Silicone Compatability
In most glazing applications Trelleborg Sealing Profiles U.S. Inc. gaskets and blocks come in contact with silicone sealants and therefore silicone compatibility is an area of concern. Compatibility is the ability of different materials to blend and form a homogeneous system or the ability of different materials to exist in contact or close proximity to each other while having no deleterious effects on each other.
All Trelleborg Sealing Profiles U.S. Inc. architectural compounds have been tested and approved by the major manufacturers of silicone sealant for incidental contact and non-structural applications. These compounds include dense and sponge EPDM and Neoprene, as well as dense silicone. Select Trelleborg Sealing Profiles U.S. Inc. compounds have been approved for full contact in structural glazing applications. These include our Dense Silicone, our Silicone Compatible EPDM as well as flexible and rigid PVC, and Alcryn®.
There are many conditions where compatibility should be addressed, including full structural contact, non-structural applications, and incidental contact (point contact). In structural applications structural silicone adhesives bond the glass to the metal framing system. Rubber gaskets are used to provide proper size and position of the structural seal. Direct contact between these gaskets and the structural silicone make it necessary that full compatibility be established. In incidental contact and non structural applications such as a cap bead or a weatherseal a degree of compatibility is required.
Adhesion is another aspect of silicone compatibility, but adhesion does not imply compatibility and conversely, compatibility does not imply adhesion. Adhesion is a pass/fail rating that describes how well silicone sealant adheres to a material such as a gasket. As adhesion results vary Trelleborg Sealing Profiles U.S. Inc. suggests you consult your sealant supplier to confirm adhesion to gaskets or any other substrate.
Compatibility cannot be assumed; it must be tested for and verified. Trelleborg Sealing Profiles U.S. Inc. recommends that you consult with your silicone sealant supplier before the beginning of each project.