Difference between sealant and "silicone".

In construction and renovation, a material such as a sealant is regularly used, in particular in the form of “silicone”. What is the specificity of such materials? What is the difference between a sealant and a "silicone" if we talk about a sealant as a product group?

What is a sealant?

Under sealant it is customary to mean a viscous polymer substance used in construction and repair in order to ensure, respectively, the tightness of any part of a room or a structural element of a building. For example, it can be a bathtub or a shower cabin: in this case, the sealant is applied in the cracks between the plumbing fixture and the wall of the bathroom.

Sealant may also be used to reduce the likelihood of leaks in a plumbing or drainage system. In this case, it is applied to bolted joints, joints.

The principle of the sealant is quite simple. Initially, it is placed in a factory container - as a rule, it is a plastic tube. The ready-to-use sealant is a polymer-based binder that is mixed with a solvent. After being applied to any structure, the solvent evaporates, and the binder, filling the adjacent spaces, ensures the tightness of the structure.

Sealants are available in a large number of modifications. Among those - silicone sealant, or "silicone". What are its features?

What is silicone?

" Silicone" is a type of sealant characterized, first of all, by a high level of moisture resistance. It can retain its properties and functionality at high temperatures without losing its elasticity. It is considered one of the most optimal materials for waterproofing various joints.

Silicone is also classified into several varieties. So, there is a particularly heat-resistant silicate material of the corresponding type: it is able to maintain functionality at temperatures within 1200 degrees. There is "silicone" autorepair, there is a sanitary one.

Among the other advantages of sealants in the considered variety is environmental friendliness. They are generally harmless to the human body and the environment.

If we talk about the disadvantages of "silicone", it can be noted that it is undesirable to apply it on stone, concrete and metal surfaces. The fact is that acids are used as a solvent in sealants of the corresponding type. They are capable of dissolving these types of materials.

"Silicone" is significantly more expensive than many other sealants. In particular, acrylic, which can rival him in prevalence. In some cases, it is not at all necessary to overpay for the "silicone". If, for example, the use of the material is carried out in an environment with relatively low temperatures, then the same acrylic sealant will not be inferior to silicone in terms of its main consumer properties, significantly gaining in price.

Comparison

The main difference between sealant and "silicone" is that the first term refers to a group of materials, and the second corresponds to one of the varieties of products included in this group. There are many sealants. There are, apart from silicone, acrylic, polyurethane, bitumen products of the corresponding type. In terms of properties and purpose, they can vary significantly.

Having determined what is the difference between sealant and "silicone", we reflect the conclusions in the table.

Table

Sealant " Silicone"
What do they have in common?
Silicone is a type of sealant
What is the difference between them?
The term corresponds to a group of materials (represented, in particular, silicone, acrylic, polyurethane, bituminous products)The term corresponds to one of the types of sealants, characterized by excellent moisture resistance, resistance to high temperatures, environmental friendliness
.