2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-24 22:24
- The main types of sealants for modern PVC windows
- Silicone sealants
- Acrylic and polyacrylic sealants
- Polymer adhesives and sealants based on PVC
- Advantages and disadvantages of each type of sealant
- Acrylic and polyacrylic
- Silicone sealants
- Polymer adhesives and sealants based on PVC
When installing modern glazing, it is important to use not only high-quality materials for the production of window frames and fasteners, but also to use specialized sealants. Asking the question - which sealant is better, it is worth considering not only the main types of this material, but also to understand in detail the proposals from global manufacturers. This will allow you to get a much better solution and form the best technical developments in a single glass unit or glazing option.
The specifics of the operation of modern plastic and wooden windows should also be taken into account, which must withstand high-quality changes in temperature conditions and form optimal solutions for the operation of windows at low and high temperatures. Using a modern sealant, the use of which will significantly improve the performance of thermal conductivity and resistance to high humidity.
The main types of sealants for modern PVC windows
Today it is customary to separate sealants for windows, according to the location of the seam and the applied material, namely:
- for interior work;
- for external work.
Taking this into account, the temperature of their use and the features of operation at significant humidity are formed.
Also today, 3 main types of sealant are used, according to the composition of the material, namely:
- silicone;
- acrylic and polyacrylic;
- polymer and epoxy.
This division allows you to obtain the required formula for each type of glazing. In these categories "window sealant" have their own technical features and, taking into account them, form the best technical parameters or indicators, in each case.
Silicone sealants
This option is most common when installing glazing. Since silicone sealants have increased strength and with the use of special additives, they are able to withstand significant temperature drops, during the day or the entire life of PVC glazing.
Here you can highlight the sanitary silicone sealant. It avoids the appearance of fungus on the surface of the resulting seam and does not affect the design features of both the plastic profile and wooden double-glazed windows.
Silicone types of sealants make it possible to obtain glazing in especially humid rooms, forming the required protection inside with a constantly positive temperature. They allow not to let the accumulated steam pass through and to give an even distribution of the temperature regime over all structures. For this, they can be used in the places of assembly seams, for additional sealing.
Perhaps the most commonly used is a transparent silicone sealant.
Acrylic and polyacrylic sealants
This type of sealant has replaced window putty, which was previously used for sealing glass. This option will be a solution for finishing window openings, where additional sealing of assembly seams with subsequent painting is required. This kind of solution allows you to create a movable structure with thermal expansion. At the same time, moisture will not penetrate into the internal structures and installed profiles, along the entire perimeter of the window opening.
The main difference between acrylic sealant and silicone sealant is that it can be painted with paints.
The main disadvantage of acrylic sealants is that they are not waterproof and begin to dissolve upon constant contact with water. Taking into account this specificity, this sealant is not suitable for wet rooms during finishing and is not recommended for use. Since moisture will enter the joints of interior decoration materials and can cause mold and rotting of other materials.
Polymer adhesives and sealants based on PVC
Professional adhesive solution. Its basis is a liquid structured mtarial, based on a PVC formula, when solidified, it forms similar properties as made plastic profiles. Its use will make it possible to replace even the best silicone sealant when it comes to gluing and combining individual elements into a single structure. It allows you to obtain perfectly strong abutment nodes. Also, this solution will allow you to repair and restore the technical parameters of plastic glazing.
The use of this sealant allows you to restore damaged areas of flat glazing or additionally strengthen the structure by creating stiffeners. This is especially true when forming wide window spans, with a significant type of glazing.
When naming a good sealant for windows, it is worth considering the specifics of the operation of the room and the design features of the plastic frames. This will make it possible to perform in more detail the docking of different technical parameters and materials. A single working formula will be created for both glass and plastic. The total characteristic, in terms of resistance to moisture penetration, will be acceptable. This will make it possible to improve in the complex all the technical indicators for the installed windows.
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Advantages and disadvantages of each type of sealant
When choosing a sealant for finishing glazing and forming a reliable waterproofing layer, it is worth choosing not just a good glue sealant, but the optimal one from the point of view of the subsequent operation of each type of windows.
Acrylic and polyacrylic
Benefits:
- elasticity of the material;
- excellent adhesion performance, in contact with - concrete and brick walls;
- retains its technical properties, even with significant temperature drops, from -20 to +60;
- there is no evaporation during prolonged exposure, under open sunlight;
- safe when used in confined and unventilated areas;
- has excellent fire safety characteristics.
This sealant for window seams, allows you to create a closed loop and is practical to apply using the appropriate tools. A full-fledged joint filling, gives excellent indicators for the aesthetic appearance of the glazing.
Disadvantages:
This "special sealant" can only be applied when the indoor humidity is minimal. And also it is not permissible to work in the rain, outside the glazing. Since moisture does not allow the protective structure to fully form and allow the adhesive solution to dry quickly.
Silicone sealants
Benefits:
- the minimum time frame for the adhesive solution hardening;
- optimally suited for interior work, with homogeneous materials;
- able to firmly combine various surfaces, with the presence of a difference in temperature conditions;
- excellent performance in tightening and combining dissimilar materials, creating a solid foundation against moisture penetration;
- ability to high temperature drops;
- there is a wide variety, both in color palette and in chemical composition;
- possesses excellent performance in terms of durability, in particularly aggressive environments of resettlement operation.
Today it is "the best sealant for plastic windows", taking into account the correctly selected chemical formula and composition of the applied adhesive solution. Despite the fact that it is produced in many countries and allows you to choose among a wide range of offers
Disadvantages:
- superficial coloring of the resulting seam is impossible;
- unpleasant vinegar smell;
- certain subtypes of sealants can cause oxidation of metal and concrete surfaces.
Taking into account the above mentioned characteristics, it is worth noting that the "silicone sealant in the composition" of which includes various chemical elements, allows you to significantly reduce. It is also important to note that the use of this type of sealant is not desirable over a large area, since over time the material does not withstand the load from various types of chemical exposure. And in this case, it is better to use it for thinner joints, between the glazing and the profile of the plastic frame. Therefore, modern types of silicone sealants have found their own application in the direct process of combining glass surfaces and plastic profiles. Giving the opportunity to reduce various indicators of materials, at the joints.
Polymer adhesives and sealants based on PVC
Benefits:
- has increased frost resistance, at temperature conditions from -60 to +80;
- elastic structure, with final hardening;
- very tear-resistant when combining separate materials;
- does not emit harmful evaporation after the final drying of the mixture;
- the possibility of staining, on the surface of the resulting material.
Disadvantages:
- additional protection is required when using a cool composition;
- after opening the package, the sealant loses its technical performance;
- the unpleasant smell of vinegar evaporates as the composition dries.
Taking into account these criteria, dispersion adhesives and sealants based on them make it possible to create high-quality protection of plastic windows from moisture and temperature changes, and, if used incorrectly, completely destroy the existing enclosing structures.
Considering not only the chemical composition of acrylic sealant, but also individual features of silicone and PVC-based compounds, you can perform a comparative table of this building material. Choosing among the world's major manufacturers and quality sealants for plastic windows. This will allow you to choose a suitable composition and, taking into account the technical indicators, create a more solid foundation to eliminate moisture, both from the inside and taking into account external precipitation or temperature changes.
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