Neutral silicone sealant: how to choose?

If you choose a sealant for the first time, it is very easy to get confused. In the current stream of a huge number of sources of information and simply useless advertising in the article we will examine all aspects of the topic relating to this choice. First we give its definition, composition, then - its advantages and disadvantages. Also in the article there is a description of brands and their products available on the market, some individual products are considered in more detail.

Neutral silicone sealant is a substance that serves as a means to ensure the tightness of joints or joints, a kind of glue. This product was invented in the 60s – 70s of the 20th century in the USA.The most widely spread it was in America and Canada because of the specific methods of construction of this region. Nowadays, it is indispensable in many areas.

All silicone sealants have a similar composition, which only sometimes may change slightly. The basis is always the same - only the color or additional properties change. Choosing this product, of course, it is necessary to pay great attention to its additional properties based on the purpose of the application.

The main components are as follows:

• rubber;
• coupling activator;
• a substance that is responsible for elasticity;
• substance converter;
• colorants;
• adhesion fillers;
• antifungal agent.

Like all construction materials ever invented by mankind, silicone sealant has its advantages and disadvantages.

Among the advantages should be noted:

• maintains temperatures from -50 ℃ to unreal +300 ℃;
• material is quite resistant to various external influences;
• not afraid of damp, mold and mildew;
• It has various color variations, in addition, a transparent (colorless) version is produced.

The disadvantages are much less:

• there are problems with staining;
• do not apply on a wet surface.

As noted earlier, this material is used to perform work on the insulation of joints or seams. Work using this product can be performed both indoors and outdoors. It is used for domestic as well as industrial purposes, for example, the brand Loctite, whose products we consider below.

The main areas of application are as follows:

• sealing joints of window frames both inside and outside the room;
• seal of seams of drainpipes;
• used when laying the roof;
• filling of seams on furniture and window sills;
• installation of mirrors;
• plumbing installation;
• sealing the junction of the bathtub and the sinks to the walls.

In order to correctly select a product, it is necessary to understand exactly where this material will be used, as well as what properties, basic or additional, it must possess.

The main factors for determining the correctness of the characteristics that form the final result - a successful purchase:

• it is necessary to determine the color solution — dark colors can be used to seal the joints in the floor covering, for example, gray;
• special attention should be paid to the fact that for the seams of surfaces with a high risk of fire, it is better to use a fire-resistant sealant (“Siloterm”);
• if repairs are planned in the bathroom, the white color of the seal is ideal for this. In such rooms, due to humidity, the fungus often multiplies, which causes the appearance of mold in the joints of the shower stall or other joints - use the sanitary look of the product.

Of course, today there is a very large number of companies and brands that manufacture silicone sealant on the market. To simplify the selection and save time, we will present the most popular ones. Some of them have narrower applications, such as, for example, flame retardant sealant.

The most common brands are:

• Loctite;
• "Siloterm";
• "Moment";
• Ceresit;
• Ciki-Fix.

One of the most reliable manufacturers supplying high quality products is Loctite. The sealants of this company are genuine German quality,since she herself is a division of the concern Henkel Group. The product of this manufacturer has a wider use in various types of industry.

A worthy representative of Russia in the market of protective coatings is products that are manufactured under the brand name "Siloterm". The main product names of this company are “Siloterm” EP 120 and EP 71, these are high-temperature sealants. That is why the main areas of use are: fireproof insulation or cable sealing at the entrance to junction boxes. Deliveries of sealant of this manufacturer are possible both in buckets and disposable tubes.

The range of the company:

• silicone flame retardant materials;
• silicone heat-conducting and dielectric materials;
• sealed cable penetrations and more.

Moment is a Russian brand. He owns all the same German concern Henkel Group. On the territory of the Russian Federation, production is represented by a household chemicals plant (Leningrad Region). The main products are glue and sealant. The company supplies products in 85 ml tubes and 300 ml and 280 ml cartridges.

The range of this brand:

• contact adhesive;
• glue for wood;
• polyurethane foam;
• wallpaper glue;

• adhesive tapes;
• office glue;
• Super glue;
• tile products;
• epoxy adhesive;
• sealants;
• construction adhesive;
• alkaline batteries.

Sealants "Moment":

• restorer of seams;
• silicone universal;
• sanitary;
• for windows and glass;
• neutral universal;
• neutral building;
• for aquariums;
• for mirrors;
• silicatec - protection against mold 5 years;
• high temperature;
• bituminous;
• frost-resistant.

Another representative of the concern Henkel Group is Ceresit. The company that created this brand was founded in 1906 under the name Dattelner Bitumenwerke. And in 1908 she produced the first sealant of this brand. After almost 80 years, Henkel has bought the brand. The company's product line includes materials for cladding, flooring, paint, waterproofing, sealing, etc.

The range of sealants:

• universal polyurethane;
• acrylic;
• sanitary silicone;
• universal silicone;
• glass sealant;
• elastic sealant;
• heat resistant;
• highly elastic;
• bituminous.

Packaging - 280 ml or 300 ml.

The most economical solution in terms of price is Ciki-Fix sealant. Application - various minor construction and repair work. Area of ​​use - external and internal work. Colors - white and transparent. Quality conforms to European standards. Packaging - a cartridge with a volume of 280 ml.

First you need to prepare the surface for the application: cleaned of dust, moisture and grease.

The most convenient way to apply a compactor is using a syringe:

• open sealant;
• cut the nose of the tube;
• insert the tube into the gun;
• You can limit the scope of the required application of sealant masking tape.

How to make a neat silicone seam, see the following video.