Cover Story | TECHNICAL EXPERT

Sealing a Knowledge Gap

It is said that a glazing is only as good as the sealants used to hold it in place and to close the joints. Thoughtful use of sealants can enhance the ROI of buildings as well increase their effective life. No wonder understanding how sealants function is important, lest huge investments come to naught despite great designing. Sourabh Pandey (sourabh.pandey@alstoneindia.com), project manager-technical at Alstone Silicones,informs how his company works with clients tokeep their investment in glazing safe.

Q. What is the role of adhesives and sealants in glass installation?
A. Adhesives play an extremely important role in the installation of glass. They keep the glass fixed to the underlying aluminium section against its own load as well as wind load. Sealants seal joints between glass or aluminium panels to prevent rain water, air and dust from entering the interiors of the facade.

Q. What issues do you face during installation?
A. During installation, the correct bite or thickness of the silicone to be applied considering the type and size of glass is very crucial. Apart from this, the calculation of wind load on glass and type of support needed by the glass needs to be taken care of. The compatibility of glass with accessories like spacer tape, EPDM gasket etc, the use of primer for better adhesion, and conducting de-glaze test after application of sealant are also very important.

Q. What is Advanced Project Management Services that you offer your clients?
A. Advanced Project Management Services can be termed as a solution for all facade related problems. This includes a detailed review of the facade, adhesion testing, compatibility testing and stain test. Once we have received the samples of glass, aluminium sections and accessories from our client, we provide a full print review within 15 days. We calculate the exact quantity of silicone required to adhere glass to the aluminium section, using our online technical support system. A peel adhesion test to ascertainwhether proper adhesion of glass with aluminium section has taken place or not is also carried out. Depending upon the report of this test, we give warranties for our products.

Q. Which of your products are fast curing and suitable for glass applications?
A. We have recently introduced SS 999, which is a two part structural sealant to be used for structural glazing of glass with the underlying glass section. This sealant is used where fast curing of the sealant is required. Apart from this, we have also launched two products based on a special co-polymer, called ZS-100 and ZS-200 high tack. Here ZS stands for zero stain and these products can adhere anything to anything, including glass to glass, and will not leave any stain on the glass or the stone. Even these products have a high curing rate.