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Structural Silicone Glazing (SSG) is a curtain walling method that utilizes silicone sealants to adhere glass, ceramic, metal or composite panels to supporting framing members by means of a peripheral adhesive joint. In SSG curtain walls, silicone sealants serve not only as a weather seal, but also act as a structural bonding element, eliminating the need for exterior retainers and covers.
The paper discusses some essential findings of two recent research studies on the durability and service life of structural silicone glazing sealants and structures. The first study demonstrates, that specimens of a first generation 2-part silicone sealant taken from a SSG façade after 23+2 years of real life successfully passed the European ETAG002-1 performance criteria for residual strength. In a second study, a new performance-based durability test method was developed in partnership with the Federal Institute for Materials Research Berlin/Germany (BAM). This method is based on simultaneously exposing system test specimens to artificial weathering and complex, multiaxial mechanical loadings. 2-part structural silicone sealants of the first and of the second generation where subjected to this test, which is considered to correspond to an anticipated service life of 50 years.
Durability Assessment of Structural Sealant Glazing Systems applying a Performance Test Method
(2020)
During the service life of a Structural Sealant Glazing (SSG) facade, its silicone bond is exposed to climatic, chemical, and mechanical loads. While current durability assessment methods schedule separate test programmes for accelerated weathering and fatigue, the presented test applies mechanical loading and weather cycling simultaneously to simulate 50 years of use. Specifically designed medium-scale system specimens resemble a common SSG-bond. Displacement-controlled sinusoidal load cycles in two load directions subject these specimens to tensile, compression and shear loads. Weathering comprises temperature and humidity cycles, UV-radiation, and application of water and detergent. During testing, the forces transmitted by the system specimens are continuously measured for performance assessment. The resulting system response reveals mechanical performance characteristics like elastic moduli and dissipated energies which decrease during exposure, indicating stress relaxation and degradation. Two common structural sealants were tested. After testing, sections of the system specimens were subjected to tensile and shear tests for mechanical characterisation. Strengths and moduli are notably reduced by combined loading compared to those of reference and weathered specimens. Hardness and visual inspections of the bond correlate with the performance and bond characteristics. The approach introduced in this article provides a basis for life cycle assessment of SSG-systems.