Mastic, silicone, sealants and foams.

[Nickfromwales]

Let’s discuss the different products and their correct placement / applications.

 

Following on from this post:

 

 

[Nickfromwales]

Popular products for myself, are:

 

Illbruck FM330 expanding foam. Airtight, closed cell, and goes off very hard compared to off the shelf foams from the BM’s etc.

 

CT1 vs silicone, from a robot in cyberspace:

 

The key difference is that CT1 is not a silicone; it's a proprietary TRIBRID® sealant and adhesive with a unique polymer formula, while silicone is a class of materials known for their flexibility, water resistance, and sealing properties. CT1 offers advantages over traditional silicones, such as superior strength and color retention, and the unique ability to be applied in wet conditions without shrinking or cracking, unlike many silicones. CT1 functions as an all-in-one product for sealing, bonding, and caulking, whereas silicone is primarily a sealant, with its strength and properties varying significantly depending on the specific formulation.  

 

CT1

• Technology: Uses TRIBRID® Technology, a unique polymer that makes it stronger and more durable than traditional hybrid products. 
   
• Application: Can be applied in wet conditions, even underwater. 
   
• Features:
  • No shrinkage or cracking. 
     
  • Excellent color retention (white stays white, clear stays clear). 
     
  • Solvent-free and food-safe. 
     
  • Bonds to many materials, including metals, glass, wood, and concrete. 
     
  • Can be painted after curing with water-based paints. 
     
• Function: Functions as an all-in-one sealant, adhesive, and caulk. 
   

Silicone

• Composition: 

  A material (polymer) known for its elasticity and water resistance. 

   
• Application: 

  Some silicones are not suitable for use in wet conditions or on wet surfaces during application. 

   
• Features: 

   

  • Can have a long shelf life. 
     
  • Good for creating waterproof seals. 
     
  • Prone to shrinking, cracking, or degrading in certain environments, depending on the type. 
     
  • Can lose its color over time. 
     
• Function: 

  Primarily used as a sealant in applications like bathroom and shower enclosures. 

[SimonD]

For my triple glazed windows I used the Soudal SWS thermal and airtight system. It doesn't use a silicon by a hybrid polymer sealant. From soudal's website https://www.soudal.co.uk/pro/applications/airtight-sealing:

 

Soudaseal 215LM

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Product description

Hybrid polymer facade sealant

Premium quality, low modulus Hybrid Polymer sealant. Extended open time versus silicones to allow longer tooling of product. Primerless adhesion on nearly all common construction materials such as plastics, masonry, metals and wood - even when surfaces are damp. Can be used on sensitive metals such as lead. Non-staining when applied on natural stone substrates. High performance mechanical properties. UV resistant. Free of isocyanates, solvents, halogens and acids. Paintable with all water-based paints. Airtight when used as part of Soudal Window System - SWS®.

 

The foam is:

 

Soudafoam Gun Win. & Door SWS

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Product description

Elastic PU gunfoam

Airtight premium quality polyurethane expanding foam filler for use around windows & doors. Superior thermal and acoustic insulation properties. Totally airtight after curing. The product is highly flexible once cured, based on FLEXIFOAM® technology, which gives improved durability. Single component Gun Grade foam. Rapid curing. Primerless adhesion on most construction materials.

 

And then finished to the interior with:

 

Acryrub SWS

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Product description

Acrylic sealant

High quality elastic silanised sealant and gap filler based on acrylic polymers. Conform DIN EN ISO 11600 F12,5E. Used for airtight sealing of interior joints and window connections with movement of up to 12,5%. Part of the Soudal Window System.

 

I used the acryrub on a lot of interior timber frame joints, e.g. between wide sole plate and glulam ring beam and then between ring beam and the stud wall.

 

On other windows I used a different brand of expanding tapes like Compriband.

 

I also used a lot of Soudal Soudatight LQ for junctions and window reveals where necessary:

 

Air- and vapour tight membrane

Soudatight LQ is a high-quality fibre reinforced polymer membrane which forms an air and vapour tight elastic membrane after drying. The product can be quickly and easily applied with a brush in the desired layer thickness on almost any mineral substrate. Fills cracks up to 5 mm due to fibre-reinforcement. Once dried a second coat (or more) can be applied if required, after which it can be painted or plastered over. The black variation changes colour after drying, from blue to black. The white version does not have this colour indication.

 

I've also used quite a bit of tapes for windows from Passivehaus Systems:

 

https://passivehousesystems.co.uk/product-category/window-tape/

 

And also their tapes for airtightness at osb junctions for house airtightness barrier.

 

https://passivehousesystems.co.uk/shop/?filter_tax_product_cat=80&filter_location=internal&query_type_location=or

 

Internally when I need somethng for bathrooms/kitchens etc. I use CT1 as @Nickfromwales has so many times recommended.

[Oz07]

Can ct1 be used for glazing units or does it effect the black rubber round the edge? I know silicon is a no no but its hard to find something paintable that is good for this in timber windows

[Nickfromwales]

2 hours ago, Oz07 said:

Can ct1 be used for glazing units or does it effect the black rubber round the edge? I know silicon is a no no but its hard to find something paintable that is good for this in timber windows

I've installed loads of mirrors with it, with zero issue. Can't see why not, and it's less aggressive so doesn't react with things the way silicone seems to.

 

Plus, CT1 can be painted whereas silicone cannot.

[Adrock]

I've used a fair bit of OB1, which as far as I'm aware is a copy of CT1.

 

Anyone ever used CT1 power grab and bond? 

 

@Nickfromwales where do you get the illbruck foam? I could do with a bit of that. 

[Nick Laslett]

Another product to consider is Sikaflex EBT+ as an alternative to decorators caulking. It can be painted and doesn’t shrink. Also UV stable and suitable for exterior use. 
 

Obviously, decorators caulk is much cheaper. 

 

I also used a lot of Siniat Foil Roll Intumescent Acoustic Sealant for my stud walls. Just following the ‘White Book’ instructions. There maybe cheaper alternatives, not sure if this is a category where there is a big difference in quality. 
 

Illbruck SP525 for sealing larger exterior gaps, and ‘painting’ over expanding foam to protect it from UV light. 

 

 

Edited 9 hours ago by Nick Laslett

[Onoff]

1 hour ago, Adrock said:

Anyone ever used CT1 power grab and bond? 

 

Yes. I used it to stick ceramic tiles to marine ply. 

 

 

 

[Adrock]

Good stuff?