Silane VS Siloxane Sealers

Silane vs. Siloxane Sealers: A Head-to-Head Comparison

If you randomly ask for a concrete sealer at the stores, you will end up being given more than 6 types to choose from. Some of the sealers that you may be provided with include epoxies, urethanes, acrylic sealers, polyaspartics, and penetrating sealers. But if you ask for a penetrating sealer, there is a high chance that you will be given either silane or siloxane sealer.

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Comparison: Silane VS Siloxane Sealers

Silane and siloxane sealers are the most common types of penetrating sealers. They are both derived from the silicone family and are closely related, although slightly different. Below is a table that shows their differences:

Table showing the difference between Silane vs Siloxane sealers

Silloxane Sealer

Silane Sealer

It doesn’t need high PH to catalyze Needs high PH to catalyze
Functions on the surface for better water repellency Functions deep to provide below the surface protection
Has large molecule size Has small molecule size

First and foremost, silane sealers need a high PH to catalyze, while siloxane sealers don’t rely on substrate PH. As a result, siloxanes are great for curing brick, stone, and stucco. And since silanes comprise smaller molecules when compared to siloxanes, they normally get deep penetration than siloxanes. Therefore, silanes perform outstandingly under weathering and abrasion.

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Even though silanes may be good at penetrating due to their small molecules, their size as well causes them to be more volatile. Hence, the solid contents of silane products should be high enough to compensate for the loss of reactive material through evaporation during application and cure.

Siloxanes provide great water repellency performance at a lower initial cost than silanes because of their less volatile nature. But if the surface is exposed to abrasive wear like pool decks and pavements, then treatment with a silane sealer will offer more durable protection. In reference to surface color and texture, cure with silane sealers normally cannot be discovered by looking. But for siloxane sealers, may slightly darken the cured surface.

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Which is better? Silane or Siloxane?

In short, both silane and siloxane sealers have their own strengths and weaknesses. For this reason, a silane/siloxane hybrid sealer is typically the best penetrating sealer. They combine both their advantages to the benefit of the user. That’s why you will find that a silane/siloxane penetrating sealer is very easy to apply and extremely durable. This hybrid sealer provides protection from below and above the surface, making it to perform exceptionally as all sides of the surface are secured.

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