UNDERSTANDING SILICONE SEALANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION

Sealants play a crucial role in building and residential design. They prevent the infiltration of moisture and air, so selecting the appropriate sealant for a specific application is vital. Nevertheless, given the wide range of sealants available on the market-each with distinct chemical and physical characteristics-keeping track of all options can be challenging.
Discover more details about silicone sealants, including their applications, benefits, and drawbacks.

 

SILICONE SEALANT FORMULATIONS AND USES

Silicone sealants designed for construction purposes are formulated to cure with the help of moisture. The speed at which they cure is influenced by three key factors:

- Temperature

- Humidity

- The position of moisture within the system

In particular, one-part silicone sealants come in two main types: acetoxy and neutral systems, each with related subcategories. Regardless of their type, both cure through a reaction with moisture.

 

SILICONE SEALANT ADVANTAGES

Silicone sealants boast numerous advantages, such as:

- Resistance to UV radiation

- Stability in color

- Ability to adhere to a wide range of construction surfaces

- Outstanding capacity to accommodate high levels of movement

- Tolerance to extreme temperatures

- Excellent workability

Because of these properties, they are a flexible and adaptable choice for numerous construction projects.

 

SILICONE SEALANT LIMITATION

Although silicone sealants perform well in many construction scenarios, it is important to be aware of their limitations before choosing them for a project. These limitations include:

- Tendency to retain surface dirt due to static electricity

- Generally not paintable (especially for high-quality silicone products)

- Potential need for primers on certain surfaces

- Relatively low tear and abrasion resistance

 

Bostik provides intelligent silicone sealants that exhibit strong resistance to:

- Weathering effects

- Mold growth

- UV light

- Water

- Cyclic movement of dynamic building joints

These sealants offer excellent workability for building, construction, and glazing joints, along with an exceptionally high ability to accommodate movement.