ABSTRACT

Buildings move while sealants are curing. Daily temperature changes cause especially big movements in the joints formed by metal sheets. The problem could be solved by a two component sealant with an amine curing agent. But the reaction rate of isocyanates with amines is so rapid that the pot life is usually unacceptably short. The solution to this problem is offered by the subject of this chapter, latent hardeners. Invariably their system utilizes a cure by amines which are released when the latent hardener is hydrolyzed. Hence, the curing amine compound (the latent hardener) can be part of a one component sealant.