ABSTRACT
Silicones are the fastest-growing segment of the sealant industry and are used in a wide variety of applications. Within the generic classification of silicones are many kinds of materials. Users and specifiers of silicone sealants should be aware of the similarities and differences and what differences to look for when choosing a silicone. This chapter shows the scientific basis for many of the performance claims made by the silicone manufacturers. The silane really does improve the adhesion, but it does little else. The longevity, durability, heat stability, and cold-temperature flexibility remains unchanged. Thus a siliconized butyl is just a butyl. A siliconized acrylic is just an acrylic. The silicone polymer gives the sealant its special characteristics. The weatherometry correlations are no longer considered correct, but actual 20-year data shows the true silicone sealant is still close to its original properties.
