Classification of Silicone Sealants

Classification by Composition

• Silicone Sealant: The main component is silicone. It has excellent weather resistance, water resistance, and adhesion. It is suitable for various building sealing and bonding scenarios, such as door and window sealing, and glass curtain wall installation.
• Polyurethane Sealant: It is mainly made from polyurethane. It has good elasticity, high bonding strength, and is resistant to abrasion. It is commonly used in the construction and automotive industries for sealing and bonding, like the installation of automotive windshields.
• Acrylic Sealant: Made from acrylic resin, it has a fast curing speed, good transparency, and water resistance. It is suitable for occasions with high requirements for transparency, such as fish tank making and handicraft bonding.

Classification by Function

• Sealing Sealant: It is mainly used to fill gaps, playing a role in waterproofing, dustproofing, and soundproofing. For example, it is used to seal the joints between sanitary wares and walls or floors in bathrooms and kitchens.
• Structural Sealant: It has a high bonding strength and can withstand large external forces. It is used for the bonding and fixing of structural components, such as the bonding between glass and metal frames in glass curtain walls.
• Weather-resistant Sealant: It has outstanding weather resistance and can resist the erosion of natural environmental factors such as ultraviolet rays, wind, rain, high and low temperatures. It is suitable for the sealing and bonding of outdoor buildings, such as the sealing of cracks in building facades.

Main Components of Silicone Sealants

• Base Polymer: It is the main film-forming substance of the silicone sealant, determining its basic properties. For example, polysiloxane in silicone sealants and polyurethane resin in polyurethane sealants.
• Cross-linking Agent: It causes the base polymer to undergo a cross-linking reaction, forming a three-dimensional network structure, thus enabling the silicone sealant to cure and possess certain strength and stability.
• Filler: Such as calcium carbonate and silica, which can reduce costs and adjust the properties of the silicone sealant, such as increasing hardness and improving thixotropy.
• Plasticizer: It improves the flexibility and elasticity of the silicone sealant, making it less likely to crack in different environments.
• Catalyst: It accelerates the curing reaction of the silicone sealant and shortens the curing time.
• Other Additives: Including coupling agents, anti-aging agents, pigments, etc., which can improve the bonding performance, aging resistance, and appearance of the silicone sealant.

Purchase Considerations for Silicone Sealants

• Based on Application: Select a suitable silicone sealant according to the actual usage scenario. For indoor decoration sealing, a common silicone sealing sealant can be chosen; for structural bonding, a structural sealant is required.
• Packaging Inspection: Pay attention to whether the packaging of the silicone sealant is intact, and check for any leakage or expiration. Generally, the performance of silicone sealants within the shelf life is more stable.

Precautions for Using Silicone Sealants

Before Construction

During Construction

After Construction