People with expertise in industrial setting background or with deeper roots in DIY crafts know a lot about silicon sealants. They are extremely versatile, strong adhesives that can be used on plenty of products, with unique properties that makes them one of a kind. However, for all those who are looking to use a silicone sealant, this article will emphasize the basic things to know before buying a silicon sealant.
What Is Silicone Sealant?
Silicon sealant is a liquid based adhesive that feels more like a gel. Silicon sealant and other silicon based adhesive exhibit a similar nature in the consistency and the appearance as their chemical structure is more or less the same. However, unlike other organic adhesives, silicon sealants have unique properties. The features that makes them a great choice for their use is their ability to maintain their elasticity at both low and higher temperatures. They are also resistant to most of the external factors such as shocks, moisture, weathering etc.
Unlike other natural adhesives, silicon sealants must be cured. Curing refers to the process of letting the adhesive set and dry to touch. Silicon curing is not a difficulty process: It is a simple process that requires a lot of patience. Silicon curing can take up from anywhere between a few minutes to hours: All of which depends on the thickness of the coat. However, the curing time is also affected by external factors like humidity (which needs to be anywhere between 5% and 95%) and proper ambient temperature.
Why use a Silicone Sealant and Who is the product for?
It is more than likely that one has come across any aspect of silicon sealant at some point of their lives: Be it be a glass held together in an aquarium or a tube that you usually find a hardware store. Silicone sealants are extremely durable because of their ability to maintain consistency at extreme temperatures and being able to resist the effects of external factors such as moisture, weathering etc.
One of the most practical applications of silicon sealants is to carry out basic repair works in and around the house. They can be used for fixing a gap in glass or for filling in gaps. Many use silicon sealants to level any surface in homes. Also due to its ability to resist moisture, they are used in sinks and also at places where water is usually found.
Adhesives that are being used for construction purposes need to be capable of bearing weight seals. Silicon sealants are not capable of doing so, but still manages to find its place in construction applications. Silicon sealants can hold a variety of materials such as glass, wood and metal together, which makes them a great supporting agent in construction applications. One of the important applications as such is the process of making glass windows weather resistant. In order to do so, the glasses are sealed with silicon sealants.