MS Silane Sealant vs. Silicone Sealant: A Comparison of Their Properties and Applications

1 Introduction

Sealants play a vital role in modern industry and construction. They are used in a wide variety of applications, from gap filling, waterproofing and thermal insulation to providing structural support and earthquake resistance. As technology continues to advance, two main types of sealants, MS sealants and traditional silicone sealants , have emerged and become important choices in the industry.

This article will explore the historical development, usage and performance characteristics of these two sealants, and provide a detailed comparison to help readers better understand their differences and areas of application.

2. Purpose and importance

The purpose of this article is to compare the differences between M S silane sealants and traditional silicone sealants, and to analyze their performance characteristics and advantages in different application areas. By delving into their historical development and usage, we will be able to understand the technical background and development trends of these two sealants. In addition, a comparative analysis of their performance characteristics will help us make an informed decision in choosing the right sealant. This has important implications for engineers, architects, manufacturers and other related industry professionals, as proper selection and application of sealants is critical to ensuring structural integrity, extending service life and improving performance.

The historical development of sealants

1. Origin of sealant

The origin of household sealants can be traced back to the industrialization period in the early 20th century. As the need for convenient, durable and efficient sealing materials increased, scientists and engineers began researching and developing sealants for household use. The earliest household sealants date back to the 1920s. At that time, the adhesive industry began to develop and many new types of adhesives were introduced into the market.

2. Common sealant materials

Today, we commonly use the following types of structural sealants: polysulfide sealant (PS), silicone sealant (SR), polyurethane sealant (PU), silane-modified sealant (MS), etc. Later, with the continuous subdivision of the sealant field, household sealants are specifically concentrated in two categories: silicone sealants and modified silane sealants. At present, silicone sealants are mostly used in China. A small number of high-end MS adhesives have also entered the Chinese market.

3. The appearance of MS sealant

In 1979, Japan’s Zhongyuan Chemical Industry Company (Kaneka) successfully developed the base polymer of silicone-modified polyether sealant (also known as silyl-terminated polyether sealant).

In 1980, Japan’s Kaneka Company first prepared elastic sealants based on silane-terminated polyether, and in 1981 it began to be popularized and applied in large-scale and high-end buildings.

After 1982, Japan, the United States and European countries competed to conduct research on silane-based polyether base polymers and their elastic sealants and elastic adhesives, which promoted the rapid development of MS adhesives.

In recent years, MS glue has sprung up suddenly, the number of production enterprises has been increasing, and related technologies have advanced rapidly, occupying an increasing share in the world construction sealant market.

4. Development of traditional silicone sealants
pictureWith the development of high-rise buildings and professional construction methods, higher requirements are put forward for the performance of waterproof materials, adhesives and sealants, especially in terms of environmental protection, energy saving, and aesthetics. Therefore, as soon as MS glue with excellent performance appeared, it has received extensive attention, and its share in the world sealant market has steadily increased.
According to relevant survey reports, in the sealant material market in Europe, the market share of MS glue is about 10%. With the growth of China’s economy, especially the development and upgrading of construction methods, the concepts of industrialization of housing and selection of materials according to local conditions have gradually become familiar to people. The development of MS glue suitable for the characteristics of Chinese architecture is highly anticipated by the market.

MS Silane Sealant VS Silicone Sealant

MS sealant is the abbreviation of silane-modified polyether adhesive . It is mainly a one-component or two-component elastic sealant made of MS polymer as the base polymer, with fillers, plasticizers and other functional additives. It is a new generation of building sealant developed after silicone rubber (SR) and polyurethane glue (PU). It is mainly used in the fields of bonding, caulking, seaming, sealing, waterproofing and reinforcement in construction engineering and decoration. As people’s understanding of the advantages of MS glue continues to deepen, its application in the refrigerated truck, container, and elevator industries is also expanding.

1. Early sealant market

In fact, the “sealant” that has been talked about for a long time is also a big category. Currently the most used silicone sealant, silane sealant, and polyurethane glue are a bit similar to the gourd dolls of the demon boy group. Although the whole team looks very powerful, it is specific to each “baby”. Each has “advantages” and “disadvantages”.

2. Oil pollution situation

Oil seepage pollution of silicone sealants vs silane sealants

Not all silicone sealants bleed oil

After construction and curing, a large amount of oil leakage similar to teardrops appears on the surface, which is one of the common problems in the application process of transparent sealants. The problem of oil leakage not only affects the appearance of the bonding and sealing project, but also leaves serious hidden dangers to the quality and safety of the project. Because this material itself is synthesized with “silicone oil”, there will always be some small molecules of silicone oil remaining inside the colloid. After a long time, they will spread to the surface of the sealant to absorb various dust, and finally pollute the building. .

Silicone sealants with oil leakage problems are generally high in mineral white oil content, which is shoddy, resulting in long-term non-drying of the sealant or oil leakage. After the precipitation of such inferior plasticizers, not only pollute the substrate and affect the appearance, but also reduce the bonding and sealing performance. In order to effectively prevent oil leakage, a silicone sealant with a small amount or no white oil must be selected. However, there are currently mixed products in the field of silicone sealants in the market, and there are many companies or individuals who have no production capacity and choose third-party OEM production, shoddy.

Silane modified polyether sealant. Because it does not contain formaldehyde and isocyanate, it has outstanding environmental protection characteristics such as solvent-free, non-toxic, odorless, and low VOC release. It is friendly to the environment and the human body; it is suitable for most building substrates and has good construction and adhesion , durability and weather resistance, especially non-polluting and paintable, it has a wide range of applications in architectural decoration

Silyl-terminated polyether is a long-chain structure of siloxy-terminated polyether, which does not contain toxic isocyanate groups and free isocyanates like PU. Silyl-terminated polyether has low viscosity and good workability, and there is no need to use organic solvents to adjust the process performance of the formulation. Therefore, MS glue can completely do not add any organic solvents, and its total volatile organic compounds (VOC) are very low.

3. Color customization

M S silane sealant can be painted on the surface after static curing to achieve custom color change. At the beginning, people just tried to use “MS sealant” for the facade of the building, but after a few years Found it to be really fragrant – not only does it not crack or leak oil, but it also dries quickly, sticks firmly, and the surface can be painted!

The single color of silicone sealant needs to be prepared in advance and may change the stability of the product, or just choose a single color that has been prepared, which is not enough to meet more and more personalized needs.

4. Say No to formaldehyde~ French A+ environmental protection certification

The French VOC label (émissions dans l’air intérieur, which corresponds to Emissions in indoor air in English) is a mandatory environmental label for indoor buildings entering the French market. A+ is the symbol with the highest environmental protection level of the French VOC label, and also the symbol with the highest environmental protection level in Europe.

As long as the building materials required for interior decoration can basically be applied to the A+ standard, such as: panels, floor coverings, paints, art paints, paints and varnishes, windows and doors, panels for walls and ceilings, etc. ISO16000 (VOC testing standard)

According to the technical regulations of the international standard ISO-16000 indoor air, it simulates the indoor environment where people actually live, and uses professional precision instruments to detect the air quality in the space after painting for 28 days. According to the concentration of total volatile organic compounds in the air and In addition, the concentrations of ten common organic compounds that are harmful to humans are used to rate the product.