what is the importance of elastic sealants? and how can you choose the best elastic sealants?
Why would you want to use an elastic sealant?
Elastic sealants are products that help protect the integrity of breaks and gaps in structures even when they move or deform: joints, fissures, or cracks. Water, dust, heat, and noise are free to enter or escape through these breaks and gaps in a structure exposed to atmospheric agents, reducing living comfort and the structure’s durability.
A properly executed elastic seal contributes to the overall structure’s durability and energy efficiency.
Is silicone used in all elastic sealants?
Elastic sealants include a wide range of products, including silicone sealants. However, the market’s popularity of silicone sealants has resulted in a (incorrect) use of the name of this group of products (silicone) and the name of the commodity category (elastic sealants): not all sealants are made of silicone.
Which elastic sealants are the best?
elastic sealants
No elastic sealant is necessarily superior to another: each product group has unique physical-mechanical properties that make it particularly suitable for one type of application and less so for another.
Here are the key strengths of the most common product groups in the elastic sealants category as examples:
Sealants made of acrylic
- simple to smooth
- can be painted with elastic paint
- inexpensive
Sealants made from acetic silicone
- simple to extrude and smooth
- anti-aging properties
- chemical and high service temperature resistance
- A clear version is available (opalescent effect)
Sealants made of neutral silicone
- simple to extrude and smooth
- adhere to a variety of materials
- anti-aging properties
- chemical and high service temperature resistance
- A clear version is available (translucent effect)
Sealants made of polyurethane
- adhere to a variety of materials
- excellent mechanical and tear resistance
- extremely adhesive
- can be painted with elastic paint
Hybrid Sealants
- Simple to extrude and smooth
- Attach to a wide range of materials, including damp surfaces
- Anti-aging properties
- Poor surface dust retention
- A clear version is available (crystal clear effect)
Polyurethane-epoxy sealants
- Simple to extrude and smooth
- Chemically resistant and strong
- Paintable or pigmentable on the position
What type of sealant should I use for ceramic floor and wall coverings?
MAPESIL AC
elastic sealants
Is a colored sealant that is used to create elastic seals in ceramic floor and wall coverings, bathroom fixtures, shower cabins, and window frames. The MAPESIL AC pure acetic silicone formula’s high quality, combined with Mapei BioBlock technology, ensures maximum durability and performance. The extensive color range (40 different shades that match the Mapei colored grouts) allows for any aesthetic requirement to be met.
Which product should I use to coat and bond various materials?
MAPEFLEX MS45
elastic sealants
is a one-component, multi-purpose, flexible sealant for sealing vertical and horizontal joints between absorbent and non-absorbent materials, including damp substrates; once set, it is also compatible with Mapei elastomeric paints. Because of its initial grab power, rapid hardening properties, and adhesive performances, the same product can also be used as an adhesive to bond building components and features.
Which sealant should I use on natural stone floors and walls?
MAPESIL LM
elastic sealants
is an anti-stain sealant that is ideal for all types of absorbent and acid sensitive stone; its chemical composition prevents liquid migration between the sealant and the substrate, preventing unsightly stains from forming along the edges of joints caused by the use of an incompatible sealant. Because of the wide range of colors available, which can be coordinated with Mapei colored grouts, they can be matched with the various colors of the most commonly used types of stone on floors.
Which antimicrobial sealant should I use in bathrooms and kitchens?
MAPESIL AC and MAPESIL LM
elastic sealants
Mold and algae will most likely form on the surface of an elastic sealant if it is frequently exposed to damp environments. Because mold and algae are the result of a natural chemical reaction between damp, high temperatures, and organic material, no sealant can prevent their growth. Certain elastic sealants, on the other hand, can prevent them from taking root on surfaces due to the presence of special biocides that inhibit the formation of efflorescence. Many MAPESIL products contain biocides, but only MAPESIL AC and MAPESIL LM have BioBlock technology, which extends biological protection for a long time, especially when the sealant is properly maintained on a regular basis.
What type of sealant can I use on industrial floors?
The two-component epoxy-polyurethane sealant MAPEFLEX E-PU 21 SL The one-component polyurethane sealant MAPEFLEX PU35 CR If a sealant is used on horizontal surfaces subjected to severe mechanical and chemical stresses and loads, it must be able to elastically absorb joint movements as well as resist contact with chemical substances and mechanical stresses caused by passing heavy goods vehicles. In this case, it is critical that the sealant chosen for this specific application provides a balanced compromise of elasticity, chemical resistance, and mechanical properties: The two-component epoxy-polyurethane sealant MAPEFLEX E-PU 21 SL or the one component polyurethane sealant MAPEFLEX PU35 CR could be the right solution. Because of the different factors at work, which vary according to the specific area of use of the flooring, A personalized Mapei consultation could help determine the best product for each individual case.
What kind of anti-fire sealant can I use?
MAPEFLEX AC-FR 2 acrylic sealant
MAPESIL FR silicone sealant
Limiting the risk of fire is a deciding factor in many civil and industrial settings when selecting the sealant. Some sealing products are designed to reduce this risk due to their exceptional fire resistance and reaction in the event of a fire. If a fire occurs, MAPEFLEX AC-FR 2 acrylic sealant and MAPESIL FR silicone sealant specifically guarantee high fire resistance (the ability to delay the passage of flames, smoke, and heat through joints) and low fire reaction (the property to emit only a controlled amount and density of smoke and to limit the formation of incandescent droplets).
Alio-Mar company
Alio-Mar provides all of these products with full warranty and technical support. just contact us
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Common Questions
what are the best kinds of elastic sealant use in industrial floors?
- MAPEFLEX E-PU 21 SL
- MAPEFLEX PU35 CR
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