Acetic cure silicone vs neutral cure silicone

08 / 10 / 2021

What is silicone sealant?
Silicone sealant plays a role of sealing and waterproofing, which is widely used in construction and industry fields. it looks like ointment and once exposed to moisture in the air, it solidifies into a rubber-solid material. However, different types of silicone sealants have their own outstanding properties in different fields.
According to the properties, silicone sealant can be divided into acetic silicone (acetoxy) and neutral silicone.

What is acetic silicone sealant?
Acetic silicone sealant absorbs moisture in the air and release acetic acid gas, a pungent and sour smell during curing.

What is neutral silicone sealant?
Neutral silicone sealant absorbs moisture in the air to release ethanol gas or ketoxime, a relatively mild odor during curing.
Note: acetic silicone and neutral silicone are odorless after cured.

What is the difference between acetic cure silicone and neutral cure silicone?

Name	Release during cure	Smell during cure	Tack-free time	Compatibility with building material	Application	Limited
Acetic silicone	acetic acid	a very sour pungent smell	20mins	has a certain corrosion to some materials, such as the use of metal or some alkaline material will have corrosion or related chemical reactions	Aluminum alloy doors and windows glass sealing Bathroom sealing Aquarium sealing	mirror, cerement, metal, stone, coated or laminated glass or other easily being corroded surface
Neutral silicone	Ethanol / ketoxime	odorless / slight smell	30mins	won't corrode the most of building material including metal	windows and doors interior and exterior wall caulking seal	aquarium installation and sealing / cannot be used for items made of mercury, copper, silver

Smell - Acetic cure silicone smells but neutral cure silicone doesn't. Acetoxy silicone will release a very sour pungent smell (acetic acid smell odor) in the curing process. Many people mistakenly thinks that acid taste is a harmful gas and is not environmental friendly, in fact, acetoxy cure silicone is non-toxic and harmless while neutral silicone is odorless during cure
Curing time - Acetic cure silicone is curing faster than neutral sealant. Acetic cure silicone sealant tack-free time normally takes 20 minutes. While neutral cure silicone sealant tack free time is 30 minutes
Adhesive - Acetic cure silicone have stronger adhesive than natural cure silicone
Use - Acetoxy sealant has corrosive but neutral sealant does not. Acetoxy sealant has a certain corrosion to some materials. Applicable materials are limited, such as the use of metal or some alkaline material will have corrosion or related chemical reactions. While neutral sealant is not corrosive to metal materials, the scope of application is widely.
Color – The transparent of acid silicone is clear than neutral cure silicone
Price - The price of acetic glass silicone is cheaper than neutral sealant

So how to choose the silicone sealants?
From Above, we know that acidic transparency silicone is clearer than that of neutral, and it can also be used for long-term soaking in water. So acetoxy silicone is mostly used in places where have high requirements for the waterproof and bonding performance like aquarium, glass fish tanks and other water-holding ornamental containers.

Antas-186 clear aquarium silicone sealant (acetoxy silicone sealant) is designed for windows, doors, glass, aquariums

It is best to use acid glass glue in places where strong adhesion is required, such as wooden doors, gateways, wardrobes, and skirtings
However, acid glue cannot be used for coated glass and laminated glass.

The neutral cure silicone is odorless and non-corrosive to the materials, so it is the most widely used in interior decoration. It is divided into anti-mold sealant, weather-resistant sealant, stone sealant, pipe sealant etc.,
Different silicone sealants are suitable for different occasions, such as anti mould sealant for wet places like kitchen and bathroom, weatherproof silicone sealant for windows etc.
Metal ceilings, shower rooms, and mirrors should choose anti-mildew neutral glass glue, hoods, stoves, windows should choose weather-resistant neutral silicone sealants.

Whether it is acetic sealant or neutral sealant, compatibility test must be done before use insure that won’t peel off or corrosion to the material.

We are specialized in manufacturing all purposes acetic silicone sealant and neutral silicone sealants. browse our product list of door and window sealant, curtain wall sealant, ms polyer sealant and etc.
If you have any questions about choosing silicone sealants for your project, please feel free to contact us, we are Top 3 sealant and waterbase coating manufacturer in China that has served more than 10000+ global projects.

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Acetic cure silicone vs neutral cure silicone

Acetic cure silicone vs neutral cure silicone

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