When carrying out home repairs, as well as in the field of professional construction, you can not do without the use of silicone sealant. This material replaced homemade mastics, bitumen mixtures and all kinds of putties that were previously used for bonding elements, sealing cracks and sealing joints.
Key Features
Waterproof silicone sealant is a dense, viscous mass that is used to seal joints, seal joints, and bond surfaces. The material is able to maintain moisture resistance and protect the structure from external negative factors. Among the ingredients of the described composition, one can distinguish an enhancer, a base, an adhesion primer, vulcanizers and a silicone plasticizer. Silicone rubber acts as the basic component, but the amplifier is designed to give strength by determining thixotropic characteristics, or rather the viscosity level. An adhesion primer is added in order to ensure reliable adhesion of the material to the treated surface. Plasticity is guaranteed by silicone plasticizer, but the vulcanizer is able to convert a pasty shape into a final material that resembles plastic rubber. To expand the scope of use, some manufacturers add dyes and fungicides, as well as mechanical fillers, to the above components. The second ingredient is designed to prevent or eliminate the occurrence of fungi or mold, especially when the sealant is intended to be used in rooms with high humidity. To improve adhesion, mechanical fillers such as sand, glass dust or quartz are added.
Quality characteristics
Waterproof silicone sealant has a rather complex composition, this is what determines the characteristics of the material, namely elasticity, resistance to temperature fluctuations, immunity to aggressive environmental influences, high water resistance, excellent aggressive qualities, as well as the ability to withstand biological attacks of mold and fungus.
If you decide to purchase a waterproof silicone sealant, you should know that it is highly elastic, which allows you to use it when filling cracks and joints, even on movable joints. At the moment of stretching, the fibers of the composition elongate by 90%, which allows the sealant not to be afraid of the displacement of the seam. You can count on high resistance to temperature fluctuations. Thus, it will be possible to operate the product that has been treated with sealant at a temperature range from -50 to +200 degrees. If we are talking about heat-resistant compounds, then they will be able to undergo a temperature that reaches 300 degrees.
Some disadvantages
Water-resistant silicone sealant is not without drawbacks, namely, not every material of the type described is capable of staining, not all compositions have high adhesion with polyethylene, fluoroplastic and carbonate. Among other things, you should be prepared for the fact that applying to wet surfaces may not give a positive result, since sealants are difficult to process such substrates. If there is a desire to eliminate the above disadvantages, then you should choose silicone varieties, they include mechanical fillers and organic substances.
Application area
If you need silicone sealant for the aquarium, then you can purchase it in the appropriate store. However, the area of use of these compounds is very large. They can be used for not only internal but also external work. Thus, they can be used if necessary to seal the seams in the drainpipes. A sealant is simply necessary when sealing joints in the area of window frames and in the process of repairing tiles that are made of stone. This is true for the case when some elements exfoliate from the surface. During the installation of the roof, it may be necessary to seal the joints, as well as sealing the joints. The last statement is true for laying vinyl cladding.
Area of application of the composition indoors
Silicone aquarium sealant can be used with success. However, this is not limited to the area of use of the material indoors. It can be used to seal joints of the floor, ceiling and walls with gypsum plasterboard surfaces. You can close up the seams with this composition on window sills or countertops that are made of artificial or natural stone. The mixture will perfectly cope with sealing parts that are exposed to high temperatures during operation.
Scope in a bathroom
Glass sealant is used in the repair process. This is true when there is a need to mount mirrors inside the bathroom. It may be needed for the installation of plumbing fixtures. Using the described mixture, you can close the adjoining areas, as well as the joints of sewer pipes. During the installation of the cabin, shower or bath, you may need to close up the joints.
Varieties of sealant and rules for use
If you want to buy a sealant, the reviews of which are the most positive, then it is important to know that such compositions are divided into two groups, the first of them is one-component, the second is two-component. One-component ones are the most popular in everyday life; they are sold in tubes as well as in foyle packages. The curing of the material occurs when exposed to air, and the composition reaches full hardness with a thin layer of material in the range from 2 to 15 millimeters. If there is a need for the use of sealant in the industrial sphere, then silicone two-component compound should be preferred. Its solidification occurs at the moment of contact of the catalyst, but there are no restrictions on the thickness. One-component mixtures, depending on the ingredients of the vulcanizing agent, can be divided into neutral and acidic.
Features of Acid Sealant
This mixture releases acetic acid, which can provoke corrosion of zinc, brass, copper, lead and other materials. If you want to buy such a sealant, the price of the mixture will be $ 3 per bottle, the volume of which is equivalent to 300 milliliters. You can recognize such a product by labeling A. Before using such a silicone composition, it is recommended to carry out a test that involves checking whether the surfaces to be joined will react with acid. This is important when working with cement and marble surfaces. Among the ingredients of such materials are carbonate, alkali and lime, which are able to interact with acetic acid.
Features of neutral sealants
If you need silicone sealant for the bath, then you can choose its neutral variety, which is universal and can be used to treat all kinds of surfaces. The role of the curative is alcohol or ketoxime. Such compounds can withstand high temperatures, and high-temperature sealant can be used in the construction of saunas and baths. If you have chosen a colorless silicone sealant of this type, then you can count on high bactericidal activity. But many consumers do not like that such mixtures are somewhat more expensive - for 300 milliliters you will need to pay about $ 7.
On sale you can also find compositions of narrow specialization, some of them are designed to perform specific tasks.
Conclusion
Modern manufacturers offer for sale a wide range of sealants. Thus, motorists will be able to choose for themselves compounds that are designed to repair a car and replace gaskets. This material protects elements from moisture, antifreeze and engine oil. The mixture does not flow at the time of application and is capable of undergoing short-term exposure to impressive temperature. If you need a sealant, the price of which was mentioned above, then you must remember that during application and operation the mixture must be protected from gasoline.