The right chemically resistant sealing system
A sealant's chemical resistance indicates the degree to which a joint sealant is resistant to certain chemical substances. Chemically resistant sealants are used to create a controlled environment in which soil contamination is prevented. This includes things such as floor seals for filling stations or seals in spill containment units at storage silos. A sealing system’s suitability is determined on the basis of the following factors.
The soil contaminant involved
To be able to select a suitable sealing system it is essential to know the soil contaminant involved. It is also important to know its concentration and the temperatures to which the chemical substance and the joint seal are exposed.
The applicable standards and legislation
The standards and regulations that apply to protecting the soil may differ from one country to the next. The standards that apply to sealants, such as a European CE EN 14188-2-based marking or an additional country-specific requirement such as the German Allgemeine Bauaufsichtliche Zulassung, for example, are determining factors in choosing the right sealing system.
Liquid-repellant or liquid-tight requirement**
It is important to know whether the seal must be liquid-repellant or liquid-tight. In case of a liquid-repellant requirement, the seal must be able to resist incidents involving leaks. A barrier must be created capable of keeping out a liquid for several hours or days until the chemical load is removed. For example in a spill containment unit. In case of a liquid-tight requirement, the sealed joint must be able to resist a load for years or decades. This is a requirement for tank seals, for example.
The substrate
A durable and chemically resistant seal is also dependent on its adherence to the substrate. Because the substrate, combined with the soil contaminant, can affect the seal, it is important to know what substrate the seal is to be applied to. Next, the liquid’s effect on the seal must be tested.
In addition to the above factors, several other questions must be answered to be able to select a suitable chemically resistant sealing system. For example: What is the application? What are the potential loads? Will vehicles drive across the seal? Is the seal applied inside or outside? These questions can be answered together with a team of SABA specialists, taking you one step further along in your search for a suitable chemically resistant sealing system.
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