Silicone sealant or adhesive is a powerful, flexible product that can be used in many different applications. Although silicone sealant is not as strong as some sealants or adhesives, silicone sealant remains very flexible, even once it has fully dried or cured. Silicone sealant can also withstand very high temperatures, making it ideal for applications that suffer high heat exposure, such as on engine gaskets.

Silicone sealants come in a variety of different forms. For example, one way to buy silicone sealant is in a two-component addition; this type of product requires the user to mix two compounds to make the sealant. The mixture must be made immediately before using it, which makes this type of silicone sealant rather tricky to use.

Silicone sealant may also come as a single product, with no mixing required. One type of single-product silicone sealant is called Room Temperature Vulcanizing (RTV). This form of sealant starts to cure as soon as it is exposed to the air – or, more precisely, the moisture in the air. Therefore, it is necessary that you work quickly when using RTV silicone sealant.

There are a variety of other, more technologically advanced forms of silicone sealant as well. One type, called pressure sensitive silicone sealant, has a permanent tackiness and adheres with deliberate pressure – in other words, although it will always be “sticky,” it won’t stick if something simply brushes or rests up against it. Another type is called UV or radiation cured silicone sealant, and uses ultraviolet light to cure the sealant. Finally, thermoset silicone sealant requires exposure to heat in order to cure.

Silicone sealant may be used in a variety of applications. This type of sealant is frequently used in automotive and related applications, such as an aid for sealing an engine, with or without gaskets. Because of its superior flexibility, the sealant is also a good choice for many hobbies or crafts.