When it comes to sealants and adhesives they often get mixed up by many people. However there are some significant differences between the two; the thickness of each of the bond layers is different as is the function that each of them serves. Although, despite their differences, sealants can however be used as a form of adhesive, this is a rare occurrence however due to the higher raw material costs that are associated with sealants, it makes their selection for this purpose pointless. So what exactly constitutes a sealant and an adhesive?
A sealant is a material that only really has three basic functions, which are to fill a gap between two or more substrates and to form a barrier through the physical properties of the sealant itself and by adhesion to the substrate as well as to maintain the sealing properties for the expected lifetime, service conditions and environments. This material achieves these tasks due to the fact it is a viscous as it changes its state to become solid when it has been applied.
It is basically used to prevent the penetration of air, gas, noise, dust and fire as well as smoke or liquid. It is used to close small openings that prove difficult to seal with other materials, hence the name sealant. Due to the fact this material can be used in a variety of locations and as a means of holding in a number of substances it needs to have certain qualities such as insolubility, corrosion resistance, and adhesion.
Sealants are used widely across many different industries for example construction, automotive and aerospace industries. They have a main objective, which is to seal assemblies and joints. They need to have sufficient adhesion to the substrates and resistance to environmental conditions to remain bonded over the required life of the assembly.
Some of the main types of this material include acrylics, fillers and silicone sealants as well as specialist sealants. Unlike adhesives however there are not many functional alternatives to the sealing process. So what about adhesives?
When it comes to this material they are generally available as building adhesives, general adhesives and putty as well as wood adhesives but how does this differ from a sealant? Well for a start this material bonds things together rather than seals gaps. It is a glue compound that appears in a liquid or semi-liquid state that adheres or bonds items together. This material can either come from natural sources or it may come from synthetic sources, where the material comes from is somewhat irrelevant, what is important is that this modern adhesive is extremely strong. This is a point that is becoming increasingly important especially within modern construction and industry.
When it comes to adhesives the types of material that can bonded together is virtually limitless but what should be noted is that they are especially useful when it comes to bonding thin materials. What should be noted when it comes to this material however is the fact it requires a controlled temperature in order to set.
As you can see from the above both sealants and adhesives have very particular roles to play within industries etc, just make sure that you get the right one for the job you are undertaking.
If you or your business is currently in the market for some
Sealants or
Adhesives then look no further than
Howcroft Industrial Supplies.
