When your flooring installation demands a universal adhesive that offers extended work-time, high final strength, and excellent dimensional stability across diverse resilient floor coverings, the right product matters. ARDEX AF 171 delivers a robust bond, specifically engineered to counter plasticiser migration, ensuring your LVT, vinyl, linoleum, and carpet installations remain stable and stain-free for the long term.
ARDEX AF 171 is formulated to address the common challenges in resilient flooring installations. Its high resistance to plasticiser migration prevents the staining and softening of vinyl floor coverings, a critical failure point for lesser adhesives. By offering extended open times and high initial grab, it supports both wet-set methods for LVT/LVP and semi-wet methods for sheet vinyl, providing installers flexibility and confidence in achieving a precise, lasting bond. This low VOC adhesive is a universal solution designed for a wide range of flooring types over approved substrates, promoting high final strength and excellent dimensional stability.
This adhesive cures to full strength within 72 hours at 20°C, providing a dependable bond under normal conditions. For LVT and LVP, a 15-minute install window in the wet-set method ensures fast application without compromising adhesion. For sheet vinyl, a 40-50 minute semi-wet set window allows for precise positioning and flattening of trowel notches, avoiding visual marks through the finished floor. Coverage varies significantly depending on the flooring type and substrate porosity, ranging from up to 5m²/litre for residential sheet vinyl to 2.5m²/litre for textured rubber and linoleum, underscoring the importance of site-specific trowel selection for optimal adhesive transfer.
Working with ARDEX AF 171 requires meticulous surface preparation, ensuring the substrate is dry, smooth, clean, and absorbent. Highly absorbent sub-floors should be primed with ARDEX P 51 Primer according to its technical data sheet to regulate porosity. The adhesive can be applied using either a wet-set method for LVT/LVP, where flooring is installed within 15 minutes of spreading, or a semi-wet method for sheet vinyl, allowing 40-50 minutes for the adhesive to partially dry before installation. In both cases, rolling the flooring within an hour in both directions is crucial for optimal bond. Wet adhesive cleans up easily with warm soapy water, while dried adhesive requires mineral spirits.
ARDEX AF 171 is positioned as the final bonding layer in resilient flooring systems, particularly over concrete where moisture management is key. For concrete substrates with moisture content exceeding 80% RH or 15gm/m²/24hrs, an ARDEX moisture barrier system is mandatory before adhesive application. Options include Ardex WPM 300 Epoxy Moisture Barrier & Primer with ARDEX Primer Sand or ARDEX WPM 368, which allows direct application of levelling compounds. Crucially, a minimum of 3mm of an ARDEX levelling compound must be installed above any ARDEX moisture barrier system before applying ARDEX AF 171 to create a stable, prepared surface.
Yes, ARDEX AF 171 is specifically designed for bonding Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) and Luxury Vinyl Planks (LVP). It offers high resistance to plasticiser migration, preventing adhesive breakdown and discolouration, and features an extended open time for precise placement.
For concrete with moisture content above 80% RH or 15gm/m²/24hrs, a moisture barrier system is required. Use ARDEX WPM 300 or ARDEX WPM 368. Always apply a minimum 3mm ARDEX levelling compound over the moisture barrier before applying AF 171.
Yes, ARDEX AF 171 is formulated with high resistance to plasticiser migration. This protects the adhesive from softening and bond failure, which is critical for the long-term performance of vinyl and rubber floor coverings.
For sheet vinyl, allow ARDEX AF 171 to dry for 40-50 minutes in a semi-wet method before installing the flooring. This time can vary based on site and sub-floor conditions. Always ensure full adhesive crush-out by flattening trowel notches.
| Application | Key benefit | Primary trades |
|---|---|---|
| Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) and Planks (LVP) | High resistance to plasticiser migration, maintaining bond integrity and preventing adhesive softening or discolouration. Extended open time for precise alignment. | Flooring installers, builders |
| Sheet Vinyl | Offers a semi-wet-set application method, allowing optimal flash-off and tack for reliable adhesion. High initial grab reduces movement during installation. | Flooring installers, commercial fit-out teams |
| Linoleum and Rubber (up to 4mm) | Achieves a high final bond strength for demanding flooring types, ensuring dimensional stability and long-term performance. | Flooring specialists, commercial builders |
| Direct Stick and Dual Bond Carpet | Provides versatile bonding capabilities for various carpet backing types, supporting both full adhesion and dual bond systems. | Carpet installers, shopfitters |
| General flooring installations on prepared substrates | Low VOC content contributes to healthier indoor air quality during and after installation, meeting environmental requirements. | Health-conscious builders, green construction projects |
Verify dry, smooth, clean substrate per AS 1884 moisture test. Prime absorbent floors.
Apply ARDEX WPM 300 at 3m²/L or WPM 368; broadcast Primer Sand on WPM 300 if needed, cure overnight then level 3mm min.
Prime with diluted ARDEX P 51 if absorbent.
Spread with appropriate trowel; install per method.
V-notch trowel, install within 15 min, check 100% transfer.
U1 trowel, dry 40-50 min, press in, flatten notches.
ARDEX AF 171 is classified as a NON-HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL and NON-DANGEROUS GOODS.
Wear safety glasses or chemical goggles, gloves (e.g., PVC or nitrile), and appropriate protective clothing. Safety footwear and a PVC apron are recommended. Ensure an eye wash unit is available.
Avoid inhaling vapours or spray. Ensure adequate ventilation during mixing and application to maintain airborne concentrations below exposure standards.
Store in original unopened packaging in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from incompatible materials and foodstuffs. Keep containers securely sealed. Shelf life is 12 months when stored at 23ºC and 50% RH. Do not reuse containers. Dispose of adhesive and containers according to Federal, State, and Local regulations. Do not flush adhesive down drains.
Proper substrate preparation is critical for bond performance and prevents callbacks. This guide outlines standard requirements for ARDEX AF 171.
Surface prep: Ensure surfaces are dry, smooth, clean, and absorbent. Follow Australian Standard 1884 for resilient sheet flooring, including moisture testing. If moisture content exceeds 80% RH or 15gm/m²/24hrs, a moisture barrier (ARDEX WPM 300 or WPM 368) is required, followed by a minimum 3mm ARDEX levelling compound.
Primer: Optional. Prime highly absorbent sub-floors with ARDEX P 51 Primer, following its dilution ratio recommendations. Not required over ARDEX WPM 368.
Surface prep: Ensure surfaces are dry, smooth, and clean. Substrate must be dimensionally stable and free from contamination. Absorbency is key for strong bond. Follow AS 1884 guidelines.
Primer: Optional. Prime highly absorbent timber-based substrates with ARDEX P 51 Primer as per its technical data sheet.
Surface prep: Ensure surfaces are dry, smooth, and clean. Substrate must be sound and free from dust or loose material. Verify absorbency for optimal bond performance.
Primer: Optional. Prime highly absorbent sheets with ARDEX P 51 Primer. Not typically required for less absorbent, stable surfaces.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Colour | Off White |
| Cure Time | 72 hours at 20°C |
| Packaging | 15 litre Pail (18kg) |
| Shelf Life | 12 months |
| pH as supplied | ~7 |
| Initial Boiling Point | 100 °C |
| Relative Density (Water=1) | ~1.2 |
| Solubility in Water | Miscible |
| Wet Set Method (LVT/LVP) Open Time | 15 minutes |
| Semi-Wet Method (Sheet Vinyl) Flash-off Time | 40–50 minutes |
Here are some common examples on where Ardex AF 171 Universal Vinyl Adhesive used by our customers.
