Silicone sealant: pluses and minuses
Siliconised sealant has many advantages, because it is so often used in construction. It is resistant to UV radiation, moisture, sharp temperature changes, to various aggressive environments. At the same time, it has high elasticity, excellent adhesion, strength, durability. Undeniable advantage is its low price and ease of application.
Among the shortcomings can be identified the following: clean sealant( without any impurities and additives) do not paint, it should not be applied to damp surfaces, and it has poor adhesion in the joints with any plastic( PVC, polypropylene, polycarbonate), hardening of the sealantIt slows down at high humidity and low temperature. Therefore, observe the operating conditions.
Note! Do not buy suspicious origin, which may have a similar packaging and a lower cost. Most of the solvent is added to these mixtures. As a result, the seams can be leaky, quickly cracked.
Silicone, sealer: scope of application
Most often on each package is written the scope and specifications of silicone sealant. For example, for this or that type of work there may be designations: "electrical insulation", "universal", "automotive", "heat-resistant", "sanitary"( for showers and bathrooms) and a number of others. It is also worth consulting with a specialist store, since at each place of sale there are often tables on the use of a specific composition.
It is possible conditionally to distinguish 3 areas of use of sealant : for outdoor, for interior works, as well as for rooms with high humidity. External work is the sealing of windows, drainpipes, small parts of the roof, joining the fallen tiles from the stone. Internal - the treatment of any elements that are subject to heat, applied to the ceiling of gypsum boards, seams near the windowsills. In rooms with high humidity, the joints between the wall and the shower, the washbasin, the connection of the glasses are sealed.
The technical characteristics of the of each composition may differ( depending on the scope of application).However, in general, the drying time of the silicone sealant is 2 mm per day, the tensile strength is about 1.2 N / mm2, it is stable at t from -60 to + 300 ° C.The desired temperature at which it is to be used is 5 to 40 ° C.It has a silicone sealant made of a viscous-flow mixture based on low molecular weight rubbers. The remaining properties should be looked at on the package.
Sealant: Application method
Before proceeding to work, carefully study the necessary conditions for this in terms of temperature and humidity. It is also important to make the premise ventilated, and the seams and joints should be prepared for the subsequent application of the sealant. Clean the surface, degrease it with alcohol or acetone. In order for everything to be perfectly even, adjacent areas are pasted with a paint tape, which is then removed.
Next, insert the cartridge into the gun and begin filling. The excess is removed with a lightly moistened spatula. Very often, many ask the question - how much does the silicone sealant dry? The time of vulcanization( "swelling") of this composition is 5-10 minutes. During this period, you need to make a connection or a seam. However, complete solidification takes place 2-4 mm per day. By the way, important information is how to use the gun, because this depends on the correctness of the filling.
