Small materials play a big role, sealant cannot be ignored in decoration

Sealant, as the name suggests, is a sealing material. Its most special feature is its "sealing" performance. Sealants may be inconspicuous, but they play an important role in renovations. As a frequently used auxiliary material for home decoration, there are many types of sealants, which are widely used in bonding, caulking, and joints between various types of glass doors and windows, cabinets, ceramic sanitary ware, interior and exterior walls, and other base materials.

According to the main material composition, sealants can be divided into: polyurethane sealant, silicone sealant, polysulfide sealant, acrylic sealant, polyurethane sealant, modified silicone sealant, etc. Let’s take a look at the characteristics and uses of various types of sealants.

1. Silicone sealant

Silicone sealants are most common in residential renovations. Generally speaking, waterproof and mildew-proof silicone sealants should be used in places with water. For example, if used in relatively humid places such as shower rooms, bathtubs, toilets, and kitchen sinks, they will prevent mold. For other places, use neutral silicone sealant, such as caulking of doors and windows. Due to its good UV resistance, excellent aging resistance, anti-displacement ability, elastic recovery ability and excellent adhesion to commonly used curtain wall materials, silicone sealant is the preferred bonding sealing material in the curtain wall door and window industry.

2. Polyurethane sealant

Polyurethane sealant can only be used for structural bonding and joint sealing of non-glass curtain walls. This kind of sealant has the characteristics of high strength, good elasticity, stable bonding, tear resistance, wear resistance, and puncture resistance, but it is not resistant to UV aging. After long-term UV irradiation, cracks will appear on its surface. Therefore, it is mostly used in sealant joints that are not exposed to sunlight (sealing of internal joints in buildings).

3. Polysulfide sealant

Polysulfide sealant has good air tightness, but it is not resistant to UV aging, hardens after aging, and does not stick to glass. Therefore, it is mainly used for secondary sealing of insulating glass for doors, windows and exposed frame curtain walls. It is prohibited to use it when the temperature difference is large. Use in large occasions or places exposed to sunlight. In situations where the temperature difference is large, it is recommended to use silicone structural adhesive for the secondary sealing of insulating glass.

4. Acrylic sealant

The comprehensive performance of acrylic sealant is average. Its elongation is medium, the displacement capacity is not high, and the aging resistance is not as good as silicone sealant. Therefore, it is currently less used in the construction field. In many places where acrylic sealant can be used, people are more willing to use silicone. Sealant. It is mainly used for sealing and mounting of window openings, window frames and window glass, sealing of deformation joints in concrete building roofs and walls (sealing of joints inside the building), and can also be used as an anti-mold sealant (it does not grow mold itself or can inhibit mold). growing sealant) etc.

5. Modified silicone sealant

Modified silicone sealant (MS sealant, also known as silicone modified polyether sealant) has been developed in recent years and is widely used in home decoration because of its superior performance. Modified silicone sealant has the advantages of both silicone sealant and polyurethane sealant. It has ultra-high resistance to deformation and displacement, good adhesion, finishability, environmental friendliness, low contamination, low viscosity and excellent workability. Etc. Its aging resistance is not as good as silicone sealant, but it is worse than other types of sealants, and its adhesion, environmental protection and mildew resistance are better than silicone sealant. Modified silicone sealant can not only be used to bond glass like glass sealant, but can also be used to seal windows, sinks, toilets, etc., and can also be used to install baseboards, towel racks, floors, etc.

When decorating, you can make targeted choices based on different usage scenarios. There are many types of sealants in the waterproof market, and they all look similar, but there is a lot of knowledge inside. If you choose incorrectly, water leakage, or the sealantd parts will become yellow and moldy, etc. A small sealant, but a big power. Don’t realize the importance of sealants until one day you find that the corners and joints in your kitchen, bathroom, etc. are yellowing and moldy.