Sealant for joints is an adhesive and sealing compound for sealing cracks and joints in building structures. It is used to seal gaps indoors and outdoors, as well as in masonry for sealing. Sealants for seams are selected depending on the type of construction work (external or internal), on the characteristics of the surface and operating conditions (temperature changes, humidity, UV radiation).
Types of gaskets
In composition, they are divided into acrylic, polyurethane, silicone, bitumen and others.
Acrylic joint sealant is a plastic mass used for sealing joints in plaster and wood, drywall constructions. Seals handle joints when installing doors and windows, fixing skirting boards, flooring, and also close cracks in furniture and walls. The sealant has a high coefficient of adhesion to porous surfaces (concrete, wood, brick, drywall, plaster). It is recommended to use it for internal work, while avoiding damp rooms and joints of plumbing equipment. Acrylic sealant is flexible, but does not withstand deformation. It has high heat resistance, is resistant to UV rays, environmentally friendly, easy to use. After processing, after 45 minutes, a film forms, and complete hardening occurs in a day. Acrylic sealants are white, but lend themselves to plastering and painting in a different color.
Silicone joint filler is used for repair and
general construction works. Such a joint sealant is the most common. It combines well with almost all materials (except Teflon, polyethylene and silicone), more flexible, heat and weather resistant than acrylic. Sealant can be acidic and neutral. The first is more suitable for working with ceramics, wood and plastic, and the second is applied to anything - foam concrete and wood, wood, brick, plaster, PVC. For the bathroom and toilet should use sealants with antifungal additives that protect against mold.
These aggregates tolerate moisture and heat well, are elastic and retain strength for a long time (up to 20 years).
Polyurethane joint sealant is used for facade work, sealing the foundation and roof, attic glazing, for sealing joints in ventilation systems. It is suitable for gluing joints made of metal, wood, plastic, stone, brick, concrete. Having good adhesion, it is used as a sealant for interpanel seams. The disadvantage is its flammability, it quickly collapses when exposed to UV rays.
The joint sealant foams when squeezed out of the container (the volume increases 30–50 times). Filling the seams is recommended in several steps. Packages (cylinders) are produced with foam for professional and domestic use.
There are sealants with a more specific application. For example, butyls are used for double-glazed windows, since they are vapor permeable, quite flexible, and resistant to UV radiation. They also produce bituminous and thiocol sealants for joints.