DowSil™ 896 PanelFix for Panel Bonding applications

DowSil™ 896 PanelFix for Panel Bonding is an elastic 1-part neutral curing silicone sealant specifically designed for panel bonding applications that require high durability and fast handling. It provides immediate strength directly after application. DowSil™ 896 PanelFix for Panel Bonding is a silicone which shows primerless adhesion to a variety of substrates such as anodized and mill finish aluminum, and mineral substrates and provides high strength once fully cured. DowSil™ 896 PanelFix for Panel Bonding is not suitable for structural glazing applications.

Specification writers: These values are not intended for use in preparing specifications. Please contact your local Dowsil™ sales office or your Global Dowsil™ Connection before writing specifications on this product.

Dowsil™ 896 PanelFix for Panel Bonding is a one-part, neutral curing alkoxy silicone sealant specifically designed for non-glass facade applications to structurally bond two substrates together. Neutral alkoxy silicones cure at room temperature on exposure to water vapor in the air, giving off a small amount of alcohol (Methanol).

Dowsil™ 896 PanelFix for Panel Bonding provides high durability and immediate Green Strength directly after application. Once applied and fully cured, Dowsil™ 896 PanelFix for Panel Bonding is able to withstand dynamic and permanent loads.

Please come back to our Dowsil™ 896 Technical Service Experts to calculate and define the correct joint dimension according to the final service life conditions.

The property of instant Green Strength can eliminate or decrease the usage of tapes for pre-fixing depending on the panel sizes. It is therefore able to enhance productivity, can save time and labor cost. Dowsil™ 896 PanelFix for Panel Bonding provides very good durability and is superior to organic sealants due to its UV- and temperature resistance. The immediate Green Strength is about 4–5 times higher than standard sealant which gives additional safety during the production and assembly process.

High humidity level and higher temperatures accelerate the cure process and lead to earlier skin formation.

Green Strength is continuously building up during cure. Adhesion to the substrates is developed at the same time as product cures. Although the strength build up is quite fast, the sealant will develop its final properties once completely cured. It is recommended to install the units only, once fully cured. In case the panels are installed before complete cure, a suitable mounting aid such as Dowsil™ 896 Panel Fix Tape, may be required. A further requisite for a high quality bonding application consists in an appropriate joint dimension. Depending on parameters such as panel weight, panel sizes, but also sub-structure materials and temperatures, joint dimensions may vary. The joint thickness depends on the expected movement and the joint width depends on the applied dynamic and permanent loads. More specific information about bonding is available from our Technical Service. For each bonding project separately and depending on customer requirements, Dowsil™ Construction Industry Technical Service will provide a tailor-made solution.

For further information please contact your local technical service engineer, who can help determining the required joint dimensions.

DowSil™ 896 PanelFix for Panel Bonding is available in white and black colors.

DowSil™ 896 PanelFix for Panel Bonding is a ready to use silicone sealant. It provides excellent strength and adheres to a wide range of most common Panel Bonding materials such as mineral substrates and metal (anodized aluminum, stainless steel, etc.).

DowSil™ 896 PanelFix for Panel Bonding can be used for manual applications using a manual gun for cartridges or sausages. It is also suitable for semi-or even fully automated robotized applications.

Due to its low stringing, and High Green Strength, DowSil™ 896 PanelFix for Panel Bonding provides good ease of use, workability and a higher compressive strength in an uncured state.

There is far less squeeze out as seen with standard sealants.

As it is a moisture curing sealant, the reaction starts at the surface exposed to moisture and cures in depth. The deeper the joint is, the longer it takes the sealant to cure completely. The initial Green Strength takes over initial loads, but to provide full strength and movement capability with elastic recovery it needs to be fully cured. Moisture has to migrate further to the already cured skin and as this skin becomes thicker, the reaction slows further down. The combination of initial Green Strength overlapping with the strength build up during cure makes the DowSil™ 896 PanelFix for Panel Bonding superior versus standard one part and silicone sealants.

As 1-part silicones need moisture to cure, the joint depth is limited to 14–15 mm as a maximum. Joints deeper than that will not completely cure. The deeper the joint is, the longer it takes to fully cure.

Cleaning 

Substrates must be clean prior to application to ensure adhesion durability. All surfaces must be clean from contaminants and residues such as grease, oil, dust, water, frost, surface dirt, old sealants or glazing compounds and protective coatings. Solvent should be wiped on and off with clean, oil- and lint-free cloths.

DowSil™ R40 Cleaner is recommended for cleaning of non-porous substrates. The ventilation time at room temperature should be at least 1 minute. The DowSil™ Panel Bonding Manual is available on request and provides additional application guidelines. Please contact your DowSil™ Technical Service Expert for more information.

Priming 

For each project separately, it is essential that adhesion to all concerned surfaces should be tested before application. If adhesion requires priming, a primer such as DowSil™ 1200 OS is in general recommended for metal substrates and DowSil™ Primer P for mineral substrates. When priming, the ventilation time at room temperature is indicated on the Primer label.

Priming should be done within 4 hours after cleaning. If there is a greater time delay, cleaning process has to be repeated again. Project specific priming regulation needs to be discussed and approved by DowSil™ Technical Department. Please contact your local DowSil™ Technical Service Engineer for further assistance.

Panel Bonding Application 

DowSil™ 896 PanelFix for Panel Bonding offers good adhesion to most common substrates in the non-glass façade application such as mineral substrates and metal (e.g. anodized aluminum, stainless steel, etc.). Because of the variety of different substrates, compositions and suppliers, we strongly recommend to make a project specific test. Please contact DowSil™ Technical Laboratory Services to assist with this tests to prove long-term adhesion and durability. In a cured state, DowSil™ 896 PanelFix for Panel Bonding is compatible with most commonly used facade components. It is compatible to DowSil™ Neutral curing Construction sealants.

It is important when selecting components within Panel Bonding Application to ensure adhesion and compatibility by carrying out appropriate tests. Our DowSil™ Laboratory Service is ready to assist you.

As a one-part neutral curing system, moisture vapor/humidity is required for cure. Substrates have to be put together within the above stated tack free time before skin formation.

Masking and Tooling 

Areas adjacent to joints may be masked to ensure a neat sealant line. Do not allow masking tape to touch clean surfaces to which the silicone sealant is to adhere. Tooling should be completed in one continuous stroke before skin building. Masking tape should be removed immediately after tooling.

No maintenance is needed once sealant has been properly applied and cured. If panels need to be replaced or sealant becomes damaged, sealant joint has to be cut back as much as possible. DowSil™ 896 PanelFix for Panel Bonding will adhere to cured silicone sealant which exhibits a clean knife-cut or abraded surface. 

Once sealant is used in conjunction with a dispensing equipment, dispensing system needs to be air-tight and moisture tight as otherwise sealant will start to cure over time. Normally there is no specific cleaning required as it is a one-part silicone sealant. Material which stays uncured in the nozzle, will start to cure. To avoid that, nozzle should be covered with a moisture tight material such as metal.

Product safety information required for safe use is not included in this document. Before handling, read product and safety data sheets and container labels for safe use, physical and health hazard information. The safety data sheet is available on the dow corning website at dowcorning.com, or from your dow corning sales application engineer, or distributor, or by calling dow corning customer service.

When stored at or below 30°C in the original unopened containers, DowSil™ 896 PanelFix for Panel Bonding has a usable shelf life of 12 months from the date of production. 

For manual application this product is provided in 310 ml cartridges and 600 ml sausages. Other container sizes on request possible.

DowSil™ 896 PanelFix for Panel Bonding must not be used for structural glazing applications in façade or as a sealant for insulating glass units.

Because of the risk of incompatibility, DowSil™896 PanelFix for Panel Bonding must not come into contact with, or to be exposed to, sealants that liberate acetic acid.

To support customers in their product safety needs, DowSil™ has an extensive Product Stewardship organization and a team of Product Safety and Regulatory Compliance (PS&RC) specialists available in each area.

For further information, please see our website, dowcorning.com or consult your local DowSil™ representative.

The information contained herein is offered in good faith and is believed to be accurate. However, because conditions and methods of use of our products are beyond our control, this information should not be used in substitution for customer’s tests to ensure that our products are safe, effective, and fully satisfactory for the intended end use. Suggestions of use shall not be taken as inducements to infringe any patent.

DowSil™’s sole warranty is that our products will meet the sales specifications in effect at the time of shipment.

Your exclusive remedy for breach of such warranty is limited to refund of purchase price or replacement of any product shown to be other than as warranted.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, DOW CORNING SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY OTHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR MERCHANTABILITY. 

DowSil™ DISCLAIMS LIABILITY FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.