The most common, but also the most expensive sealant for domestic use is silicone sealant. Silicone sealants are extremely flexible and durable, these sealants can be modified for specific purposes: there are anti mold silicones, heat resistant sealants and food safe solutions and can be applied in a variety of internal and external areas.
A neutral curing silicone sealant cures through evaporation of alcohol or another non-acidic substance. These systems are ideal when there is a need for an odorless silicone sealant.
The neutral silicone sealant is an ideal choice especially for sensitive surfaces such as stone and bitumen. These silicone sealants are generally more expensive than acetic silicones, but they do provide better adhesion and watertightness than the alternative solutions. Therefore, they are the preferred industrial silicone sealant types also for outdoor applications.
Acetoxy or acetic silicone sealant cures in room temperature releasing acetic acid. The acetic acid is what causes the strong, vinegar-like smell, these sealants are often recognized for.
Acetoxy silicone sealant is the less expensive and faster curing alternative to neutral silicone sealants making them the most common type of industrial silicone sealants. However, one must consider the substrate when working with acetoxy silicones, since the acid in them may bring harm to sensitive materials. For example, when applied on bitumen substrates, bleeding may occur. On natural stone, silicone may cause discoloration, and on some metals the risk of corrosion increases. Acetic silicone sealant is, nonetheless, the go to solution for industrial applications unless a neutral cure silicone is necessary.