Enhanced Durability and Life Expectancy of Silane-Modified Polymer-Based Formulations
Silane-modified polymers (SMPs) are particularly suitable for formulating elastic adhesives, sealants, and coatings. How can additives help optimize performance?
Adhesives and sealants are part of our daily lives, although they are often invisible. They ensure that our food is packaged and promoted safely, that our houses are wind- and waterproof, and that our communication and mobility needs are served in safe and efficient ways. Thousands of everyday items, such as mobile phones, washing machines, personal hygiene products, shoes, clothing, building products, batteries, automobiles, rail cars, ships, and even airplanes, are nowadays only possible thanks to high-performance adhesives and sealants.
Silane-modified polymers (SMPs) are particularly suitable for formulating elastic adhesives, sealants, and coatings. These systems were first introduced in the late 1980s and are based on polymer backbone structures terminated with silyl groups. Market systems are mostly designed as 1-part (1-K) products that cure through a polycondensation reaction using moisture in the ambient air or substrate to harden. 2-K systems are less frequent but essential when bonding substrates such as metals, plastics, glass, or other non-porous materials. SMP-based systems emit small quantities of methanol or ethanol, depending on the silane used, and attain the typical strength of elastomeric material.