Are structural adhesives and weatherproofing adhesives the same?
1、Structural adhesives and weather-resistant adhesives are both types of adhesives, but they are not the same.
2. Structural adhesive refers to a type of adhesive with high strength (compressive strength > 65 MPa, steel-steel tensile bonding strength > 30 MPa, shear strength > 18 MPa), capable of withstanding large loads, and possessing excellent resistance to aging, fatigue, and corrosion. It maintains stable performance within its expected lifespan and is suitable for bonding structural components subjected to high loads.
3. Weatherproof sealant has undergone accelerated aging tests and exhibits no significant changes in its physical and chemical properties. When using, the sealant is dispensed from the sealant tube using a dispensing gun into the joints that need to be sealed. The sealant absorbs moisture from the air at room temperature. It exhibits excellent weather resistance, superior high and low temperature resistance, and good adhesion. It is also compatible with other neutral silicone sealants.
What are the differences between structural adhesives and weatherproofing adhesives?
1- Different manufacturing principles
Weatherproof sealant refers to a low-modulus, neutral silicone sealant used for filling joints in curtain walls. It is applied to the joints using a caulking gun, and reacts with moisture in the air to cure into a flexible material that is resistant to cold, heat, and corrosion.
Structural adhesive is a neutral-curing adhesive specifically designed for structural bonding and assembly in building facades. It can be easily extruded and used under a wide range of temperatures, and it cures into a high-modulus, high-elastic silicone rubber with excellent durability, relying on moisture from the air.
2- Different bonding performance
Weatherproof adhesives generally exhibit greater elasticity than structural adhesives. However, structural adhesives typically offer superior load-bearing capacity compared to weatherproof adhesives. Weatherproof adhesives often possess properties such as resistance to acid rain, UV radiation, and snow, similar to general-purpose adhesives.
Structural adhesives not only possess the weather resistance properties of weather-resistant adhesives but also exhibit stronger bonding performance compared to weather-resistant adhesives. Additionally, structural adhesives typically have higher prices, moduli, and hardness compared to weather-resistant adhesives.
3- Different application ranges
Weatherproof sealant can be used not only for weather-sealing applications in stone veneer, glass curtain walls, and other areas, but also for sealing joints in aluminum, acrylic, metal, tile, and other materials. It can also be used for sealing joints in wood, marble, concrete, cement, and rock. Generally, no primer is required.
Structural adhesive is particularly suitable for the bonding and sealing of hollow glass. It can also be used to connect the surface of metal components and glass, forming a single assembled component that meets all the concealed or semi-concealed design requirements of curtain wall systems.