Seal of approval: advances made in silicone sealant technology

摘要

Silicone sealants are widely used in a variety of weatherproofing applications because of their excellent weathering resistance derived from their inherent oxidative and UV stabilities. As a result of these characteristics, they maintain their physical properties over extended periods of time and can be used over a wide range of temperatures. The shortcomings of silicone sealants are found in their tendency to pick up dirt and contribution to staining of porous substrates. Due to their relatively fast cure rate they also tend to have a relatively short tooling time when compared to other sealant chemistries. This article discusses, among other topics, some of the many advances that have been made in silicone sealant technology that has allowed Tremco to minimize these shortcomings without compromising their performance properties.