Material Selction

Question 1

Latex

Answer 1

• Interior use only
• Limited flexibility (movement) - typically <10%
• Not suitable for joint treatment
• Paintable with latex products only
• Limited service life before replacement is required
• Commonly referred to as a caulk not a sealant

Question 2

Acrylics

Answer 2

• Interior & exterior use
• Limited flexibility (movement) - typically <12.5%
• Slightly more flexible than latex
• Poor weathering characteristics
• Can be painted with most common paint products
• Limited service life before replacement is required
• Commonly referred to as a caulk not a sealant

Question 3

Butyls

Answer 3

• Interior & exterior use
• Good bond to many substrates
• Limited flexibility (movement) - typically <10%
• Poor weathering characteristics
• Can be used as a sealant and an adhesive
• Can be difficult to apply (sticky and “stringy”)

Question 4

Polysulfide’s

Answer 4

• Interior & exterior use
• Good bond to many substrates
• Limited flexibility (movement) - typically <12.5%
• Poor recovery to its original state after extension/elongation
• Good chemical resistance properties
• Good for submerged applications
• Commonly require a primer
• Typically high solvent content (VOCs)

Question 5

Silicones

Answer 5

• Interior & exterior use
• Good bond characteristics to many substrates
• Good UV stability
• Good flexibility (movement) - typically <350%
• Very sensitive to application conditions; adhesion is easily adversely affected
• Difficult for other materials to bond to
• Poor stain resistance
• Prone to dirt pick up
• Poor paintability characteristics with water based paints

Question 6

Polyurethanes

Answer 6

• Interior & exterior use
• Wide range of modulus performances available (low to high)
• Typically high solvent content (VOCs)
• High isocyanates content (carcinogens)
• Good flexibility (movement) - typically up to 1,000%
• Poor adhesion on damp substrates
• Bubbling common in high humidity conditions or when applied to damp surfaces
• Reduced performance in low temperature conditions
• Stiffer and more difficult to apply
• Reduced bond strength
• Reduced service life compared to STPs

Question 7

Silane Terminated Polyethers (STP) (a.k.a. MS Hybrids)

Answer 7

• Interior & exterior use
• Combine the best of polyurethane and silicone technologies
• 100% solids, isocyanate FREE (NO VOCs!), Environmentally friendly
• Good flexibility (movement) - typically up to 1,000%
• Maintains flexibility both in-service and during application in lower temperatures
• Easy to install, even in low temperatures
• Fast tack free and full cure times
• Exceptional bond
• Bonds to silicates within the concrete and maximizes bond strength
• Bonds to damp substrates

Question 8

Sell CTS Sealants….

Answer 8

• Will NOT bubble in humid conditions or when applied to damp substrates
• Maximizes service life
• Paintable in 24 hours with most common paint & coating materials
• Good dirt pick up resistance
• High heat resistance
• Great weather and UV resistance
• Good stain resistance
• Very high peel and tensile strengths
• Good adhesion to a wide variety of substrates (e.g., wood, metals, plastics, ceramics)