A Guide to Aerospace Sealants

From launch to landing, high performance sealants are required for bonding and sealing the aerospace industry. 

Where are Sealants used in Aerospace? 

Seals for aerospace must be able to withstand extreme temperatures, vibration, and environmental exposure. With applications both inside and out, some specific applications include:

• Potting and ancapsulating sensitive electronic components
• Bonding interior panels, windows, and fixtures in aeroplanes
• Sealing components in extreme environments, and thermal insulation i.e. satellites
• Aerospace and Aviation engine sealing
• Exterior thermal coatings
• Protecting optics, solar arrays, and crew compartments

Why use Silicone RTVs for Aerospace Sealing? 

Silicone RTVs (Room-Temperature Vulcanizing) have been developed for adhesion, sealing, coating, potting and encapsulation applications. They are available with a variety of customisable benefits and certifications including military, NASA, and government required certifications. Types of Silicone RTVs available include low outgassing solutions for aerospace, a range of viscosities for varying applications, and wide range of colours to meet specifications.

Remaining flexible over time, Silicone RTVs offer vibration dampening and stress relief in a wide range of temperatures and environments. They can be utilised for interior and exterior applications, offering insulation and dielectric properties for use around electronics, as well as a resistance to chemicals, fuels, and other fluids.

Key Features of Silicone RTVs Include: 

• Outstanding weather resistance
• Ability to bond dissimilar substrates which expand at different rates
• Stability in extreme temperatures from -150°C to 260°C 
• Ability to withstanding fuels and solvents
• Room temperature curing makes for more convenient assembly and repairs

Momentive and Aerospace:

 Momentive’s silicones have been an integral part of the aerospace industry for more than 60 years.

From the window seals on the Apollo capsules to the soles on Neil Armstrongs boots and helping to develop the first low outgassing silicones for the Apollo Program, Momentive’s silicones are an integral part of space exploration.  

Momentive's RTV Silicones have...

• Gone the distance - from Gemini's first 1000 miles to Hubble's 4 million miles in space
• Passed the test of time - from Mercury's first 20 seconds to the international space station's 9000+ days in space
• Made it to Mars - helping the curiosity rover make its Mars landing
• Been on the Moon - 6 times
• Flown in space on over 500+ missions - including Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and more
• Helped more than 550 astronauts

Momentive helped the Apollo program and every US manned space flight since, delivering innovative low outgassing, thermally insulating, and extreme temperature resistant RTV silicones, helping today’s pioneers reach even greater hights.

Products to Consider: 

RTV100 Series

The RTV100 series are Momentive’s premier line of adhesive sealants available in both paste and flowable grades. One-component products, they offer primerless adhesion to many substrates, with low temperature flexibility and some offering high temperature performance.

Other key features include excellent weatherability, ozone and chemical resistance, and excellent electrical insulation properties. The series of adhesives have FDA, UL, NSF, and USDA recognition and meet MIL-A-46106 specifications.

RTV133 Black Electrical Silicone

1 component, ready to use, silicone rubber adhesive sealant. RTV133 is ideal for use in the electronics, aerospace, appliance, and transportation industries with typical applications including coatings for electronic and integrated circuits and connections on electronic parts assemblies.

Some key features include resistance to high temperatures, low temperature flexibility, excellent electrical insulation, and e Excellent weatherability and ozone and chemical resistance. Additionally, RTV133 has low flammability, with a UL rating of V-0 or V-1 using UL-94 test

RTV157 Grey Silicone & RTV159 Red High Temp Silicone

Both RTV157 and RTV159 are 1 component, ready to use, high strength silicone rubber adhesive sealants.

They cure to tough resilient silicone rubber on exposure to atmospheric moisture at room temp and offer excellent weatherability, ozone, and chemical resistance as well as excellent electrical insulation properties. RTV159 also offers high temperature performance

RTV566 Low Outgassing Silicone

RTV566 is designed for low outgassing applications in a high vacuum environment, and offers a wide temperature range of -115°C (-175°F) to 260°C (500°F)

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Why Choose TECHSiL for Aerospace Sealants?

TECHSiL are trusted suppliers for the Aerospace and Aviation industries, providing high performing solutions specifically designed to meet the stringent requirements. We offer Military spec materials and Boeing approved products and are a JOSCAR registered supplier, assuring our customers that we provide the highest quality products which comply fully with Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space industries.

With proven technical expertise, TECHSiL offers:

• Reliable first-time quality
• AS9120 Quality Assurance
• Value Add services
• Dedicated Customer Service

For more information contact our technical team here.