melted and attained
the appearance described in 7.2.
7.3.2 If congealing occurs, increase the temperature gradu-
ally until it disappears.
7.3.3 If the mortar is overheated, allow the molten material
to cool while stirring frequently. The addition of unmelted
sulfur mortar will facilitate cooling.
8. Laying Brick or Tile
8.1 The brick or tile must be dry and preferably at 65 to
85°F (18 to 29°C).
NOTE 2—For an installation that is to be made under unusual environ-
mental conditions, consult the sulfur mortar manufacturer for assistance
before beginning the application.
8.2 Joint Thickness— Joint thickness should be between
1
⁄
4
in. (6 mm) and
5
⁄
16
in. (8 mm).
8.2.1 Spacer chips,
1
⁄
4
to
5
⁄
16
in. (6 to 8 mm) thick, made of
sulfur mortar conforming to Specification C287, are available.
8.2.2 Alternatively, wood buttons approximately
1
⁄
4
-in. (6-
mm) thick by
5
⁄
8
-in. (16-mm) diameter, may be substituted for
the sulfur chips.
8.2.3 Horizontal joints may be formed by resting each brick
or tile on three spacers which are placed in a triangular pattern.
8.2.4 Spacers may also be used to maintain the thickness of
vertical joints.
8.3 Walls with Bed and Joints of Sulfur Mortar—Brick
should be laid running bond (staggered joints). Use muslin or
heavy kraft paper, saturated with sodium silicate solution
(water glass), over the face of the brick or tile to retain the
molten sulfur mortar until it congeals. (If muslin is used, it may
then be stripped, resaturated, and reused.)
8.3.1 Form and pour only one course of brick or tile at a
time.
8.3.2 The pouring containers should be large enough, and
sufficient workmen used, to keep an entire pour fluid.
8.3.3 Fill the vertical joints to within 1 in. (25 mm) of the
top of the course. This will provide a key in the mortar for the
subsequent course.
8.4 Walls with Bed of Sulfur Mortar and Joints of Resin
Mortars—Beginning at a distance between
1
⁄
4
to
5
⁄
16
in. (6 to 8
mm) away from the vertical substrate, construct a wall with
resin mortar by buttering one long and one short dimension of
the brick.
8.4.1 Lay only one course of brick at a time, and pour the
bed (back) joint with sulfur mortar as described in 8.3 above.
8.4.2 For additional information regarding the selection and
use of resin mortar, see Specification C395 and Practice C399.
NOTE 3—When dual cements are used for the walls, the entire floor is
installed with bed and joints of resin mortars.
8.5 Floors with Sulfur Bed Joint —The floor shall be given
a skim coat of sulfur mortar prior to installing brick or tile.
8.5.1 The purpose of the skim coat if asphalt membrane is
used is to prevent the brick or tile from forcing spacer chips
into the membrane.
8.5.2 If elastomeric linings are used, the purpose of the
sulfur mortar skim coat is to provide a true plane on top of
which the brick or tile will be subsequently installed.
8.5.3 Brick or tile are laid on three spacer chips to form the
horizontal bed joint with spacing between the brick or tile
maintained at
1
⁄
4
to
5
⁄
16
in. (6 to 8 mm).
8.5.4 Pour molten sulfur mortar between brick or tile and fill
the vertical joints to
1
⁄
2
in. (13 mm) from the top.
8.5.5 After the sulfur mortar has solidified but is still warm,
fill the balance of the joint by flooding the floor and squeegee-
ing the molten mortar over the surface of the brick or tile.
Suitable squeegees are box board, fiber board, etc.
9. Cleaning Mortar from Brick or Tile
9.1 Various compounds and application methods are avail-
able from mortar manufacturers for masking the brick or tile to
keep sulfur mortar from adhering to them.
10. Curing
10.1 Sulfur mortar congeals in a few minutes and has its full
chemical resistance and about 65 % of its ultimate strength in
30 min at a temperature of 73 64°F (23 62°C). Sulfur mortar
should be allowed to set for 2 h after congealing before placing
in service.
11. Chemical Resistance
11.1 The chemical resistance of sulfur mortars may be
determined by Test Method C267.
11.2 A general guide to chemical resistance of sulfur mor-
tars may be found in Table 1 of Specification C287.
12. Service Temperature
12.1 Sulfur mortars should not be used in installations that
will be subjected to temperatures above 190°F (88°C).
13. Keywords
13.1 brick; chemical-resistant; sulfur mortar; tile
C386 − 93 (2012)
2