RDP Chemistry Explained: VAE vs VeoVa vs Acrylic vs SBR — Which Polymer for Your Mortar?

Aug. 18, 2026

Quick Answers

Question	Short Answer
What is the most common RDP chemistry?	VAE (vinyl acetate-ethylene). It is 80%+ of the market — best cost-to-performance ratio
When should I use VeoVa RDP instead of VAE?	Exterior walls in wet, alkaline, or humid climates. VeoVa adds hydrophobicity and alkali resistance
When is acrylic RDP worth the premium?	High-end exterior decorative renders, color-stable façades, UV exposure. Best weather resistance, highest cost
What about SBR?	High flexibility and mechanical strength, but poor UV — interior or non-UV applications only
What is the protective colloid and why does it matter?	Usually PVOH. It controls re-dispersibility, ash content, and water sensitivity of the RDP
Does CHARING make all four chemistries?	No. CHARING focuses on VAE plus a VAE-acrylic terpolymer for waterproofing — no VeoVa or pure acrylic grades

1. The Polymer Backbone Defines Everything

Every RDP starts as a polymer emulsion, spray-dried into powder. The emulsion's monomer composition — its "chemistry" — determines the powder's final performance. Four chemistries dominate the market:

Chemistry	Monomers	Tg Range	Water Resistance	Alkali Resistance	UV / Weathering	Relative Cost
VAE	Vinyl acetate + ethylene	-10°C to +15°C	Moderate	Fair	Good (may yellow slightly)	Lowest
VA-VeoVa	Vinyl acetate + vinyl versatate (+ ethylene)	-5°C to +5°C	Good	Excellent	Very good	Medium
Acrylic / Styrene-acrylic	Acrylate esters (+ styrene)	-20°C to +5°C	Very good	Excellent	Outstanding (no yellowing)	Highest
SBR	Styrene + butadiene	-20°C to 0°C	Good	Good	Poor (UV degrades)	Medium

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