Silicone is a synthetic compound widely used in the plumbing, building and construction industries to seal, lubricate, adhere or insulate.  It is typically used to seal gaps and joints in buildings, and is made from silicone based polymers which dry when exposed to air.  This creates a tough and flexible rubber that dries to form a high strength water resistant seal. Silicone sealants are available in standard translucent form, or in a wide variety of colours that allows it to be matched to a wide variety of building materials and paints in the home.

Benefits of Silicone

Silicone is an extremely versatile compound that has a number of desirable properties, including:

• Extremely long life in a variety of environments
• Easy to work with
• Naturally flexible
• Wide operating temperature
• Good insulating properties
• Excellent sealer against moisture; and
• No smell or taste when inert, and therefore safe for food

Working with Silicone

Any surface that is to be sealed needs to be thoroughly cleaned before silicone is applied to it, typically using an alcohol which needs to be wiped from the surface with a dry cloth.  Areas adjacent to the area to be sealed can be taped to ensure uniformity, and removed before the silicone sets.  This can take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes, with full curing taking 24 – 48 hours. It can then be safely painted over.

Silicone Specialists

Admil have close to 20 years of experience in the silicone industry, and have a wide range of silicone products for all applications.  This includes silicone fluids and sealants, adhesives, silicone greases and silicone rubbers - with over 300 metric tonnes in their Melbourne and Sydney warehouses.