Liquid Shim vs. Cementitious Grout
A structural engineer's comparison
Both fill a structural gap and transfer compressive load.
Only one has a published third-party fatigue certification.
Cementitious non-shrink grout is the correct specification for static loads and large-volume pours. On cyclic load applications, the governing design case is fatigue, and cementitious grout carries no published third-party certification for it.
DIAMANT’s Liquid-Shim® does. MM1018 FL has been fatigue-tested to 10 million load cycles by ibac at RWTH Aachen (test M1999) at mean stresses of 40, 50, and 60 N/mm² with no loss of structural integrity. EN 1993-1-9 sets the constant-amplitude fatigue limit for structural steel at 5 million cycles.
Kubri Engineered Solutions supplies MM1018 and provides the engineering support to specify, install, and document it correctly. On a current review of published manufacturer datasheets in the Australian market, KES has not identified a cementitious grout system with an equivalent published third-party fatigue certification for this duration.
Technical Data
MM1018 Liquid Shim vs. cementitious grout
The table below compares the verified technical properties of DIAMANT MM1018 against the general performance parameters of premium structural cementitious non-shrink grouts.
| Property | MM1018 Liquid Shim (FL) | Premium cementitious grout |
|---|---|---|
| Compressive strength | 161 N/mm² (DIN EN 12190:1998) | 50-75 N/mm² typical (product-dependent) |
| Shrinkage | 0.035% (DIN EN 12617-4:2002) | Still exhibit plastic settlement and drying shrinkage under AS 1478.2 test protocols. |
| Fatigue certification | 10M cycles (ibac RWTH Aachen, M1999) | No equivalent published third-party fatigue certification identified in standard product |
| Gap range | Up to 10 mm per layer (abZ-approved); up to 140 mm manufacturer-tested via multiple layers. Ideal for sub-10 mm precision micro-gaps | 10-100 mm typical. Unsuitable for micro-gaps |
| Structural approval | abZ Z-3.82-2042, DIBt (Germany). First metal polymer of its type to receive general building authority approval | ASTM C1107 or EN 1504-6 compliance typical. No abZ-equivalent approval for preloaded structural connections identified |
| Cure time to full load | 97% or more of design strength at 24 hours (+21°C); full design strength at 7 days. Service load not to be applied before strength is verified. | 3 to 7 days for full design strength (product and temperature dependent) |
| Cost profile | Higher per-litre cost. Lower total installed cost (zero wet-trade delays, immediate loading) | Lower per-bag cost. Higher indirect costs (extended curing, formwork, rework risk) |
| Service temperature | -20°C to +50°C (per abZ Z-3.82-2042) | Up to 90-100°C continuous (product-dependent) |
| Full-surface contact | Yes. 100% void fill; cures bonded to both surfaces | Installation-dependent; settlement and bleed water can create voids under the baseplate |
| Water requirement | None. Two-component polymer system | Water addition required; w/p ratio critical to performance |
Compressive strength, shrinkage, fatigue certification, gap range, and cure time figures for MM1018 are sourced from the official DIAMANT Technical Datasheet (#1866, Version 1.1, dated 14 July 2026). KES can map this data against project-specific design specifications on request.
Cementitious grout compressive strength figures are sourced from SikaGrout GP, SikaGrout 212 HP (Sika Australia), and MasterFlow 928T (Master Builders Solutions) technical datasheets.
Fatigue certification
The decisive factor on
dynamic load applications
While static compressive strength is a widely cited grout specification parameter, it isn’t the governing parameter on cyclic load applications. On a bridge bearing, a rotating equipment foundation, a crane runway, or a wind turbine flange, the governing design case is fatigue: the material must sustain its structural integrity through millions of repeated load cycles without failing.
MM1018 FL was subjected to independent fatigue testing by ibac (Institut für Bauforschung) at RWTH Aachen University, sustaining 10 million load cycles at mean stresses of 40, 50, and 60 N/mm², with no visible damage or cracking observed. For context, EN 1993-1-9 sets the constant-amplitude fatigue limit for structural steel at 5 million cycles.
On current review of published manufacturer datasheets in the Australian market, KES has not identified a cementitious non-shrink grout with equivalent published third-party fatigue certification at this duration. For engineers who require a documented basis for dynamic loads, MM1018 is the only material in this category that provides one.
Application guide
When to
specify which
Standard Scenarios for Cementitious Grout
High-quality cementitious grout remains the correct, cost-effective specification for:
- Static gravity loads: Where cyclic fatigue and precision tolerances are not design factors.
- Large-volume bulk infills: Where the gap profile exceeds the 140mm maximum tested layer of MM1018.
- High-temperature environments: Where continuous exposure exceeds MM1018's +50°C
High-Demand Scenarios for MM1018 Liquid Shim
MM1018 is specified over non-shrink cementitious grout in the following cases:
- Structural steel in seismic/wind-dynamic zones: Column baseplates subject to repeated lateral or uplift cycling benefit from MM1018's zero-shrinkage load path.
- Bridge Bearings: Traffic loading is inherently cyclic. MM1018 ensures a 100% load-bearing connection that matches the 100-year design life of the structure.
- Heavy Rotating Equipment Foundations: Pumps, generators, compressors, and crushers generate sustained vibration. MM1018 delivers a strength of 161 N/mm2 under cyclic compression.
- Crane Runway Rails: Repeated heavy wheel passes create pure fatigue. MM1018 prevents the rail seat degradation commonly seen with standard mortars.
- Precast & Modular Interfaces: When speed is critical, MM1018 reaches 97% or more of design strength at 24 hours (+21°C), eliminating the wet-trade delays associated with a cementitious cure.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Non-shrink grouts typically use expansive agents (such as aluminum powder) that cause the material to swell slightly while wet to compensate for the natural shrinkage of the curing cement.
However, once cured, micro-shrinkage and aggregate settlement still occur, leaving voids directly beneath the steel plate. MM1018 is a polymer that cures with virtually zero shrinkage (0.035% under DIN EN 12617-4:2002).
This is because curing results from an exothermic chemical reaction between the resin and the hardener, not from the hydration of cement. Hydration-based cementitious grout typically needs 3-7 days to reach design strength at 20-25°C, and MM1018 FL reaches 97% or more of design strength at 24 hours (+21°C) and full design strength at 7 days.
Yes. MM1018 FL can be poured into open cavities to close gaps, but for precision baseplates and structural connections, it is injected. Using MM1018 SEAL and dedicated injection packers, the liquid shim is injected from the lowest point upwards, actively displacing air to achieve a void-free, 100% contact interface.
Engineering authority,
Australian support.
Moving from cementitious grout to MM1018 will affect how the interface is designed, how work is sequenced on site, what gets inspected, and the evidence an asset owner needs. If those pieces are not engineered together, the risk simply moves from the grout bed to the engineer’s desk.
Helping you mitigate that risk is Kubri Engineered Solutions, Australia’s dedicated technical authority for liquid shim technology.
Kubri Engineered Solutions is the Australian partner for DIAMANT Polymer GmbH, manufacturer of MM1018 The Liquid-Shim®, and holds exclusive technical partnerships with globally recognised manufacturers, including Maurer (expansion joints, structural bearings), Panacor (noise barriers, fire protection walls), and EarthTec (reinforced retaining walls).
KES supports your specification by supplying a complete engineering support package:
Design Support:
Interface review and product-variant selection (FL, P, or Smart S) matched to the gap geometry.
Installation Methodology:
Preparation of method statements covering sealing, injection layout, and QA checkpoints.
Interface Control:
Specification of the complete system, including MM1018 SEAL and dedicated injection hardware.
Documentation:
Provision of material certification, batch traceability, and abZ approval documentation formatted for ITPs and asset registers.
Founded by Loai Shokry, a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) with a career spanning the design and delivery of multi-billion-dollar infrastructure projects in Australia and worldwide, Kubri Engineered Solutions is a specification and engineering partner, not just a product distributor.
For a full technical overview of liquid shim technology and applications,
visit the Liquid Shim Australia resource centre.
Talk to a KES engineer
Send us your connection details. A KES engineer will respond within one business day with the correct product selection and the next steps on installation methodology. Final product selection and specification remain subject to engineer-of-record approval for your project.