An industrial sealant is a true marvel that can work as an adhesive and a sealant of various materials. Trusted brands, like Masterseal industrial caulking, often produce several types of caulking sealants that work well for different purposes.
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There are five primary types of caulking that handle a variety of industrial applications. Those five types of industrial caulking and their respective uses are discussed below.
Polymer-based sealants
A variety of materials make polymer-based sealants work very well for sealing expansion joints in brickwork, airport runways, bridge joints, and other structures. A polymer sealant could contain:
- Polyester
- Polysulfide
- Polyamide
- Polyurethane
- Vinyl
The sealant typically cures at room or outdoor temperature, but heat and anaerobic curing can speed up the process.
Phenolic sealants
A combination of phenol and formaldehyde typically creates a phenolic caulking sealant that seals joints and creates very strong bonds when used as an adhesive. It is the only sealant available as a powder, film, or liquid.
The sealant is especially noted for resisting high heat and fluctuating temperatures and works very well as an adhesive. Phenolic sealants are often used in the construction industry to seal and bond plywood. The appliance industry also uses phenolic sealants.
Silicone-based sealants
Silicone caulking sealants are highly versatile, affordable, and very strong. For those reasons, it is the most-used industrial sealant and can last between 10 and 20 years.
The caulking compound is watertight and creates a very strong seal. It also resists heat and chemicals, which makes it very useful for a broad range of industrial applications, including glazing to seal structural components and protecting electrical sockets.
Epoxy sealants
Epoxy caulking is very durable and often works very well as an adhesive. Epoxy industrial sealants typically use a resin mixed with a hardener to create a chemical reaction that causes the epoxy sealant to cure and harden. The curing process occurs at room temperature, but you can speed it up by adding heat.
Epoxy sealants work well in marine, automotive, and aviation applications. They also make superior insulators for electronics.
Acrylic sealants
Acrylic industrial sealants are great for filling and sealing spaces to keep foreign particles out of the sealed device. The caulking often is used to seal windows, doorframes, and other domestic structures.
The acrylic contains an acid that triggers a catalytic reaction that enables the sealant to adhere to many surfaces and cure quickly. You can use heat to speed up the curing process.
Industrial caulking sealants can work very well on porous materials, concrete, metal, and just about any other substance that might be used in an industrial application.