Industrial sealant is a chemical that is used to create a seal between surfaces to keep air, gas, and liquids from leaking, prevent contamination from outside sources, and fill in gaps and holes in industrial equipment and products. These sealants are made of chemicals designed to create a tougher bond than those found in household sealants. There are four main types of industrial sealants including liquid, powder, aerosols and foams, and pastes.
Liquid industrial sealant is generally made of a viscous substance that dries quickly into a hard compound. Liquid sealant may have an oily consistency or be a thick, gel-based product. The sealant is suspended in liquid, which makes it easy to apply to surfaces and then dried to create a strong seal. Liquid industrial sealant is used in a variety of industries including automotive, marine, manufacturing, and public utilities due to its fast-bonding properties.
Powder industrial sealant is made up of crushed fine dry particles made of a glue agent, acrylics, or resin that need some type of activating liquid added to it to make it work. Powder sealants are easy to store, but can be flammable or dangerous if not handled properly. Industrial powder sealant is most often used in large-scale production plants because it is inexpensive and can be mixed with other chemicals to create an all-purpose sealant or to create colored sealant that cannot be easily seen.
Aerosol and foam industrial sealant work by suspending glue particles in a liquid that is activated and dispersed by spraying it into the air. As the spray is released, these particles simultaneously mix with the liquid and are applied to the surface to be sealed in a solution. Aerosol sealants that foam add extra oxygen particles to the liquid, which gives the sealant more stability for placement on surfaces and to fill gaps and holes.
Paste type industrial sealant is a slow-drying, thick sealant that is used to seal holes and gaps. The most common forms of paste sealant is caulk, mortar, grout, and joint compounds that can be added to cracks and flattened against surfaces to leave a waterproof seal in tile or building panels. The advantages of paste industrial sealant are that it is flexible and that it takes a long time to set so that parts can be moved or adjusted as needed during the initial stages of application.