Sealants: varieties, features, scope

Sealants - compositions for sealing joints, processing cracks and gaps, gluing surfaces, they are widely used in construction and repair. Varieties of the product are used for indoor and outdoor use.

The main varieties of sealants

Products for sealing vary in composition, purpose, method of application and other parameters:

silicone sealant is based on silicone rubber, designed for work with wood, metal, plastic, glass, ceramic and enameled surfaces;
acrylic is made on the basis of acrylate resins; it is used for processing materials from wood, drywall constructions, concrete and brick structures;
acrylic-latex compounds are often used to seal joints in the installation of ventilation shafts, door and window openings, siding. Excellent adhesion of materials made of glass and wood, relevant in work with painted surfaces, on dry plaster and particleboard;
polyurethane is highly adhesive to a wide range of substrates, including concrete and metal, wood and plastic, ceramics and stone;
bitumen is made from modified bitumen, indispensable in the construction and repair of roofs and facades, and is used for interior work;
rubber is made on the basis of synthetic rubber, has a high level of moisture resistance, as well as the bitumen version of the product, is in demand during external and internal works;
thiocol sealants - also called polysulfide rubber - are made from liquid thiol and a thiol-containing polymer. It is mainly used for sealing structures made of concrete and reinforced concrete;
butyl rubber sealants - the product is characterized by high insulation properties, exhibits adhesion to various building materials, is relevant when sealing and gluing concrete, metal and wooden structures, for working with glass and polymers.

Before buying a sealant, it is necessary to carefully study the current catalog with the characteristics of the products and choose the suitable variety for the upcoming construction and repair work.

Acrylic composition: varieties and applications

The product is mainly intended for internal work, according to the composition there are 2 subgroups:

non-waterproof acrylic based sealants. Environmentally friendly material, relevant when working on exceptionally dry surfaces;
waterproof version of acrylic sealant. The product comfortably tolerates temperature fluctuations, is common in the arrangement of the bathroom and kitchen.

After complete drying, acrylic sealants are coated with an acrylic-based coloring compound.

Silicone adhesive sealant: properties and application features

Material for indoor and outdoor use, is very successful in the market of building resources in comparison with the acrylic version of the product. Silicone sealant is especially in demand when mounting doors, window blocks, metal structures. There are 2 subtypes of silicone-based sealants:

with vinegar hardener. The material is in demand in the arrangement of premises where strict sanitary requirements are provided;
silicone sealants with a neutral composition. They are most often used for processing metal and glass planes.

The silicone composition is applied to the dry and fat-free surface of the base, the setting time is 30 minutes, the period of complete drying is 24 hours. A brief overview of the advantages and disadvantages of products:

high resistance to deformation, flexibility;
durability - up to 20 years;
excellent properties of resistance to UV rays, moisture;
resistance to climatic changes - maintains a temperature range from -50 ° C and to + 200 ° C;
the product is not suitable for waterproofing plastic, it is not used on wet substrates.

Silicone sealant is not painted, the product is available in various colors, which allows you to choose the option for the design of the processed surface.

Polyurethane Composition: Feature Overview

The material is characterized by high adhesion to most types of building and finishing resources. The product is used as a sealing and adhesive substance, due to the excellent properties of elasticity and durability, it is able to withstand significant mechanical stresses. The operating temperature of the application is up to -10 ° C, it is operated under climatic conditions in the range from -60 ° C to + 80 ° C. The polyurethane type of sealant is able to harden under the influence of water, which allows the composition to be used to eliminate leaks of a different nature. Also, the material is worthy of attention as a quality resource in the construction and repair of the facade system. The main disadvantage of polyurethane adhesive sealant is the presence of harmful components in the composition. Varieties of sealants have a different consistency, are available in the form of a solution, paste, tape with double-sided protective paper. When choosing a material for sealing surfaces, it is necessary to take into account the structural properties and operational characteristics of the product.