Ardex ST Silicone Sealant (310ml)

Ardex ST Silicone Sealant is a one component neutral cure elastic sealant and is available in six colours that complement the Ardex Flex grout range. Easy to apply and smooth, Ardex ST Elastic Silicone Sealant is ideal for movement joints, corner and connecting joints in bathrooms, showers and living areas, and doors and windows abutting tiles. The 310ml tubes are easy to work with and fit in standard size silicone and skeleton caulking guns.

Ardex ST Silicone has excellent resistance to weather, UV-radiation and commonly used cleaning chemicals and disinfectants. This makes it suitable for both internal and external areas without having to reapply and re-silicone often. It's neutral cure and low odour, so you don't need any special tools to help it go off and it won't leave a bad smell during application. Ardex ST Silicone also minimises discolouration and is suitable for most tile surfaces including natural stone, and contains a fungicide to prevent the growth of fungi and moulds in those hard to reach areas.

The strong silicone bond means you can use this product on both walls and floors, and as it's unaffected by thermal changes you can even use it with underfloor heating systems too. A skin forms in just 5 minutes after application and you should expect to get approximately 9 metres of silicone per cartridge in a standard bead.

Features & Benefits of the Ardex ST Silicone Sealant

DESCRIPTION

ARDEX ST is a neutral cure elastic silicone sealant that minimises the risk of discolouration in porous materials, making it suitable for use with most finishes including moisture sensitive natural stones. After curing, ARDEX ST is resistant to commonly used cleaners, disinfectants and UV exposure, and its antifungal properties inhibit the growth of fungi and moulds. It is easy to apply and smooth and, due to its high elasticity, it can accommodate movement of up to 20% of the applied width. It is available in Transparent and 13 colours designed to match the most popular ARDEX-FLEX Flexible Tile Grout colours.

NOTE: Does not contain acetic acid.

USE

ARDEX ST can be used for the sealing of movement, corner and connecting joints in internal and external locations including bathrooms, showers and living areas. It is suitable for use with most surface finishes including natural stones, and has excellent adhesion to glazed and unglazed tiles, enamel, glass, acrylic, anodised aluminium, plastics, laminated kitchen work boards, solvent free acrylic varnished surfaces and wood. NOTE: Apply ARDEX ST cautiously on natural stone, avoiding getting any silicone onto the tile surface. If this should happen, remove immediately and do not use detergents. Fresh spills can be removed with a thinner. After curing, it is only possible to remove the sealant by mechanical means if applied to a suitable substrate. Due to the variable nature of some natural stone and absorbent surfaces, we recommend that a test application is carried out before commencing work, or contact ARDEX Technical Support Team for further advice.

ARDEX ST is waterproof and prevents water penetrating through the silicone joint. Where moisture sensitive backgrounds in wet areas are being tiled, ARDEX WPC Waterproof Coating should be used to prevent moisture ingress through tile grout joints. For further information, consult the ARDEX WPC Technical Datasheet or contact ARDEX Technical Support Team.

ARDEX ST is not suitable for use in permanently submerged locations such as swimming pools.

ARDEX ST should not be used on the following substrates: bitumen and bituminous materials, butyl, EPDM, rubber, polyethylene, neoprene, tar and Teflon. ARDEX ST does not adhere to polyethylene and Teflon. On the other substrates discoloration may occur. The surface of natural stones and open porous tiles should be protected with masking tape to prevent the sealant entering pores in the surface which could lead to discolouration.

ARDEX ST is suitable for corner and edge joints on floors, however it is not suitable for floors with high mechanical loads.

ARDEX ST cannot be over painted and is not suitable for load bearing construction.

On painted surfaces and plastic substrates, we recommend a trial application.

SURFACE PREPARATION

The joint edges should be clean, firm and free of dust, dirt, oil, grease and other barriers to adhesion. Joint edges in bathtubs and shower outlets should be cleaned and degreased with a suitable degreaser. Do not use any detergents.

Deep joints should be prefilled with an appropriate foam backer rod. Bituminous, tar, oil or acrylic impregnated fillers should not be used.

APPLICATION

Cut off the tip of the cartridge above the thread. Screw on the nozzle and cut it at an angle according to the required application thickness. Place the cartridge into a cartridge gun and apply the sealant firmly into the joint and against the backing, making sure all edges are completely covered and no air voids are formed. Before the silicone skins over (after approximately 5 minutes), smooth the surface with a suitable tool and remove any masking tape used.

ARDEX ST should be applied at a substrate temperature between 5°C and 40°C.

NOTE: The joint width should be determined so that the maximum movement the joint may experience is less than 20% of the joint width. Please observe the following required joint depths:

NOTE: ARDEX ST can be applied in sections and adheres well to cured silicone, if dry and free of dust.

Opened cartridges can be used over several days if the nozzle is closed with a suitable top. Any dry silicone in the nozzle should then be removed before re-use.

COVERAGE

A 310ml cartridge of ARDEX ST will cover approximately:

8.6m at 6mm x 6mm thickness

3.1m at 10mm x 10mm thickness

3.9m at 10mm x 8mm thickness

1.7m at 15mm x 12mm thickness

CLEANING

Although ARDEX ST contains fungicide to prevent mould, the general rules of cleaning should be applied and suitable cleaning agents used; dirt and soap residues can still provide an ideal background for fungi and mould to grow on. From time to time, the joints should be dried and cleaned with a suitable disinfecting agent. Note that the use of cleaning agents containing iodine may cause discolouration.

PACKAGING

ARDEX ST is packed in plastic cartridges - 310ml net volume.

STORAGE AND SHELF LIFE

ARDEX ST can be stored for approximately 15 months in dry conditions and in the original, sealed packaging.

NOTE: For the latest technical or health and safety data on this product, consult the current technical or health and safety data sheet online at www.ardex.co.uk

TECHNICAL DATA

Information supplied by Ardex UK