Fillers / Sealants / Adhesives
Fillers, sealants and adhesives are used for similar purposes when refurbishing or redecorating. They have many common characteristics but their chemical structures are not same. Using a filler or sealant creates a kind of barrier which restricts the penetration of various elements such as fluids, air, fire, noise depending upon the sealant type. An adhesive can be found in multiple forms such as solid powder or as liquid, is a chemical mixture that sticks the items together. It is most of time used to bond fine materials and also requires the usage of a set temperature to work effectively.
The main purpose of an adhesive main is to bond items together but sealants and fillers work in different manner, filling in gaps and spaces, hence they cannot be used for bonding material together. There are various additives used in adhesives and sealants. Additives enhance structural and chemical composition, making adhesives and sealants flexible to use.
For increasing flexibility, plasticizers are added. For example in making of latex adhesives, benzoate plasticisers, is added as an additive. They work well with the core ingredients of the adhesive and thereby adding property of flexibility to them. Lastly the Fillers such as mica, alumina, talc, silica, and calcium carbonate are very popular as additives to enhance the property of adhesives and sealants. Sealants require stabilizers and use of stabilizer is dependent on sealant type. Stabilizers improve the shelf life of it. Like in adhesives, plasticizes are also used in sealants, popular ones for it are phthalates. Plasticizers also soften the sealant mixture. Here at Electrical Warehouse, we are able to offer a range of fixings & sundries to our consumers, whether you’re a professional tradesperson, or a homeowner doing their first installation work. We want to provide every single consumer with the best we can in terms of value for money and operational quality. Have a browse through our selection of fillers, sealants and adhesives and if you find the right option for you, it’s easy to order and benefit from great savings and next day delivery offers.