What is the difference between a sealant and an adhesive?

While both can have a similar property to bond things together, adhesives tend to add more structural stability..Sealants may have some bonding properties, but they are specifically designed to ensure a water or air tight closure between surfaces.

What is the difference between adhesion and cohesion?

Adhesion is the molecular attraction exerted between the surfaces of bodies in contact whereas cohesion is the molecular attraction by which the particles of a body are united throughout the mass. Generally, adhesives use adhesion and sealants use cohesion. Another way to think about this is that adhesion means how well a substance sticks to another substance and cohesion is how well a substance sticks to itself.

What is tensile strength?

The pull stress (in force per unit area) required to break a given specimen. Also known as UTS (Ultimate Tensile Strength), which means the maximum resistance to fracture. Measured as follows: UTS= maximum load/ area of original cross section = (P/A) XX psi (pounds per square inch)

What does it mean to be spot-weldable?

Spot-weldable means that the product can have a spot weld applied to the metal beneath the seal without damaging the sealant. Surebond SB-1800 holds a water-tight seal even when a weld is applied. Many competing products turn brittle and burn when a weld is applied.

What is viscosity and how is it measured?

Viscosity is the measurement of a fluid’s resistance to flow. It is measured in CPS (centipoise). Here is a chart to help visualize the measurement:

Water 1 CPS

Honey 10,000 CPS

Peanut Butter 250,000 CPS

SB-400 325,000 CPS

What is cure time, tack time, and tool time?

Tool Time

Tool time is the amount of time you have to work with an adhesive or sealant once it has been applied to a surface. When it begins to cure or "skin over," you can no longer work the sealant into position.

Tack Time

Tack is the property of being sticky or adhesive. So "tack-free" is the time it takes for a bead of product to cure to a point in which it can be touched without sticking to it. It does not necessarily mean the sealant is cured throughout.

Open Time

The time from when the material is applied to a surface to the time it has reached a hardened state.

Cure Time

Cure time is the point at which the sealant has reached its full properties. The precise cure time depends on the size of the bead and environmental conditions such as humidity and temperature.

What products are USDA approved?

The SB-188 High Temperature Silicone Sealant.

What are composite materials?

Composite materials (or composites for short) are made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties and which remain separate and distinct within the finished structure. Examples of composites are: FRP (fiber reinforced plastic), thermoplastic, Formica.

What is the difference between shear and tensile strength?

Shear strength is the force across the bond. The substrates are being forced to slide over each other. The tensile strength is the force exerted equally across the entire joint.

I am looking for a product that has properties of both an adhesive and sealant that can withstand high heat. What is unique about my application is that I adhere two pieces of metal together and then apply a spot weld. Do you have a product that meets these requirements?

SB-188 High Temperature Silicone Sealant will meet these requirements. This product is spot-weldable and non-flammable. It offers a tack-free time within 20 minutes and has a broad temperature range (-75° to +500° F). The SB-188 offers a seal while also having some adhesive properties. The tensile strength of SB-188 is 325 pounds per square inch.

What products do you have that are one-part and pick-proof?

Surebond offers SB-190 Everseal, a one-part pick-proof adhesive-sealant. This product can be used to seal areas that require pick-proof properties. SB-190 has 2000 pounds per square inch tensile strength- the strongest one-part sealant available.

Is SB-190 Everseal suitable for sealing glass?

SB-190 Everseal has to be tested on each type of glass you want to seal. There are several types of glass with special coatings that prevent SB-190 from forming a tight seal.

Where do others use SB-190 Everseal in the detention field?

Metal furniture installations (e.g. beds, chairs), door and window frames, prison cell moldings, restrooms, wall joints to prevent storage of contraband, wall mountings (e.g. vents, light fixtures and switches) and to seal window bars.

What products do you have that can seal around the plumbing in our facilities?

The SB-188 High Temperature Silicone Sealant which is good for places that are exposed to high temperatures and which can be used anywhere around plumbing to prevent leaks.

SB-190 can be used as a pick-proof alternative but keep in mind it is not easy to remove.

How long after I put the SB-190 down in the shower facility can I allow the inmates to start using it again?

SB-190 does require a full 28 days to cure but it will grip in to most material within the first 48 hours of placement. We recommend testing the area if it is less than 14 days from the time of application. To ensure a good grip always clean the surface substrates with an alcohol wipe prior to application.

What product is most used to apply metal stiles to panels?

SB-400 Garage Door Assembly Adhesive. It is available in white and has been used for over 20 years in the garage door industry. The combination of high strength and flexibility mixed with a quick cure time make it the most popular Surebond product among garage door manufacturers

I am looking for a product that will seal the window frames of our garage doors. What product do you recommend?

We advise the use of SB-140 Elastomeric Sealant. It has a perfect balance of adhesion and cohesion that gives the elongation needed if it should ever need to be replaced (e.g. broken window). We also offer the SB-188 for a high-temperature silicone seal. Please contact Surebond to determine the best product for your application.

Decorative cladding is quickly becoming a way to enhance the look of an economically priced door. I am considering trying this application and heard that your adhesive is the best to use. Which product is everyone referring to?

SB-190 Everseal has the strongest bond and greatest flexibility making it the product of choice for those adhering decorative cladding to garage doors.

Do your products adhere to all painted metal roofs?

Surebond products work well with all kinds of paint, including Kynar-500® and other polyester and synthetic baked on paint finished used for metal roofing. However, we do not recommend using adhesives with copper or lead roofs.

 

What tips do you have for installing snow guards using SB-190 Everseal?

• Clean roof and snow guards with Xylene / Xylol or isopropyl alcohol to ensure they are free of oils or dirt. Some molded snow guards are produced using silicone-based release agents; it is especially important to make sure that these pieces are not oily to the touch, as the silicone will inhibit the adhesion of SB-190 Everseal to the plastic. Any paint should be fully cured.

In certain applications, Tolulene or Xylene aromatic solvents can be used to soften SB-190 Everseal for removal. Consult with the roof manufacturer to ensure that these substances will not damage the roof material.

• If the surfaces are cold and damp a hot air electric blower dryer can be used to dry and warm the surface to be sealed.

• It is important, if you have to seal in cold or cooler weather, that you keep the cartridges warm or at 75°F room temperature until just before it is applied and that you use a pencil or l/4" diameter rod to puncture the inner nozzle seal.

• SB-190 Everseal is the toughest and strongest clear sealant-adhesive made. Surebond does recommend applying SB-190 when temperatures are above 50°F. In temperatures below 50°F SB-l90 is hard to gun, loses its tackiness and takes longer to cure.

• For steep angle roofs and on very hot summer days, use tape or string to prevent snow guards from moving while the adhesive sets up. The tape or string can be removed the next day.

How long does it take for the snow guard to adhere to the roof with SB-190 Everseal?

Full cure will take 28 days at 50°F or above. 50% strength is achieved in 5-7 days and 90% at 12-14 days above 50°F.

Can SB-190 be used on copper roofs?

It can get a good initial bond, but over time copper has a way of preventing ALL adhesives from keeping a lasting bond. We do not recommend using adhesives with copper.

What is SB-1800 used for?

SB-1800 Everflex Bondaprene is a sealant used to create a tight seal between two pieces of metal and is used in a variety of vehicle and transportation applications. An important characteristic of this product is that it works to a very low application temperature (-40° F), meaning that it can still be extruded from the tube at temperatures where many competing products will not come out.

I am looking for a double-sided tape to hold the side panels up on a trailer while I fasten them down. What do you recommend?

Our tape for this application is the SB-540 series which is a structural grade pressure sensitive tape.

What do you recommend for sealing RV skylights?

SB-140 Elastomeric sealant is recommended by several RV manufacturers as the product to use when re-sealing your skylight. Its consistency is similar to chewing gum which makes it easy to remove and an excellent sealant.

The roof of my truck trailer is in need of repair. There are cracks along the seam and panels. What can I use that will resist weather and harmful UV rays while patching the cracks?

SB-190 Everseal can be used as a protective coating for various roof top materials that include Kynar®, FRP, and painted metal. Whether you are extending the life of your trailer or just patching cracks, this product is the only one you will need.

How do I reduce vibrations from the areas around the HVAC ducts on my RV?

Apply a bead of SB-188 High Temperature Silicone sealant. As the name reveals, it is resistant to high heat that occurs around your ducts, up to 500° F. It is also water and weather proof.