If you’re not familiar with silicone adhesive sealants, you may want to look around you as they are more than just sophisticated glue. They play an important role in thousands of products and determine the way materials can be used together. Used in such items as floor tiles and skyscrapers, basic labels and airplanes, a silicone adhesive sealant is designed to make our lives more comfortable, safer and more secure.
Use of Silicone in Adhesives
Silicone is used in adhesives for their versatility. The chemical structure of silicone enables the material to be used for permanent or temporary adhesion or bonding materials together with enormous power or exceptional lightness. Silicone also can bind together materials that are often difficult to join such as metal, stone, and glass. Silicone technology enables the right formulation to match the characteristics of the needed bond.
For example, the bond needs to be strong and permanent for machines or masonry but softer and gentler in specialty tapes and patches for medical devices. Regardless of the application, the bond needs to be reliable.
Benefits of a Silicone Adhesive Sealant
One of the main advantages of a silicone adhesive sealant is its performance over the long term. Unlike many other materials, silicone does not become brittle, and the adhesive properties do not weaken with exposure to ultraviolet radiation or moisture. Also, mechanical properties, such as tensile strength and elasticity, remain the same even at extremely low and extremely high temperatures.
A silicone adhesive sealant is also water resistant as it blocks the passage of water and other liquids. This makes it valuable for many leisure applications such as nautical electronic equipment and underwater respiratory devices. A silicone adhesive sealant is often used in swimming pools to ensure that leaks will not occur.
Water damage is also a major problem for buildings of all types, from residential to commercial and industrial. Silicone adhesive sealants provide a durable and long-lasting watertight seal that can reduce the cost of repairs and maintenance and help offset the depreciation of buildings due to water decay, corrosion, and deterioration.
From health care to construction, furniture, machinery and food stuff, silicone adhesive sealants are pervasive in our everyday lives.
Engineered Materials, Inc. offers a range of sealant products and industrial adhesives to meet a multitude of requirements and applications. With sealants in a full range of materials, the company provides solutions for numerous bonding requirements. For more information about their products and services, visit their website.
