Polysulfides are chemical compounds with solvent, chemical, and weather resistance, used in rubbers, sealants, and adhesives. They are ideal for civil engineering, aviation, and household applications. Polysulfide-based sealants are beneficial in marine, swimming pool, and construction industries. However, they can degrade PVC and ABS items. Polysulfides were first identified in 1926 and quickly became popular due to their good cut and tear resistance, high levels of chemical and solvent resistance, excellent weather resistance, and easy-to-shape finish. They are widely used in ship repair, engineering, aviation, construction industries, and dental technology.
Polysulfides are a group of chemical compounds made up of chains of sulfur atoms that possess solvent, chemical, and weather resistance as well as flexibility and tensile strength. These compounds are mainly used as additives in the production of rubbers, sealants and adhesives. Various attractive properties make polysulfide products ideal in civil engineering, aviation and household applications where exposure to fuels, lubricants and cleaning agents preclude other products. The inherent flexibility and weather resistance of polysulfide based sealants is extremely beneficial in the marine, swimming pool and construction industries. Despite the many beneficial applications of polysulfide products, care must be taken when using them on certain plastics as they are known to degrade PVC and ABS items.
Polysulfide was first identified in 1926 by American chemist Joseph C. Patrick. The compound first gained formal trade identity in 1929 when it was given the trade name Thiokol which has since become a generic standard for polysulfides. The extensive list of useful characteristics quickly made polysulfides popular as a base product for a wide selection of adhesives, sealants and rubber products. These properties include good cut and tear resistance, high levels of chemical and solvent resistance, excellent weather resistance and a finish that is easy to shape, sand and paint. Polysulfide-based products are also able to withstand repeated flexing and impact, thermal cycling, and possess good anti-corrosion characteristics.
These characteristics make polysulfide sealants a standard in ship repair and engineering with many products offering extensive warranties. The sealants and adhesives can be used below the waterline in salt water without loss of seal integrity. The flexibility of the products also means that they handle continuous hull flex well. For the same reason, these sealing agents are often used in the swimming pool industry. Joints between decks, flooring and walkways also benefit from the resistance to weathering, impact and bending of polysulphide sealants.
Polysulfide-based rubber sealants and products are widely used in environments such as the aviation and construction industries due to their mechanical strength and resistance to degradation by gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and lubricants. The products are also excellent sealants and insulators for plate glass windows and doors. Special grades of polysulfide rubber are also used as impression materials in the field of dental technology. One drawback to these products, however, is their propensity for some plastics to become brittle and crack. This is especially true for ABS and PVC plastics; polysulfide based products should not be used on these materials.
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