Polysulphides in the Construction Industry

In this book I have confined discussion to those polymeric materials which are cured by chemical reaction and which have found widespread application in the construction industry. As such, the book covers materials based on epoxies, polyurethanes, silicones, polysulphides, alkyds and polyesters. In addition, there is a chapter on hybrid polymer systems and one on acrylics. It is true that acrylic emulsions are not strictly thermosetting polymer systems, but their widespread use and importance made their exclusion difficult. These materials find use as coatings, sealants, adhesives, grouts, flooring compounds, repair compounds and waterproofing agents. 

The potential market for polysulphides is for water-industry sealants, and fuel-resistant sealants and coatings for secondary containments. As a construction, civil engineering and insulating-glass sealant polysulphides have a poor to fair market share. Table 7.1 summarises the specific applications of polysulphide systems in the construction industry. 

Table 7.1 Specific application areas of polysulphide systems in the construction industry...

Among the countless number of applications of polymers, the construction industry is one which utilises several polymeric materials. In this book I cover those polymeric materials which are single or bicomponent systems and are cured at ambient temperature either with the aid of curing agents or atmospheric moisture. The various polymers used in manufacturing such products include epoxies, polyurethanes, acrylics, silicones, polysulphides, alkyds and polyesters. As a result of innovation, new technologies exist which utilise more than one polymer in a single product. Such systems are discussed in Chapter 10, on hybrid polymers. 

Polyurethane sealants have taken a good share in today s sealant market. Polysulphide sealants are in greater use for water-retaining structures, and silicone sealants for structural glazing purposes but polyurethanes have a greater market share as construction sealants. These sealants were first introduced to the construction industry in the early 1970s as two-component materials. 

By virtue of their solvent-resistant property, polysulphide polymers are used extensively as integral fuel tank sealants. The construction industry utilises this property mostly in sealants in jet fuel aprons, laboratory floors, airport pavements and for use in petrol stations. Specific applications will be discussed separately in section 7.4. 

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