Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-11-14 Origin: Site
Silicone sealants and silicone structural adhesives are widely used in curtain wall systems, glass installation, and general construction. Although they both belong to the silicone family, they are designed for very different functions. Understanding their differences helps ensure safety, durability, and proper material selection for building projects.
Weatherproof silicone sealant is mainly used for joint sealing and long-term protection. It focuses on flexibility, weather resistance, and sealing performance rather than structural bonding strength.
Key Applications:
Curtain wall weatherproofing – Suitable for sealing joints in all types of curtain walls, especially glass curtain walls, aluminum composite panels, and stone façades.
General gap sealing – Used to seal joints between metals, glass, aluminum, ceramic tiles, acrylic sheets, and coated glass.
Porous substrate sealing – Applies to concrete, cement, masonry, stone, marble, steel, timber, anodized aluminum, and painted aluminum surfaces. In most cases, no primer is required.
Weatherproof silicone sealant is ideal when you need flexibility, movement accommodation, waterproofing, and long-term durability under outdoor conditions.
Silicone structural adhesive is engineered for structural bonding, meaning it must safely carry loads and ensure the stability of curtain wall systems. It has much higher bonding strength than regular silicone sealant.
Key Applications:
Structural or non-structural bonding in glass curtain walls – Used to bond glass to metal framing components, forming a single integrated assembly. This meets the needs of fully hidden or semi-hidden frame curtain wall designs.
Direct bonding of glass to metal – Allows glass panels to be attached directly to aluminum or steel frames without mechanical fasteners.
Insulating glass unit (IGU) bonding and sealing – Commonly used as the secondary sealant for IGUs to ensure long-term structural stability.
Silicone structural sealant must meet strict performance standards because it carries structural loads. It is not interchangeable with ordinary silicone sealant.
| Feature | Weatherproof Silicone Sealant | Silicone Structural Adhesive |
|---|---|---|
| Main Function | Sealing & waterproofing | Structural bonding |
| Strength | Medium | Very high |
| Movement Capability | High flexibility | Moderate |
| Typical Use | Curtain wall joints, façade sealing | Bonding glass to metal frames |
| Load Bearing | No | Yes (must meet standards) |
Both products are essential in façade engineering, but they serve completely different purposes. Choosing the correct one ensures both safety and long-term performance.
