RTV is a common term in the silicone industry, and it stands for Room Temperature Vulcanization. This type of liquid silicone material can cure or solidify at room temperature without the need for heating or pressurization. The curing time of RTV silicone primarily depends on the temperature, and therefore, its vulcanization speed can be controlled by adjusting the temperature.
Types of RTV Silicone
There are different types of RTV silicone (Room Temperature Vulcanizing silicone) based on their packaging. They can be divided into single-component RTV silicone and two-component RTV silicone. Within the industry, one-component RTV silicone is often referred to as RTV or RTV-1, while two-component RTV silicone is represented by RTV-2. RTV-2 silicone can be further categorized based on its curing mechanism into tin cure silicone and platinum cure silicone.
RTV-1 Silicone
RTV-1 silicone (one-component room-temperature vulcanizing silicone) cures by coming into contact with moisture from the atmosphere and doesn't require the addition of a curing agent. Typically, these products are sealed in tubes or containers. When the RTV-1 silicone is squeezed out, the stabilizers present in the silicone react with the moisture in the air, initiating the curing process from the outside in.
The advantage of RTV-1 silicone is its ease of use. However, it may present challenges when it comes to curing in deeper sections. The thicker the layer of silicone, the slower the curing process, as it relies on moisture penetrating the material from the outside to initiate curing.
rtv-1 silicone
RTV-1 silicone offers quick surface drying and good adhesion. Typical applications include its use as a sealant, adhesive, and coating.
RTV-2 Silicone
RTV-2 silicone (Two-Component Room-Temperature Vulcanization Silicone) is typically produced in the form of liquid or paste materials. It consists of two separate components, A and B, which undergo a cross-linking reaction only when mixed together. The curing reaction for it is initiated by a catalyst. RTV-2 tin cure silicone rubber uses tin salts as catalysts and relies on atmospheric moisture for curing, while RTV-2 platinum cure silicone rubber utilizes platinum catalysts and does not produce byproducts during the curing process.
rtv-2 silicone
RTV-2 silicone has a wide range of applications and exhibits excellent mechanical properties within the temperature range of -50°C to +250°C. They only decompose at temperatures higher than 350°C, producing non-flammable and non-combustible inert silicon dioxide deposits. Tin-cure silicone are generally more cost-effective than platinum-cure silicone. They are ideal materials for applications in textile coatings, silicone mold manufacturing, prototyping, healthcare applications, and potting of electronic components.
Summarize
RTV-1 and RTV-2 (Room Temperature Vulcanizing) are two types of RTV silicone, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. The single-component RTV-1 silicone is easy to use but may have slower curing at greater depths. On the other hand, the two-component RTV-2 silicone offers several advantages: customizable hardness, no heat generation during curing, minimal expansion, and extremely low shrinkage. It can cure uniformly both inside and out, resulting in highly durable products.
The choice between these different types of RTV silicone depends on project-specific needs, including the curing mechanism, ease of use, and the intended application.
