Industrial Silicone Sealants and their applications
The hardware market offers a variety of industrial silicone sealants. Silicone sealants from different brands and silicone sealants of various types are available in the market. This increased offering of different kinds of silicone sealants increases the scope of choice and one can choose a sealant that best fits his purpose.
Before understanding which silicone sealant to use when let’s understand.
Why is silicone sealant used?
The primary purpose behind applying silicone sealant is to fill the unwanted gaps existing in the structure.
In the construction process, the mating of two substrates leaves a tiny opening at the point of unison, eg: installing a door, mounting a window, laying tiles and more.
In those gaps, silicone sealant is applied as a precautionary measure to avoid harmful intrusion.
Applying silicone sealant prevents water, fungus, air, acid and other harmful substances from entering the structure.
Skipping the application of silicone sealant may lead to deterioration of the structure as the space is left unguarded from damaging substances.
What is Silicone Sealant?
Silicone sealant is a visco-elastic substance with a gel-like consistency. The formulation of silicone sealant is done with polymer molecules. Thus, the application of silicone sealant makes the space airtight and watertight.
Among the vast category of sealants available in the market. Silicone Sealants are the most commonly used type of sealants.
One of the popular reasons for choosing silicone sealant is the curing time of silicone sealant. For those who are new to the industry, curing time means the time taken by the produced seal to dry completely.
Silicone sealants are quick dry, drying in between 40 mins to 2 hrs. The curing time varies depending upon the type of silicone sealant used in the application process.
In addition to the quick curing time, silicone sealants don’t need any extra measure or effort to cure like other sealants do eg: thermal curing, heat curing, UV curing, etc. Silicone sealant cures naturally left untouched at room temperature.
The popularity of silicone sealants for construction purposes is due to their fast-curing characteristic. In the construction industry, most of the time special care cannot be provided for curing sealants.
The outdoor construction like curtain walls, facade, laying entrance, installing rooftops and more require a sealant that dries quickly and gets ready instantly to provide protection against adverse weather conditions.
For Construction Purposes there are ranges of silicone sealants available in the market. To choose the right industrial silicone sealant for the right application, continue reading.
1. Range: Neutral Silicone Sealants
The silicone sealants falling under this category usually don’t need any kind of pre-preparation before being applied and work excellently on ceramic, granite, marble, glass and other smooth substrates.
Neutral Silicone Sealants have a very mild to no odour. It doesn’t react to water and thus doesn’t turn yellow over time.
Such properties of Neutral Silicone Sealant make them a perfect choice for Interior Decor fittings and Sanitary Fitting Purposes.
Application of Neutral Silicone Sealants:
-For modular kitchen cabinets
– Fixing sanitaryware as commode, tubs, sinks and more
– For art installations like statues, ceramic frames, glass tabletops, etc.
– Filling gaps existing among tiles
– Mounting of designer mirrors
2. Range: Weather Silicone Sealants
This range of silicone sealants is developed to be resistant to adverse weather conditions. Weather Silicone Sealants are considered to be engineering-grade silicone sealants.
Due to their adverse weather bearing capacity, weather silicone sealants are popularly used for outdoor purposes.
Weather silicone sealants for construction are mainly used in building curtain walls and facades.
In addition to the excellent weather resistance against UV Rays, rain and storm, it also cures quickly and protects the structure from adverse calamities.
Application of Weather Silicone Sealants:
– Building Facade
– Building Curtain Wall
– Installing Rooftops
– Installation of solar panels
– Filling cracks appearing on the exterior side of the wall
3 Range: HYB Silicone Sealants
This range of silicone sealants is specially developed for Industrial purposes. HYB Silicone Sealants are used in large-scale construction as they are developed using SMP (Silyl-modified polymers) Technology.
Usage of this technology offers HYB Silicone Sealants a fast build and high strength in comparison to other types of silicone sealants.
They cure quickly on all surfaces including some wet surfaces. These sealants are not only weatherproof but also resistant against various types of chemicals.
HYB Silicone Sealants for construction usage are used in glazing large vehicles, in buildings and much more.
HYB Silicone sealants are engineering-grade silicone sealants and are used by the majority of builders and engineers.
Application of HYB Silicone Sealants:
– For Automotive purposes Silicone Sealant is used in glazing large vehicles like trucks, buses and cars.
– Used in filling gaps between the facade
– Building Curtain Wall
– Glazing of marine vehicles like boats, ships and submarines
– Used in the construction of artificial and designer brick wall
Neutral Silicone Sealants, Weather Silicone Sealants and HYB Silicone Sealants are mainly considered to be Industrial Silicone Sealants.
Industrial Silicone Sealants is a category of silicone sealants used mainly for construction.
Apart from places of application, at times silicone sealants are selected depending on the material and surface they are to be used on.
Guide to selecting silicone sealant depending upon the material:
This guide will help you understand the compatibility of the sealant with the below-mentioned surfaces.
1. Porous Substrates:
Porous substrates usually consist of materials coming with a large number of pores like wood and laminates.
These substrates usually don’t need high final strength and thus on such materials, any sealant from the Neutral Silicone Category can be used.
2. Concrete:
Concrete is majorly used in large-scale construction like buildings, bridges and other infrastructural-related structures.
Such construction joints require high final strength and thus HYB Silicone Sealants should be used.
3. Ceramic:
Ceramic is a polished material that is prone to stains. On such surfaces neutral silicone sealants should be used, they don’t leave stain marks and are specifically developed for surfaces like ceramic and marble.
4. Metal
Metal is a material that is used outdoors in paneling, rooftops, grill and more. Such places are exposed to adverse weather conditions.
Thus on such surfaces, Weather Silicone Sealants should be used.
The points mentioned above will be there to guide you through the unending offerings of silicone sealants in the market.
If you are a builder, engineer or silicone sealant wholesaler in the need of a trustworthy brand to deliver high-quality Industrial Silicone Sealants, visit Bondzil.