8. Silicones in the Construction Industry

The commercial importance of silicone sealants and adhesives is based on their unique combination of properties that permit them to satisfy important needs in a broad variety of markets. These properties include excellent weather and thermal stability, ozone and oxidation resistance, extreme low temperature flexibility, high gas permeability, good electrical properties, physiological inertness and curability by a variety of methods at both elevated and ambient temperatures. Because of their low surface energy, they wet most substrates, even under difficult conditions, and when formulated with suitable adhesion promoters, they exhibit very good adhesion. These unique characteristics are the result of a scientific endeavour to combine some of the most stable chemical and physical attributes of the inorganic world with the highly utilizable aspects of organic materials.