Silicone sealants and caulks are extremely versatile – they are flexible, durable, and are resistant to extreme temperatures, to name a few. Due to their versatility, silicone sealants are vital components in thousands of products and a nearly infinite number of applications. Not surprisingly, we receive many questions specific to silicone. In our commitment to working alongside our customers to help them choose the best product(s) for their particular application, we have prepared a list of frequently asked questions below:
An RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanization) silicone sealant is a sealant that begins to cure immediately upon being exposed to air (specifically the moisture present in the air), as opposed to water-based sealants such latex.
“Extended” silicone sealants are mixed (or cut) with various types of oils & solvents, to varying degrees (sometimes up to 35%!). “Cutting” silicone with these materials is often done to increase the number of individual resale units a manufacturer can produce from a single raw material unit which can reduce the cost/unit, resulting in decreased performance.
100% Silicone sealants, such as our Trusil 100 Silicone Sealant, comprised of 100% silicone and are not “cut” with any oils or solvents. The result is increased performance over “extended” formulations in the form of greater adhesion, less shrinkage, higher temperature performance, and lower temperature application.
Although silicone sealants are very versatile in their applications, there are a number of applications they are not recommended for, including:
If you have any questions regarding your specific application, and whether or not silicone would be an effective solution – contact Everkem Diversified Products. . We would be happy to assess your need and help you select the product(s) that are the best fit for your application.
Silicone sealants are not paintable. For a paintable solution we recommend our latex based caulks – EcoTex 25 or SilTex 40 – or our EvoSeal MS high performance sealant.
Trusil 100 is available in Clear, White, Black, and Aluminum. Mildew resistant formulations are available in Clear, White, and Translucent White.
Trusil 100 can be applied in a temperature range of -25°F to 120°F. However, for best application results the caulk itself should be at room temperature. Regardless of temperature, it is important to ensure the surface be clean, dry, free of frost (for cold weather applications) for proper adherence to occur.
Yes. Caulks differ in their formulations, and their intended use. Properties like adhesion, flexibility, elasticity, and durability vary substantially from product to product so it is important to select the right product for each job.
If you need to know the best caulk to use for your application, contact Everkem Diversified Products. We will be happy to help you select the best product(s) for your application.
It is recommended that you adequately prepare the surface(s) to be caulked to ensure a tight, strong seal. You should prepare the surfaces within 24 hours of application of the product.
Do not use silicone on galvanized surfaces. Do not use in areas that will be continually submerged in water. Do not clean with a detergent or soap and water as silicone will not adhere well to surfaces where soap residue and/or soap scum is present.
It is recommended that any old silicone is removed. While new, freshly applied silicone can be applied & will bond to old silicone – the bond isn’t as strong as if it were applied to a clean surface.
Our Trusil 100 begins to skin over in 5 minutes, so all tooling should be completed within that time frame.
Skinning over means that the product has begun to cure and has developed a firm skin formation on the surface.
Everkem Diversified Products stands behind a one-year shelf life guarantee of our silicone products. This is tracked by batch numbers, which indicate the date of production.
You can always test the caulk before starting a project by running a small bead of caulk on a scrap piece of wood, cardboard, etc. If after approximately 15-20 minutes the product has not formed a “skin”, the product is most likely expired and will not fully cure.
If the silicone has hardened (cured) in the tube, it cannot be used and has most likely passed its shelf-life. If you have reason to believe the product has not passed its shelf life, return it to the place of purchase or contact Everkem Diversified Products directly.
Typically, our Trusil 100 & Hi-Temp silicone (and other silicone sealants) will cure in 24 hours. Of course, this cure time could vary depending on environmental factors – primarily the moisture in the air. Since Trusil 100 is a moisture curing silicone sealant, it relies on the moisture in the air to cure. Lack of humidity will extend the curing process and could take up to 48 hours.
Silicone will smell strongly of vinegar as it cures due to the acetic acid it contains. This smell will persist through the first 24 hours after application until it has had sufficient time to cure.
Trusil 100 is available in 10.1 oz cartridges. The yield from these cartridges varies from application to application, based on the joint depth, width, and bead size. You can utilize our caulk yield estimator to determine the approximate number of linear feet you can caulk based on the amount you have on hand or use it to estimate the number of tubes you will need to complete your project. Also, should you desire Trusil 100 or Hi-Temp Silicone in other packaging options, you can estimate the yield from those as well.
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Winston-Salem, NC 27103
P: 1-800-638-3160
F: 336-661-7969
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