Chemistry of silicone-based adhesives and sealants

online lecture by Andreas Wolf on March 19, 2024, 3 p.m.

Moderation: Uwe von Grabowski

Due to their exceptional properties and the resulting wide range of possible applications, silicone-based sealants and adhesives have become an indispensable part of our everyday lives. Every day we come across a large number of products in which cross-linked silicone polymers build bridges between material surfaces and thus take on the tasks of sealing and/or bonding.

In this lecture, we delve into the fascinating world of silicone-based sealants and adhesives, whose wide range of applications is based on both their polymer structure and their formulation. Together, we explore the structure-property relationships of silicones and gain insights into various areas of application. We study the various physical and chemical hardening mechanisms that transform the ready-to-use sealant or adhesive into a functional joint material. The multitude of application-specific products becomes understandable through insight into the cross-linking reactions.