Simson

Simson is a MS polymer sealant. This has many advantages over old technology Polyurethane sealants. Basically, Simson is a cross pollination of the following three products;

1. Silane. Silane is one of the first refined stages of Silicone. Silicone sealants as we know it, release gases, which means you can not paint near, or over silicone as the paint will bubble. Silane releases no gases. But, Silane has the positive points of a Silicone Sealant. These include UV stable, high flexibility, high heat range.
2. Polyurethane. Polyurethane is the base, or core of an MS polymer sealant. Polyurethane is an excellent high strength adhesive/sealant
3. Polymer. Polymer is an inert substance. Therefore, it does not react with other substrates. Both Silicone and Polyurethane sealants alone will react and conduct a charge.

The combination of these three products gives the following benefits;

1. UV Stable. The whites do not go yellow or break down in high UV light areas
2. High temperature. Simson achieves more than double the heat range of a standard polyurethane sealant. There are many now who are even running Simson through a powder coat oven. Client testing is always recommended. Polyurethane reach maximum temperatures of 98 degrees Celsius, however, after 70 degrees Celsius, they become soft and can loose adhesion qualities. Simson can reach and maintain temperatures in excess of 150 degrees Celsius, and in the short term, even up to 180 degrees Celsius.
3. No isocyanate. These are carcinogenic, or cancer causing agents. Each time you touch a polyurethane sealants, you are absorbing isocyanates into your blood stream
4. Low Odours. Polyurethane, and silicones, contain a very high solvent rate. This releases a terrible smell, which is not good to breath. This means that it is recommended that safety breathing apparatus must be used. It is not uncommon for people to pass out whilst using these sealants in confined spaces. Simson, on the other hand, can be used in confined spaces, due to a low odour content.
5. Less than 1% carbon Black. Carbon Black is used in both Silicone and Polyurethane Sealants as a color, and as a binding agent for the sealants. Polyurethanes have many issues related to this. They include carbon leaching. An example of this is the black run off you can easily view on a bus or a large boat. This generally comes from the sealant used on the windows. When you can see the carbon leach, it means the product is starting to break down.
6. Due to the lack of carbons in Simson, this sealant will not conduct a charge. Carbon is a metal, is if black sealant are used against aluminium, the aluminium can suffer from electrolysis. Simson will not conduct a charge, where as a current can easily travel through both black polyurethanes and silicones
7. No solvents. The reason why silicone and polyurethane sealants are so hard to clean up is because they have a high solvent content. One common complaint from workers is that black silicone and polyurethane sealants stain the skin. Simson, which has no solvents, are easily cleaned off the skin by using soapy water
8. Less preparation. Simson requires no primers or activators on most substrates. Polyurethane sealants, which are the most commonly used sealant adhesives used today, require a very detailed preparation process. The metals need to be primed, the glass need both primers and activators, and the plastic need special primers. Simson requires no activators, even on glass. Glass and metals require only a wipe down with either primer M( this is not a primer, but just a cleaner), or an approved alternative is IPA, or iscol propyl alcohol. Simson is the only sealant that will easily bond to unprimed Stainless steel.
9. Simson can bond to most plastics. Silicones can burn or react with plastics, and polyurethane needs a very in-depth preparation process to achieve success. Simson, will bond to some plastics without a primer. With the use of a primer(primer K1), Simson can even bond to ABS plastics.
10. Simson is fully paintable. The best time to paint Simson is in the tack off stage.

These are just some of the benefits of Simson. This product was developed by the ocean liner industry for use in the expansion joints on teak timber decks. Polyurethane breaks down in UV light and heat, and when exposed to the marine environment, this occurs quite fast. When a polyurethane sealant starts to break down, the backs, which are used in this situation, leach carbon, causing staining of the boats and increasing cleaning costs. Simson was developed to over come these issues, and is widely used through out the USA, Europe, and Australia in the Marine and transportation manufacturing industries.