Sealant compatibility play a crucial role in building systems, and selecting the right sealant for a specific substrate requires consideration of numerous factors. When discussing sealants, adhesive performance is often the first thing that comes to mind, considered its most important characteristic. However, from a long-term stability perspective, the compatibility between the sealant and the substrate is also critical. This article focuses on the concept of sealant-substrate compatibility.
Compatibility refers to the interaction between the sealant and the substrate and accessories, testing whether the sealant and the adhesive material can perfectly match. When the sealant is perfectly compatible with the substrate, it will exhibit good chemical stability and long-term durability, achieving an ideal bonding state with the substrate. In practical engineering applications, the performance of sealants is affected by substrate type, construction conditions, environmental factors, etc., making it difficult to guarantee good adhesion and compatibility between a sealant and all substrates.
Different types of sealants have different chemical compositions and react differently with the substrate. For example, acidic silicone sealants are not suitable for substrates such as metal and marble, as they are prone to contamination and corrosion; solvent-based sealants are not suitable for certain plastic substrates, as they will dissolve and damage the substrate; using non-weather-resistant sealants in long-term exposure to ultraviolet light can easily lead to discoloration and brittleness; and excessively rapid curing due to environmental or temperature factors can cause cracking and blistering. Therefore, it is essential to conduct compatibility testing between the sealant and the substrate before construction.
How to conduct a compatibility test?
Sealant Compatibility testing is used to determine the compatibility of sealant with substrates and accessories. It includes two parts:
- 1. Adhesion to the substrate;
- 2. Compatibility with the substrate and accessories. In large-scale engineering projects, or when applying sealant to uncertain substrates, compatibility testing is essential to ensure the suitability of the selected sealant.
Prepare the sealant and substrate, clean the substrate surface, apply the sealant evenly to the substrate surface according to the required thickness, compact it with a roller, and then place it in a standard environment to allow for complete curing.
If the application is to environments with high temperatures or long-term UV exposure, instrumental testing is required. Finally, observe whether the adhesion is firm and whether the sealant shows discoloration, oil seepage, cracks, or contamination of the substrate surface. If everything is normal, the compatibility is good; if any problems occur, consider replacing the sealant or further treatment of the substrate.
Summarize
Before selecting a sealant, we need to conduct compatibility and adhesion tests between the product and the substrate, or ask the supplier for relevant data to ensure that the adhesion and performance meet the expected results before proceeding with the application!
