Chemistry:Sealant

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Sealant is a substance used to block the passage of fluids through openings in materials,[1] a type of mechanical seal. In building construction sealant is sometimes synonymous with caulk (especially if acrylic latex or polyurethane based)[2] and also serve the purposes of blocking dust, sound and heat transmission. Sealants may be weak or strong, flexible or rigid, permanent or temporary. Sealants are not adhesives but some have adhesive qualities and are called adhesive-sealants or structural sealants.

History

Sealants were first used in prehistory in the broadest sense as mud, grass and reeds to seal dwellings from the weather[3] such as the daub in wattle and daub and thatching. Natural sealants and adhesive-sealants included plant resins such as pine pitch and birch pitch, bitumen, wax, tar, natural gum, clay (mud) mortar, lime mortar, lead, blood and egg. In the 17th century glazing putty was first used to seal window glass made with linseed oil and chalk, later other drying oils were also used to make oil-based putties.[4] In the 1920s, polymers such as acrylic polymers, butyl polymers and silicone polymers were first developed and used in sealants. By the 1960s, synthetic-polymer-based sealants were widely available.[5]

Function

Sealants, despite not having great strength, convey a number of properties. They seal top structures to the substrate, and are particularly effective in waterproofing processes by keeping moisture out (or in) the components in which they are used. They can provide thermal and acoustical insulation, and may serve as fire barriers.[6][7]

Sealants are frequently used in both interior and exterior construction to provide waterproofing and draughtproofing, while also improving the overall aesthetic finish of a building. Silicone sealants are commonly applied around skirting boards, window glazing, doorframes, and woodwork, owing to their flexibility, to create a neat appearance as well as a durable seal. In addition to standard formulations, manufacturers such as AB Building Products and Soudal offer ranges of coloured silicone sealants designed to meet both practical and aesthetic requirements.[8]

They may have electrical properties, as well. Sealants can also be used for simple smoothing or filling. They are often called upon to perform several of these functions at once.


Soldering or welding can perhaps be used as alternatives in certain instances, depending on the substrates and the relative movement that the substrates will see in service. However, the simplicity and reliability offered by organic elastomers usually make them the clear choice for performing these functions.

Types

A sealant may be viscous material that has little or no flow characteristics and which stay where they are applied; or they can be thin and runny so as to allow it to penetrate the substrate by means of capillary action.

Anaerobic acrylic sealants (generally referred to as impregnants) are the most desirable, as they are required to cure in the absence of air,[9] unlike surface sealants that require air as part of the cure mechanism that changes state to become solid, once applied, and is used to prevent the penetration of air, gas, noise, dust, fire, smoke, or liquid from one location through a barrier into another.

Typically, sealants are used to close small openings that are difficult to shut with other materials, such as concrete, drywall, etc. Desirable properties of sealants include insolubility, corrosion resistance, and adhesion. Uses of sealants vary widely and sealants are used in many industries, for example, construction, automotive and aerospace industries.

Sealants can be categorized in accordance with varying criteria, e. g. in accordance with the reactivity of the product in the ready-to-use condition or on the basis of its mechanical behavior after installation.[10]

Often the intended use or the chemical basis is used to classify sealants, too. A typical classification system for most commonly used sealants is shown below.

Classification of sealants by reactivity and chemistry

Types of sealants fall between the higher-strength, adhesive-derived sealers and coatings at one end, and extremely low-strength putties, waxes, and caulks at the other. Putties and caulks serve only one function – i.e., to take up space and fill voids. Sealants may be based on silicone.

Other common types of sealants:

Common areas of use

  • Automotive industry
  • Architectural
  • Asphalt[12]
  • Pipe threads
  • Aerospace industry[13]
  • Aircraft
  • Aquariums[14]
  • Casting
  • Cement/Concrete
  • Engines
  • Gaskets
  • Glass
  • HVAC systems
  • Hydraulic systems
  • Marine industry
  • Military grade
  • Radiators
  • Reservoirs
  • Roofs
  • Tires
  • Wood[15]

Aerospace sealants

  • Firewall Sealants – a two-component, firewall sealant intended for use as a coating, sealant or filleting material in the construction, repair and maintenance of aircraft and is especially useful where fire resistance, exposure to phosphate ester fluids, and/or exposure to extreme temperatures, −65 °F (−54 °C) to 400 °F (204 °C) are major considerations.[16]
  • Fuel Tank Sealants – High-temperature fuel resistant sealant intended for use on integral fuel tanks with excellent resistance to other fluids such as water, alcohols, synthetic oils and petroleum-based hydraulic fluids[17]
  • Access Door Sealants – Access door sealant intended for use on integral fuel tanks and pressurized cabins with low adhesion characteristics and excellent resistance to other fluids such as water, alcohols, synthetic oils and petroleum based hydraulic fluids.[18]
  • Windshield Sealant – demonstrated to be a useful sealant in a variety of applications where quick setting is desired, for example, windshield sealants, repair caulks, adhesives, etc.[19]

Comparison with adhesives

References

  1. ↑ "Sealant", Oxford English Dictionary Second Edition on CD-ROM (v. 4.0) Oxford University Press 2009
  2. ↑ "How to Choose the Right Caulk or Sealant for Your Next Plumbing Project | Oatey" (in en). https://www.oatey.com/faqs-blog-videos-case-studies/blog/how-to-choose-right-caulk-or-sealant. 
  3. ↑ Klosowski, Jerome M.; Wolf, Anreas T. (2009). "The History of Selants". Handbook of Sealant Technology. CRC Press. p. 4. ISBN 9781420008630. https://books.google.com/books?id=0VJD6MzH9D8C&pg=PA4. Retrieved 2021-04-11. 
  4. ↑ Klosowski, Jerome M.; Wolf, Anreas T. (2009). "The History of Selants". Handbook of Sealant Technology. CRC Press. p. 5. ISBN 9781420008630. https://books.google.com/books?id=0VJD6MzH9D8C&pg=PA5. Retrieved 2021-04-11. 
  5. ↑ Klosowski, Jerome M.; Wolf, Anreas T. (2009). "The History of Selants". Handbook of Sealant Technology. CRC Press. p. 7. ISBN 9781420008630. https://books.google.com/books?id=0VJD6MzH9D8C&pg=PA7. Retrieved 2021-04-11. 
  6. ↑ Slone, Herbert; Fox, Art (March 12, 2018). "Best practices for masonry wall systems and insulation". https://www.constructioncanada.net/best-practices-for-masonry-wall-systems-and-insulation/. 
  7. ↑ Guertin, Mike (28 March 2017). "Building Soundproof Walls". Fine Home Building (266 April/May 2017). https://www.finehomebuilding.com/project-guides/drywall/building-soundproof-walls. Retrieved April 11, 2021. 
  8. ↑ "Rainbow Coloured Silicone Sealant". August 26, 2025. https://rainbowsealants.co.uk/. 
  9. ↑ "Adhesive Bonding". Handbook of Plastics Joining: A Practical Guide (2d ed.). William Andrew. 2008. pp. 145–173. doi:10.1016/B978-0-8155-1581-4.50019-6. ISBN 978-0-8155-1581-4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780815515814500196. Retrieved 2021-04-11. 
  10. ↑ Manfred Pröbster, Industrial Sealants - Fundamentals, selection and applications, Verlag Moderne Industrie 2004
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "5 Sealing Technologies Commonly Used by Manufacturers Today". May 22, 2020. https://roboticsandautomationnews.com/2020/05/22/5-sealing-technologies-commonly-used-by-manufacturers-today/32395/. 
  12. ↑ Roberts, Dormie (March 18, 2021). "Early Season Best Practices for Sealcoating". https://www.forconstructionpros.com/pavement-maintenance/article/21271857/spring-parking-lot-sealcoating-best-practices. 
  13. ↑ "Russian Cosmonauts Take Spacewalk to Check Site of Capsule Leak". December 11, 2018. https://www.voanews.com/science-health/russian-cosmonauts-take-spacewalk-check-site-capsule-leak. 
  14. ↑ World of fresh water : a resource for studying issues of freshwater research. Diane Publishing. 1997. p. 9. ISBN 9781428903814. https://books.google.com/books?id=R-rcYyTdhfcC&pg=SA4-PA9. Retrieved 2021-04-11. 
  15. ↑ Jenkins, Richard (April 8, 2021). "Best Outdoor Wood Sealers Comparison and Buyer's Guide". https://thatpainter.com/best-outdoor-wood-sealers/. 
  16. ↑ "D Aircraft Dapco 18-4F Firewall Sealant | NSL Aerospace" (in en-US). https://nslaerospace.com/products/dapco-18-4f-firewall-sealant/. 
  17. ↑ "WS-8020 Class B Sealant - High Temperature Fuel Tank Sealant | NSL Aerospace" (in en-US). https://nslaerospace.com/products/ws-8020-high-temperature-fuel-tank-sealant/. 
  18. ↑ "WS-8010 Class B Sealants - Aircraft Access Door Sealant PMF | NSL Aerospace" (in en-US). https://nslaerospace.com/products/ws-8010-access-door-sealant/. 
  19. ↑ "Dapco 72 Rapid Curing Windshield Sealant | NSL Aerospace" (in en-US). https://nslaerospace.com/products/dapco-72-rapid-cure-windshield-sealant/. 



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