Adhesives and sealants used on glass facades and exterior walls of buildings are exposed to extreme environmental impacts. They must withstand heat, frost and UV radiation, as well as rain, aggressive salts and industrial emissions. The mechanical stresses are also substantial. Construction materials such as concrete, steel or glass deform quite differently in response to rising or falling temperatures, which results in surface tension and movement between the facade and supporting elements. Sealants are thus exposed to permanent mechanical stress for years – and no sealant can cope with this better than silicone sealants from WACKER. 

WACKER SG 79 Structural Glazing
Glass facades, especially in Asia, are increasingly mounted and bonded at the construction site. At ZAK Glass Technology, WACKER is has presented a new silicone sealant specifically for on-site installation. WACKER SG 79 Structural Glazing is a one-component, neutral-curing silicone sealant that cures rapidly once it reacts with atmospheric moisture. “Fully cured, the sealant can be stretched by up to 500 per cent. This allows the product to compensate movement within a joint by up to 50 per cent of the gap width,” the company claims.  

WACKER SG 79 defies temperatures between –30 C and +80 C and is thus suitable for structural-glazing applications in various climate zones. The product cures virtually without odour and can be processed at temperatures ranging from 5 to 40 C. WACKER SG 79 adheres excellently to all conventional building materials such as glass, steel, concrete or stone, even without a primer.  

WACKER WS for Curtain Walls
The company has also showcased WACKER WS Weatherseal Superior, a weathering-resistant sealant. This is also a neutral-curing sealant. It was specifically developed for natural stone and does not stain stone or ceramic joint edges.  

Even without a primer, WACKER WS adheres to both porous and smooth materials, as well as plastics. The sealant cures within 30 minutes and is elastic, extremely robust and weathering- and UV resistant. The product is ideal for sealing and installing large curtain walls and elaborate panel structures.