Thinset vs Mortar

[Chad.w1ck]

I keep seeing people throwing around polymer modified thinset and polymer modified mortar like they're interchangeable. But then I'll read something else that makes it sound like they're completely different things. So which is it? would a polymer modified thinset be the same as a polymer modified mortar, or am I looking at two separate products here?
And if they're not the same thing, is one preferable over the other for certain applications? I'm doing a bathroom floor with porcelain tile over cement board, and I want to make sure I'm not grabbing the wrong bag at the supply house and setting myself up for problems down the road.
I've been doing this long enough that I should probably know the answer already, but honestly the marketing on these products doesn't help. Half the bags seem to use the terms like they mean the same thing, and the other half act like you're supposed to just know the difference

 

[c0ntractortim]

I keep seeing people throwing around polymer modified thinset and polymer modified mortar like they're interchangeable. But then I'll read something else that makes it sound like they're completely different things. So which is it? would a polymer modified thinset be the same as a polymer modified mortar, or am I looking at two separate products here?

bro, they are basically the same thing! Thinset is the generic name for the cement based adhesive used for tile. Mortar is the technical construction term.
If a bag says Polymer Modified Thinset or Polymer Modified Mortar, it's the good stuff you want for your porcelain floor.
Just check the bag for the ANSI standard like A118.4 or A118.15, this is the real spec that matters

 

[ChicagoDogz]

@Chad.w1ck the comment above is basically right, but here's the quick breakdown for why the confusion exists:
Thinset is the common, generic industry name for the cement based adhesive used for setting tile. Mortar is the broader, technical construction term for a paste used to bind building blocks (bricks, CMU, or tile).
So, Tile Adhesive is a type of Thinset, which is a type of Mortar!

When you see Polymer Modified Thinset or Polymer Modified Mortar on a bag, they are describing the same product, just different terms

 

[dawndusk01]

They are right! People often get confused because the word mortar can also mean mixes used for things like bricks or blocks. When you see polymer modified mortar it usually means thinset made for setting tile.