Butyl rubber is an elastomeric polymer that is used in a wide variety of construction adhesives and sealants. Because of its unique properties it also is used in the automotive and food processing industries among others. Butyl adhesives can be applied in a number of different forms. It is used widely as a hot melt, solvent solution, preformed tape or gasket, and as a gun-dispensable sealant. Butyl rubber can be used as a primary base resin or as an additive for tack and other desired properties.
RESULTING PROPERTIES
The cohesive strength of butyl sealants can be improved by the incorporation of fillers and other additives. The formulation above is for a hot melt applied butyl sealant. It is commonly used as a sealant for insulating glass windows due to its extremely low moisture vapor transmission. Other uses include automotive weather stripping and automotive taillight lens sealing. They offer low viscosity, anti-sag characteristics, reasonable cost, and easy gunnability at low temperatures. Butyl sealants also exhibit excellent adhesion to both glass and metal substrates. The starting formulation in the table above is for a hot melt butyl insulating glass sealant that can be used for the primary seal of a dual sealed insulated glass unit.
