Caulking materials, commercial

Silicone sealants, introduced in the 1960s, are still the primary type that is used in museums for building display cases. These sealants often contain Fumed silica, calcium carbonate, ground Quartz, Carbon black, talc, and plasticizers. There are two type of neutral cure RTV silicones. The first type is an alkoxy neutral-cure that releases methanol upon cure. The alkoxy neutral cure silicones are considered suitable for use on all types of metal without risk of corrosion. The second type is an oxime neutral-cure silicones that releases methyl ethyl ketoxime. These withstand temperature better than alkoxy-cure but can cause stress-cracking in some plastic boards, such as polycarbonate and acrylics.

Other types of caulking materials that have been used include polyurethanes and latex. Polyurethane elastomers provide good abrasion resistance. Latex caulking, available in the late 1960s, eliminated the use of organic solvents. They typically contain a polymer emulsion (such as Polyvinyl acetate) in water with calcium carbonate, plasticizers, and other additives.

Commercial name	Manufacturer	Polymer type	Properties	Applications	Maufacturers Descriptions (Characteristics and Risks)	Material Analysis	Product website
Dowsil 580 Neutral cure	Dow Corning	Silicone; oxime neutral cure; one component		General Glazing; Weathersealing applications for windows, doors, glass, metal, masonry	Not recommended for water immersion; do not use on structural glazing; may discolor copper and brass; cannot be painted; not for use on polycarbonates	Testing results	Dow: Dowsil 580
Dowsil 737 Neutral Cure	Dow Corning	Silicone; oxime neutral cure; one component		Adhesion to most materials; Adhering plastic moldings to plastic substrates for trim applications; Waterproofing electrical components	Not recommended for water immersion, or use on painted surface; may discolor brass, or copper; may stress craze polycarbonates	MMA 2016; BKM 2017; BKM 2018; BKM 2018; Testing results	Dow: Dowsil 737
Dowsil 739 RTV	Dow Corning	Silicone; alkoxy cure with moisture; one component		Adheres well to unprimed metals, ceramis and glass and some plastics	Does not adhere to teflon, polyethylene, polypropylene, or highly plasticized plastics or rubbers.	MMA 2016; Testing results	Dow: Dowsil 739
Dowsil 791 WeatherproofSealant	Dow Corning	Silicone; alkoxy cure with moisture; one component		Good for inside display envelope: glass and metal joins; glass and glass joins; Goppion uses black, grey, white due to aesthetic reasons...transparent caulks yellow within 5 years		MMA 2016; AMNH 2019; MMA 2021; Testing results	Dow: Dowsil 791
Dowsil 795 Building Sealant	Dow Corning	Silicone; alkoxy cure with moisture; one component	Extra thick; skins over too quickly	Structural and nonstructural glazing; for most new construction and remedial sealing applications; weather sealing of most common construction materials including glass, aluminum, steel, painted metal, EIFS, granite and other stone, concrete, brick and plastics	Not recommended for water immersion, or wet or cold surfaces; not paintable	MMA 2016; MMA 2020; MMA 2021; Testing results	Dow: Dowsil 795
Dowsil 9-1374 Silicone sealant	Dow Corning	Silicone; alkoxy cure with moisture; one component		Used for formed in place glaskets; provides strong flexible bond for movalble or expanding joints, such as when bonding materials with different thermal expansion rates such as glass to metal, or glass to plastic or metal to plastic		MMA 2016; Testing results	Dow: Dowsil 9-1374
Dowsil 3145 RTV Mil-A-46146 Adhesive / Sealant	Dow Corning	Silicone; alkoxy cure with moisture; one component	Skin over time=15 min; hard to work with; requires experienced person to apply and clean up; viscous, does not flow	Sealing openings in modules and housings; Adding mechanical stability to individual components; adheres to glass and nylon	Good adhesion cannot be expected on non-reactive metal substrates or non-reactive plastic surfaces such as Teflon, polyethylene or polypropylene.	BKM 2016; BKM 2017; AWNH 2019; Testing results	Dow: Dowsil 3145
Dowsil 7091 Adhesive Sealant	Dow Corning	Silicone; alkoxy cure with moisture; one component	Skin over time=15 min; This one has been used in museums	Provides strong but flexible bond, such as when bonding materials with differing thermal expansion rates, e.g. glass to metal or glass to plastic	For maximum adhesion, the use of DOWSIL™ 1200 OS Primer is recommended.	BKM 2016; BKM 2017; MMA 2017; AMNH 2019; Testing results	Dow: Dowsil 7091
Dowsil 993	Dow Corning		This one has been used in museums
Silastic 1080 RTV	Dow Corning	Silicone; alkoxy cure with moisture; one component		Provides reliable, long-lasting bonds with a wide range of substrates, including ceramics, metals, glass and filled plastics,	Long service life, wide operating temperatures, resistance to oils and solvents; water and steam resistant	Testing results	Dow: [Silastic RTV
Egosilicon 460	EGO Dichstoffwerke GnbH & Co. Betriebs KG	Silicone; alkoxy cure with moisture; one component		Timber,Metal,Glass,Sanitary,Enamel,Concrete,Plaster,Masonry,Fibre cement,Facades,Roof,Windows,Ventilation,Clean room,Marine,Ceramics,Air conditioning & heating,Masonry,Clinker,Tiles,Artificial stone		MMA 2018 white; MMA 2018 black; Testing results	EGO: Egosilicon 460
MC Bond 2K	Promante	Silicone; two-components neutral cure		Adhesion on almost all surfaces (even wet), in most cases without primer, such as non-porous stone, concrete, mirrors, stone, plasterboard, polycarbonates, PS, PU, PVC and various plastics, ceramics, enamel, copper, lead, zinc, aluminum, stainless steel, trespassing, wood, glass, et	Paintable. Leave no trace (on stone). UV and weather resistant, resistant to (sea) water, liquids, etc. Unique	BKM 2016 ; Testing results	Promante: MC Bond
PL 3X Premium Construction Adhesive	Loctite	Polyurethane; moisture cure; one component		Can be used outdoors and in high humidity environments; bonds to most common construction materials such as wood, concrete, stone, masonry, brick, carpets, metal, stainless steel, galvanized metal, lead, ceramic, rigid fiberglass, drywall, vinyl/PVC trim and molding and polyash trim.	Low VOC content; Water resistant. Not recommended for Water submersion applications or porous substrates	MMA 2017; Testing results	Henkel: Loctite
Pactan 7043-1	Tremco Illbruck	Silicone; one-component	no longer available	broad adhesion spectrum in electrics, electronics, household appliances, food contact, headlight bonding and many more.		MMA 2017; Testing results	Pactan: Adhesives
Pactan 8051-1	Tremco Illbruck	Silicone; two-components	no longer available	Broad adhesion spectrum in electrics, electronics, household appliances, food contact, headlight bonding and many more.		MMA 2017; Testing results	Pactan: Adhesives
Vulkem 116	Tremco	Polyurethane; moisture cure; one component		For use on poured and precast concrete, masonry work, window and door perimeters, and similar types of construction joints.	Paintable; exterior use only; may be removed with xylene or mineral spirits before curing; combustible producing toxic fumes		Tremco: Vulkem 116
Colorsil N	Kawo Karl Wolpers	Silicone; neutral cure; one-component		Interior or exterior, vertical or overhead, concrete and masonry surfaces; Protects substrates from long term effects of water, environmental factors and pollution		MMA 2018; Testing results	Kawo: Colorsil
Clear Supreme Silicone	GE Sealants	Silicone; moisture cure; one-component			Water proof, mold and mildew resistant; strong adhesion; indoor/outdoor; contains chlorides	MMA 2016; Testing results	GE: Supreme Silicone

See also: Generic caulking materials and Silicone cure systems

• AIC Conservation Wiki: Caulk Sealants to Seal Exhibit Cases