Silicones are polymers that include any inert, synthetic compound made up of repeating units of siloxane, which is a chain of alternating silicon atoms and oxygen atoms, frequently combined with carbon and/or hydrogen. They are typically heat-resistant and rubber-like, and are used in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medicine, cooking utensils, and thermal and electrical insulation. Some common forms include silicone oil, silicone grease, silicone rubber, silicone resin, and silicone caulk.
Silicone application is very important to makesure that the glass wall and glass window at any building are protected and leak proof.
Silicone sealant process.
What You Will Need:
- A silicone gun.
- A tube of silicone sealant.
- A stanley knife.
- Your finger (all will be explained later).
1. Prepare the Area:
Before beginning, you MUST remove any existing silicone – This can be easily done with a stanley knife.
It is of the utmost importance that the area is dirt free as any oil or grease will interfere with the way the silicone bonds. To ensure you get a thorough clean, use some turpentine.
2. Apply Masking Tape:
This is the key to ensuring you achieve a professional finish – Apply masking tape to both edges of the joint with an approximate width of ¼”.
This will allow you to set the desired width of the silicone; if you fail to do this, when you smooth the silicone in step 6 you will find it extremely hard to ensure a consistent width.
3. Prepare the Silicone Tube:
Using a knife, cut the tip of the tube at a 45⁰ angle, making sure you keep the hole fairly small to achieve a controlled finished.
Then simply pop the seal on the tube (a nail will help you do this) and load the tube into your silicone gun.
4. Test, Test, Test!
If this is your first attempt, you’d be a fool to rush in without practicing. So before starting, test the pressure and flow on something you can easily bin (like a piece of cardboard).
Remember: Silicone should flow, not drip or squirt.
5. Apply the Silicone:
Your silicone gun should be held at a 45⁰ angle, just above the surface, so that you can watch it flow.
Move the gun in a steady stream along the required area and avoid stopping until you reach the end.
Once you reach the end, release the trigger on the gun and quickly pull away to avoid any strings.
6. Start the Tooling Process:
Tooling is simply running your finger along the silicone to create a smooth bond between that and the object. Be careful not to apply too much pressure and make sure it’s consistently smooth as you go.
Top Tip: To reduce friction and make the process easier, dip your finger into a mixture of warm water and washing-up liquid.
7. Remove the Masking Tape:
Only remove the tape you applied in step 2 once you are happy the silicone is smooth. Don’t wait until it’s set to remove the tape as this can create rips in the silicone.
Then, along the edges that were covered by the tape, smooth the silicone with your finger. If you forget to do this, you risk exposing the edges to dirt.
8. Leave it to Set:
To form a secure, watertight, bond it will take approximately 24 hours to set.
Source: en.wikipedia.org