Exterior Sealants

Issues
Building Integrity First line of defense Prevents serious damage Energy savings

Failures
Cohesive failures Adhesive failures

 Cohesive failures indicates the sealant could not resist the stress applied when the adjacent materials contracted during cold weather Adhesive failures occur at the bond line between sealant and the joint substrate

Dirty joints Badly designed joints Wrong primer No primer Bonding to backer

Sealant materials
Exterior sealants are normally an elastomeric type Elastomeric sealants means sealants will withstand joint compression & extension due to thermal expansion and contraction of the adjacent materials

Primary Formulation
Polyurethane Silicone

ASTM C920
Rates sealants according to their ability to withstand movement % of joint Example: Class 25= +/- 25% movement 1 joint w/ class 25 sealant can move from to 1-1/4 in width Classifies sealant by type, grade, and use

 Class 100/50 = 100% extension and 50% compression

Example
Type S single component Type M multi component Grade P pourable or self leveling Grade NS non sag or gun able Use T Traffic condition Use NT non traffic condition Use I immersion condition Use M mortar contact Use G glass contact Use A aluminum contact Use O other material contact

Single component sealant

Rely on ambient moisture to cure Cure time dependent upon temperature & relative humidity (unpredictable) Simple to apply

Multi Component sealant

Chemically cured Cure time independent of temperature & relative humidity (predictable) Requires experience to mix and apply properly

Joint Movement
Design to accommodate FULL range of movement Full range of temperature (1200F) Surface temperature Expansion/ contraction coefficient of materials

Joint Design
Design and application guidelines ASTM C1193 Standard guide for use of joint sealants

Joint design
Elements: substrate, backer, & sealant Backer= depth control + bond breaker Sealant must adhere to substrate (2 sided adhesion only) No fillet joints

Joint design
Substrate must be clean Silicone sealants require primer on substrate (except glass surfaces) Different substrates require different primer Preconstruction adhesion test (ASTM C794) Preconstruction stain test (ASTM C150)

Joint depth
50% joint width Silicones, maximum joint depth =1/2 Polyurethanes, maximum joint depth =

Joint width
Function of construction materials and joint spacing Silicone seals become more cost effective for wider joint ASTM C1193

 Joint with sealant picture

Reference
Reifsnider, Randal J. Exterior Sealants ASTM Expandite joints and sealing manual