Fosroc Nitobond SBR 101
Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) latex bonding aid and gauging liquid for tile, stone, screed and concrete-repair mortars – supplied across Delhi NCR and Pan-India.
What is it?
A single-component, modified styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) latex emulsion that is mixed with cement and sand to make high-bond, low-permeability mortars, slurry bonding bridges and gauging liquids.
Where is it used?
Tile and stone fixing, concrete repair patching, floor screeds and toppings, waterproof renders and bonding slurries – on internal and external, horizontal, vertical and overhead surfaces.
Why use it?
It dramatically improves adhesion, flexural and tensile strength, workability and water-resistance of site-batched cement mortars while adding no chloride to the mix, so it protects embedded reinforcement.
How is it applied?
Used either as a 1:1:3 (SBR:water:cement) scrubbed slurry bonding primer or gauged directly into cement-sand mortar at roughly 10 litres per 50 kg cement, then trowel-applied onto the wet primer.
About Fosroc Nitobond SBR 101
Fosroc Nitobond SBR 101 is a modified styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) latex emulsion supplied as a ready-to-use white liquid. It belongs to Fosroc’s well-established Nitobond polymer-bonding family and is engineered to be blended into ordinary site-batched cement and sand mixes, transforming them into high-adhesion, low-shrinkage, water-resistant mortars. In the Indian market the SBR 101 designation is positioned with a strong emphasis on binding ceramic tiles, marble, granite, porcelain and stoneware, while retaining the full repair-mortar and screed capability of the wider Nitobond SBR range. For contractors, applicators and consultants in India it is one of the most commonly specified, economical bonding agents for both new finishing work and concrete rehabilitation. Because it is a single liquid that is simply gauged as required – rather than a measured two-part epoxy – it is forgiving on site, easy to train labour on, and well suited to the variable conditions of Indian construction sites. The latex is resistant to hydrolysis, which means it performs in both internal and external exposure and survives freeze-thaw cycling, making it appropriate for everything from interior wall tiling to exposed parapet and balcony repairs. Critically, it contains no chloride admixtures, so when used in repair mortars over reinforced concrete it does not introduce any corrosion risk to embedded steel – an essential consideration in durability-driven repair specifications.
The technical insight
The performance of Nitobond SBR 101 comes from the SBR polymer film that forms as the mortar cures: the latex particles coalesce into a continuous, flexible polymer network that bridges the cement matrix, raising tensile and flexural strength and sharply reducing permeability and water absorption. Fosroc’s published BS 6319 test data for an SBR-gauged 3:1 sand:cement mortar (10 litres SBR per 50 kg cement, 28-day air-cured) records compressive strength around 62 MPa, tensile strength around 3.3 MPa, flexural strength around 9 MPa and a slant-shear bond of about 53 MPa against a plain control – a meaningful uplift in bond and flexural behaviour over an unmodified mortar. The single most important field principle is the wet-on-wet rule: the SBR slurry bonding bridge (1 volume SBR : 1 volume water : 3 volumes cement, scrubbed in) must still be tacky/wet when the repair mortar or tile-bedding mortar is placed onto it. If the slurry skins over and dries, it must be removed and the area re-primed, otherwise the bond plane fails. The polymer also makes the mix more cohesive and reduces water demand, so over-watering must be avoided – excess water dilutes the polymer film and undermines both strength and waterproofing. Where a permanent moisture barrier or a substrate that will stay continuously damp is involved, Fosroc itself directs users to an epoxy bonding aid (Nitobond EP) rather than an SBR latex, because SBR remains a re-emulsifiable, breathable polymer rather than a sealed epoxy bond.
Where it is used
- Bonding slurry / scratch-coat bridge between old hardened concrete and new repair mortar or screed
- Bedding and bonding mortar for fixing ceramic tiles, slip bricks, marble, granite, porcelain and stoneware to walls and floors
- Polymer-modified patch-repair mortars for spalled, worn or honeycombed concrete (horizontal, vertical and overhead)
- Heavy-duty floor screeds and toppings incorporating granite chips and sharp sand
- Waterproof external renders and plasters on masonry and concrete
- Gauging liquid to improve cohesion, workability and water-resistance of general cement:sand mortars
- Repair and rehabilitation of balconies, parapets, chajjas, water tanks and other exposure-prone elements
Key advantages
- Excellent bond to concrete, masonry, stonework, plaster and blockwork – improves adhesion of both repair mortars and tile/stone fixing mortars
- Improved tensile and flexural strength allows thinner, more crack-resistant applications
- Single-component liquid that is simply gauged as required – no fixed two-part ratio to mis-measure on site
- Improves cohesion and workability of the mortar, making it easier to trowel and finish
- Produces water-resistant, low-permeability mortars and renders that resist freeze-thaw cycling
- Contains no chloride admixtures, so it does not promote corrosion of embedded reinforcement
- Resistant to hydrolysis, suitable for both internal and external exposure
- Economical compared with epoxy bonding agents, with widely available 1, 5, 20 and 200 litre pack sizes for any project scale
Limitations & considerations
- It is a bonding aid / mortar additive, not a structural adhesive on its own – performance depends entirely on the cement-sand mix design and good site practice
- The slurry bonding bridge must be applied wet-on-wet; if it dries before the mortar is placed it must be removed and re-primed
- Not the correct choice where a permanent damp-proof barrier is needed or where the substrate stays continuously immersed/damp – Fosroc directs users to the epoxy Nitobond EP for those cases
- Mortars should not be applied below about 5 degrees C and falling, nor exposed to moving water or heavy rain before final set
- Over-watering dilutes the polymer and undermines strength and waterproofing – water demand must be adjusted for damp sand
- The product and resulting mortars must be protected from frost in storage and during early cure
- All cement-based mortars made with it still require proper curing after finishing to develop strength
Selection & best practice
Saw-cut and break out repair areas to a minimum 6 mm depth with square edges, then clean off all dust, laitance, oil, paint and corrosion. Prime exposed steel with a zinc-rich primer such as Nitoprime Zincrich. Pre-soak the concrete substrate with clean water and remove standing excess. Prepare the bonding slurry as 1 volume Nitobond SBR 101 : 1 volume clean water : 3 volumes fresh cement, blending cement slowly into the pre-mixed liquids, and scrub it firmly into the surface – avoiding puddling. Place the SBR-gauged repair, screed or tile-bedding mortar (typically 10 litres SBR per 50 kg cement) onto the still-wet slurry, keeping added water to the minimum needed for workability and allowing for the moisture already in the sand. Compact well by trowel, encapsulate any exposed steel, finish without overworking, and cure immediately like any cement mortar. In hot Indian site conditions, store the drum in shade, use cool water for mixing above about 35 degrees C, and protect freshly placed work from rapid drying.
Specifications
| Chemical type | Modified styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) latex emulsion |
| Form / appearance | Single-component, ready-to-use white liquid |
| Chloride content | Contains no chloride admixtures |
| Typical gauging dosage | Approx. 10 litres SBR per 50 kg cement (mortars/screeds) |
| Slurry bonding bridge ratio | 1 vol SBR : 1 vol water : 3 vol cement (by volume) |
| Tile/stone bonding mortar (typical) | 50 kg cement : 125 kg sharp sand : 10 L SBR : approx. 7 L water |
| Coverage (as slurry primer) | Approx. 2 to 3 m2 per litre (theoretical) |
| Compressive strength (BS 6319, 28 days, SBR mortar) | approx. 62 MPa |
| Flexural strength (BS 6319) | approx. 9 MPa |
| Tensile strength (BS 6319) | approx. 3.3 MPa |
| Slant-shear bond strength (BS 6319) | approx. 53 MPa |
| Single-layer laying thickness | Up to ~15-20 mm in one layer (per SBR 101 listing); 6-40 mm range across SBR mortar designs |
| Pack sizes (India) | 1 L, 5 L, 20 L and 200 L |
| Shelf life | 12 months in original unopened packs, dry store |
| Storage | Keep dry and protect from frost; store in shade in hot conditions |
Industry use cases
Tiling, marble & stone fixing
Used by finishing contractors as a polymer-modified bedding and bonding mortar to fix ceramic tiles, vitrified tiles, marble, granite, porcelain and stoneware to walls and floors, giving higher bond and reduced risk of hollowness and de-bonding.
Concrete repair & rehabilitation
Specified as the bonding bridge and mortar modifier for patch-repairing spalled, carbonated or honeycombed RCC columns, beams, slabs and soffits – the no-chloride formulation suits reinforcement-protection repair specs.
Industrial & commercial flooring
Incorporated into heavy-duty cementitious screeds and toppings (with granite chips and sharp sand) for warehouses, plant rooms and service areas needing abrasion-resistant, well-bonded floors.
Waterproofing & facade renders
Added to external renders, plasters and slurry coats on balconies, parapets, chajjas, sunshades and water-retaining structures to cut permeability and improve freeze-thaw and weather resistance.
Real estate & infrastructure projects
Procurement teams use the 20 L and 200 L drums for large multi-tower residential, commercial and infrastructure sites where consistent, economical bonding and repair mortars are needed at scale across Delhi NCR and Pan-India.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fosroc Nitobond SBR 101 an epoxy bonding agent?
Can Nitobond SBR 101 be used for fixing tiles, marble and granite?
How is it used as a bonding agent between old and new concrete?
Does Nitobond SBR 101 contain chlorides that could corrode steel?
What pack sizes and shelf life does it have in India?
Can it be applied in hot Indian site conditions?
How we position Fosroc Nitobond SBR 101
Within the Fosroc range, Nitobond SBR 101 sits alongside the broader Nitobond SBR / Nitobond SBR Latex family and the heavier-duty Nitobond SBR 300, serving as the economical, general-purpose SBR latex for tile/stone fixing and cement-mortar bonding. Where a project needs a sealed, structural or permanently-damp bond, the natural step up is the epoxy Nitobond EP; for acrylic-based external bonding the Nitobond AR grade is the Fosroc alternative. It is frequently paired on site with companion Fosroc products – Nitoprime Zincrich for reinforcement priming, the Renderoc range for pre-bagged repair mortars, and Conbextra grouts for structural infill – making it a logical entry point into a complete repair system rather than a standalone fix. Against the wider market, credible alternatives that contractors in India weigh up include Sika Latex / SikaLatex Power (Sika’s SBR/acrylic bonding emulsion), MBS (MYK/BASF Master-branded SBR bonding agents), Dr. Fixit Pidicrete URP from Pidilite, and STP’s bonding latexes – all broadly comparable SBR/acrylic bonding aids. The honest positioning is that Nitobond SBR 101 is not a premium specialist product but a dependable, widely-stocked workhorse: its value lies in proven Fosroc-backed performance data, no-chloride safety for reinforced concrete, easy single-component gauging and ready availability in every pack size. As an authorised Fosroc distributor and applicator, Space Arc Engineering supplies it across Delhi NCR and Pan-India and can advise when SBR 101 is the right call versus stepping up to Nitobond EP or a pre-bagged Renderoc repair mortar.
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Authorised distribution, technical advice & professional application across Delhi NCR and Pan-India.