Efficient Materials Silicone-Based Sealants And Adhesives Part I: Solidification Mechanisms

Silicone-based sealants and adhesives have become an indispensable part of our everyday lives due to their extraordinary properties and the resulting versatility in applications. This part of the article series discusses the physical and chemical solidification mechanisms that transform the ready-to-use sealant or adhesive into a functional joint material. Various chemical cross-linking mechanisms are available for the solidification of elastic sealants and adhesives, some of which can also be combined with each other. Each of these crosslinking mechanisms - polycondensation, polyaddition and radical chain reaction - can be carried out using different crosslinker types. This broad repertoire of chemical reactions allows the development of tailor-made products for a large variety of market segments and applications.