For installations requiring light handling and extended coverage on walls and floors, ARDEX X 68 Tile Adhesive provides a low-weight, sand-free option for fixing fully vitrified tiles, ceramic tiles, porcelain, mosaics, and moisture-insensitive natural stone. It is formulated for internal and external jobs, including wet areas, underfloor heating installations, and swimming pools.
ARDEX X 68 is a polymer-fortified, cement-based adhesive classified as C2 TE S1 under ISO 13007. The formulation delivers high bond strength (C2), slip resistance on vertical surfaces (T), extended open time (E), and a flexible, deformable bed (S1) to accommodate substrate movement. Because it uses an ultralight, sand-free formula, a single 11kg bag offers the coverage volume typically expected from heavier standard bags, making it lighter to transport, mix, and spread across large-format installations.
This adhesive is compatible with a wide range of residential and commercial substrates prepared in accordance with AS 3958:
Substrate preparation: Ensure all surfaces are clean, dry, free of dust, grease, curing compounds, and laitance. Smooth or dense concrete exceeding 35 MPa must be mechanically roughened. New concrete must cure for at least 4 weeks before tiling. Prime porous substrates with ARDEX Multiprime before application.
Mixing: Stir 11kg of powder into 5.5 litres of clean water using a paddle mixer. Mix for 2 minutes, let stand for 3 minutes, then mix again for 2 minutes to produce a lump-free, creamy consistency. For enhanced movement performance or swimming pool installations, mix with 2 litres of ARDEX E 90 and 4 litres of water.
Fixing: Apply at a bed thickness between 3mm and 10mm. Press tiles firmly into the freshly combed mortar bed and slide them at right angles to the notch pattern. For large-format tiles (400mm or larger in any direction) and ribbed or keyed back profiles, back-butter the tile to ensure full, void-free coverage. Do not spot fix.
Grouting: Grouting can begin once the tile bed is firm, typically after 24 hours at 23°C and 50% relative humidity. Allow longer drying times for dense tiles, non-porous substrates, high humidity, or cold site conditions.
Yes, ARDEX X68 is suitable for swimming pools and handles large format tiles up to 400mm with back-buttering. For enhanced performance in swimming pools, mix with ARDEX E90 at a ratio of 2 litres E90 to 4 litres of cool clean water.
Yes, ARDEX X68 meets the Green Building Council of Australia Green Star requirements for Ceramic Tile Adhesives. It features low VOC content, supporting environmentally sustainable construction.
ARDEX X68 offers an open time of 30 minutes and an adjustment time of 20 minutes at 23°C and 50% relative humidity. This allows for flexible tile placement and minor corrections.
No, ARDEX X68 is not for direct use over timber floors subject to shrinkage and movement. It is suitable for CTU (Ceramic Tile Underlay) over particleboard and plywood timber floors, provided the CTU is installed according to manufacturer instructions and AS 3958.
| Application | Key benefit | Primary trades |
|---|---|---|
| Fixing fully vitrified and porcelain tiles | High bond strength and flexibility (C2 TE S1 classification) ensures durable adhesion for low-porosity tiles in demanding conditions. | Tilers, Builders |
| Internal and external wall and floor tiling | Withstands varied environmental stresses, from residential interiors to exposed outdoor areas, due to superior adhesion after water immersion, heat, and freeze-thaw cycles (≥ 1.0 MPa). | Tilers, Landscapers |
| Tiling in swimming pools and wet areas | Maintains integrity under continuous water immersion (≥ 1.0 MPa) and offers enhanced performance when mixed with ARDEX E90, reducing the risk of failure in critical moisture zones. | Waterproofers, Tilers |
| Installing large format tiles | Non-slump properties and extended open time (30 minutes) prevent tile movement and allow for precise placement and adjustment, improving final alignment and reducing rework. | Tilers |
| Projects requiring Green Star compliance | Low VOC content meets Green Building Council of Australia Green Star requirements, enabling specification on environmentally certified builds. | Architects, Specifiers, Builders |
| High-volume tiling jobs | Ultralight, sand-free formulation eases transport, mixing, and spreading, reducing installer fatigue and improving productivity on site. | Tilers, Labourers |
Add the 11kg bag of Ardex X 68 powder to 5.5 litres of clean water in a bucket. Mix with a paddle mixer for at least 2 minutes to a lump-free, creamy consistency. Let it stand for 3 minutes, then re-mix for another 2 minutes.
Apply the mixed adhesive to the prepared substrate using a notched trowel. Select a trowel size appropriate for the tile size and substrate, as per AS 3958. Only spread enough adhesive that can be tiled within the 30-minute open time.
In addition to trowelling the substrate, you must also 'back-butter' the tile by applying a thin, flat coat of adhesive to the back to ensure full bed contact and eliminate voids.
Press tiles firmly into the wet adhesive bed with a sliding motion, perpendicular to the notches. Check coverage periodically by lifting a tile. Remove any excess adhesive from joints and tile faces before it sets. Grouting can begin after 24 hours.
Danger: This product causes skin irritation and serious eye damage. It may cause an allergic skin reaction, respiratory irritation, and is suspected of causing genetic defects. Prolonged or repeated exposure may cause damage to organs.
Wear protective gloves (e.g., neoprene, nitrile), protective clothing (overalls, PVC apron), chemical goggles, and face protection. A P2 particulate filter respirator is required if dust becomes airborne.
Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Prevent dust concentration in confined spaces.
Store locked up in original, securely sealed containers in a cool, dry area, protected from environmental extremes. Keep away from incompatible materials. Dispose of contents and container to an authorised hazardous waste collection point in accordance with local regulations.
Correct surface preparation ensures optimal adhesion and long-term tile integrity, preventing premature failure.
Surface prep: Allow at least 4 weeks to cure. Remove surface laitance, sealers, curing compounds, and contaminants. Mechanically roughen steel trowel finished concrete and concrete greater than 35 MPa to provide a mechanical key. Ensure surface is true and level.
Primer: Optional. Prime porous substrates with ARDEX Multiprime.
Surface prep: Boards must be firmly and rigidly fixed to manufacturer’s specifications to support the tile bed.
Primer: Optional. ARDEX Multiprime is recommended for fibre-cement sheet. Not usually necessary for plasterboard unless jointing compound is used.
Surface prep: Follow sheet manufacturer’s recommendations and Australian Standard AS 3958 for both internal and external applications.
Primer: Optional. Prime porous substrates with ARDEX Multiprime.
Surface prep: Tiles must be sound, clean, firm, and stable. Mechanically roughen the surface, ensuring at least 80% of the glaze is removed. Clean off contamination and dust. Tiling over existing tiles is not recommended in immersed applications.
Primer: Optional. Use ARDEX P9 Priming system as per recommendations if not mechanically roughening.
Surface prep: CTU must be a minimum of 6mm, specifically for tiling, and fixed as per manufacturer’s instructions. Ensure the timber floor system complies with AS 1684 for joist deflection.
Primer: Optional. Prime porous substrates with ARDEX Multiprime.
Surface prep: Membranes must be applied according to instructions and thoroughly dry prior to tiling.
Primer: Not required. Membranes are typically bondable surfaces.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Colour | WHITE |
| Mixing Ratio | 5.5 litres water per 11kg powder |
| Mixing Ratio with E90 | 2 litres E90 & 4 litres cool clean water |
| Coverage Walls | 10.5m² per 11kg bag (using 6mm notched trowel) |
| Coverage Floors | 7m² per 11kg bag (using 10mm notched trowel) |
| Open Time | 30 mins |
| Adjustment Time | 20 mins |
| Grouting Time | 24 hours |
| Pot Life | 90 mins |
| Sagging | None |
| Underfloor Heating Suitability | Yes |
| Tensile Adhesion Strength (28 Days Dry) | ≥ 1.0 MPa |
| Tensile Adhesion Strength (Water Immersion) | ≥ 1.0 MPa |
| Tensile Adhesion Strength (Heat) | ≥ 1.0 MPa |
| Tensile Adhesion Strength (Freeze Thaw) | ≥ 1.0 MPa |
| Tensile Adhesion Strength (Extended Open Time) | ≥ 1.0 MPa |
| Classification (ISO 13007) | C2 TE S1 |
Here are some common examples on where Ardex X 68 Tile Adhesive used by our customers.
