What Does
Sealant Mean?
A sealant is a viscous material that has little or no flow qualities. This causes them to remain on surfaces on which they are applied. Sealants can also be thinner, enabling penetration to a certain substance through capillary action.
Sealants are utilized widely in industry to seal openings that cannot be secured by other materials such as drywall and concrete.
Corrosionpedia Explains Sealant
Sealants have three basic functions:
- Filling in gaps between substrates
- Sustaining sealing properties for expected environments, service conditions and lifespan
- Acting as a barrier via the physical properties of the sealants and adhesion or bonding to certain substrates
Sealants are available in ranges from low-strength caulks and putties to high-strength adhesives, and possess properties such as:
- Adhesion
- Corrosion resistance
- Insolubility
They are commonly used as a barrier for:
- Dust
- Fire
- Smoke
- Air
- Other natural environmental factors
The use of sealants differ significantly depending on the industry. Some of common examples are the aerospace, construction and automotive industries.
Some common types of sealants include:
- Polyurethane
- Latex
- Acrylic
- Epoxy
With the correct formulations, the desired performance and application properties can be obtained. Some processes such as welding and soldering can also be used as sealants in some instances, depending on the type of substrate and its intended service.