Silicone adhesives and sealants have been used in the construction industry for decades. They can be used for a wide range of purposes because they are so flexible. For example, they can be used as weatherproofing agents, bonding agents, sealers and gap fillers, and as part of an industrial assembly line. They can be used by professionals or by DIY enthusiasts.
Why are they so popular?
There are several factors that explain why silicone sealants are so popular and useful.
Durability
One important property is their durability. They are extremely hard-wearing and able to withstand extremes of temperature and weather. Once a strong chemical bond is formed to the substrate, it will remain functional for a long time no matter what extremes of weather or other environmental factors it is exposed to. This makes silicone a very useful sealant in the construction industry because it is resistant to heat, cold, water, sunlight and even a certain amount of chemical pollution. It doesn’t absorb water, but it is very gas permeable.
Even exposure to very strong sunlight, corrosive gases like sulphur dioxide or nitrogen oxides, and mechanical stress will result in very little weathering of the sealant over the years. Because silicone adhesives and sealants are so durable, they last for a very long time and do not have to be replaced nearly as often as organic sealants. The Dow Corning website offers a more detailed explanation of the chemical properties of these sealants.
Ease of application
Silicone adhesives and sealants can be applied in a variety of ways, depending on how you wish to use them. Some come in the form of a thick paste to be manually applied, while others are more liquid and flow better. Some are single-component versions, and others are multi-component versions that need to be mixed as close to the time of use as possible. Companies like www.ct1ltd.com, for example, stock a wide range of different silicone adhesives and sealants.
Range of application
Sealants made from silicone are in use across the construction industry. They can be used to seal building and road expansion joints, weatherproof substrates, or seal joints around pipes, conduits or ducts. They are often found in bathrooms or kitchens forming sanitary joints around electrical fixtures. They are also used in glazing seals.
