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Last week's discussion of the five sealant "cure times" mentioned the effect of temperature. There are actually four kinds. Let's review the four temperature influences and how they relate to sealant curing:
- Ambient Temperature -- This is air temperature. Hot temps speed up sealant reaction time and reduce working time. Cold temps slow down the cure rate. Very cold temps can prevent curing altogether. Ambient temperature is a major factor and is difficult to control effectively (i.e., global warming takes a long time)--though not always impossible (i.e., thermostats indoors, and warming tents or vaults outdoors).
- Surface Temperature -- This is the temperature of the surface the sealant is applied to. Sealant on a warm surface in cold ambient temps will cure quicker than on a cold surface. A cold surface will slow down curing in a hot environment. Though not always practical, surface temp is often controllable with forced hot air, blow torches, heat packs, ice packs, etc.
- Sealant Temperature -- This is the temperature of the sealant itself prior to mixing. Cold sealant will buy more working time on hot surfaces or in hot ambient air. Warm sealant will speed up reactions in cold conditions. This factor is easily controlled by the appropriate storage of sealant prior to use (i.e., in heated trucks or warm pants, or in a cooler).
- Reaction Temperature -- The chemical reaction of sealant after mixing generates its own heat. The bigger the gob of sealant, the more heat generated. This is counterintuitive in practice. Consider a comparison to baking cookies, which requires external heat. A small ball of dough cooks faster than a large ball. The opposite is true with heat-generating sealant. This means a large glop of self-warming sealant may "cook faster" in cold conditions than a small glop.
Successful salespeople aren't the tall, good-looking ones; they're the ones who best understand their products and can explain to customers how their application will be affected by field factors. Sharing advice on how to control the speed of sealant curing to optimize field application time makes you an invaluable resource to your customer. This will keep their seals plugged and your orders flowing. |
