ABSTRACT
The project research entailed the production of high quality sealant
incorporating a local raw material for sealing holes and gaps in various materials
like metal and plastic. Two samples of acrylic sealants were produced, the first
samples which is the standard formulations involved the use of silica gel as a
major adhesion promoter and the second samples which is the research
formulations involved the use of sand (sharp colourless sand with 59%
silica/silicondioxide composition)) as a major adhesion promoter. The two
samples were subjected to various test characteristics to check and compare their
performance. The test results showed that both samples exhibited excellent
adhension and sealing properties to metallic, plastic, wooden and ceramic
materials. The tensile test result showed that the tensile strength of the formulation
with silica Gel (Control experiment) decreased with the increase in silica gel in
the formulation of the samples ranging from 36 to 13 MPa (see table 4.1), while
the tensile strength of the formulation with sand (research experiment) increased
with the increase in sand in the formulation, ranging from 36 to 71MPa (see table
4.2). Showing that the research formulations exhibited a greater tensile strength
than the standard formulations and other high strength sealants from research. It
is recommended that the use of sand should be used to replace silicon/silica gel in
the production of acrylic sealant since it is more available, less expensive and
offers a greater tensile strength.
Keywords: Sealant; Metallic; Plastic; Silica and Sand.
