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For joints in and around swimming pools, areas under permanent water immersion, and frequently wet areas between tiles, concrete, glass, and metals, Sikasil Pool is the neutral-curing silicone sealant that resists chlorinated water and fungal growth while maintaining its bond under permanent immersion.
Sikasil Pool is formulated for constant water exposure. Unlike standard sanitary silicones, its chemical structure is designed to withstand the continuous presence of pool chemicals and high chlorine concentrations without degrading. The neutral-cure chemistry is non-corrosive, making it safe for use on sensitive metals such as stainless steel, galvanised steel, and anodised aluminium. It incorporates biocides to resist fungal attack in warm, damp environments, provided the pool chemistry is correctly maintained.
Sikasil Pool forms a flexible joint between a wide range of pool and wet-area substrates, including glazed tiles, concrete, glass, aluminium, anodised aluminium, stainless steel, and galvanised steel. It is also suitable for copper, brass, titanium-zinc, PVC, aerated concrete, cement-based renders, mortars, and bricks when prepared with the recommended primers.
Substrates must be clean, dry, sound, and free of oils, grease, dust, and loose particles. For joints subject to permanent water immersion or high physical stress, use the following pre-treatment procedures:
Insert a closed-cell, polyethylene foam backing rod to the required depth. Extrude the sealant into the joint, ensuring full contact with the joint sides to avoid air entrapment. Firmly tool the sealant against the joint sides to establish adequate adhesion. If masking tape is used for neat joint lines, remove the tape within the 5-minute skinning time. Smooth the surface using Sika Tooling Agent N or another compatible, solvent-free tooling agent.
Clean tools and application equipment immediately after use with Sika Remover-208. Cured material can only be removed mechanically.
Yes, Sikasil Pool is suitable for swimming pools, including those with regulated chlorine levels. It requires a 7-day cure before full immersion and the pool's pH must remain between 6.5 and 7.6, with free chlorine below 5 mg/l.
Joints must be at least 10 mm wide. Avoid using it on joints wider than 15 mm or with a depth less than 6 mm to ensure proper performance and movement capability.
For basic performance, Sikasil Pool adheres without primers. For critical applications like permanent water immersion or highly stressed joints, specific Sika primers are required, depending on the substrate type.
Sikasil Pool cannot be overpainted. Silicone sealants generally do not provide a suitable adhesion surface for paints, which can lead to peeling or cracking over time.
| Application | Key benefit | Primary trades |
|---|---|---|
| Joints in and around swimming pools | Withstands continuous water immersion, high chlorine levels (up to 5 ppm), and resists fungal attack, ensuring joint integrity in demanding aquatic environments. | Pool builders, Waterproofers, Tilers |
| Sealing permanently wet areas | Provides reliable, long-term sealing in areas under constant moisture exposure, maintaining flexibility (±25% movement capability) and preventing water ingress. | Waterproofers, Tilers, General Builders |
| Wet area joints between tiles, concrete, glass, and metals | Delivers strong, non-corrosive adhesion across common wet area substrates, offering high elasticity and flexibility to accommodate movement without failure. | Tilers, Glaziers, Commercial Maintenance |
Surface preparation is the most critical step. All substrates must be sound, clean, dry, and free of contaminants like dirt, oil, grease, cement laitance, or old sealant residues.
Use wire brushing, grinding, or grit blasting to remove all weak substrate material. Repair any damaged joint edges.
Remove all dust, loose, and friable material from all surfaces with a brush and/or vacuum before applying any primer or sealant.
Apply the correct primer as specified in the Adhesion Guide to ensure durable, long-term adhesion. Avoid excessive application.
Apply the specified primer (e.g., Sika® Primer-3 N, Sika® Aktivator-205, Sika® Primer-215) to the joint surfaces using a clean cloth or brush. Follow the flash-off times for that specific primer.
Insert a closed-cell polyethylene foam backing rod to the required depth (6mm - 10mm). If required, apply masking tape for neat joint lines. Fit the cartridge nozzle and cut it to the desired bead size.
Apply the sealant into the joint, ensuring it comes into full contact with the adhesion areas. Work to avoid air entrapment.
As soon as possible after application (within the ~5 min skin time), tool the sealant firmly against the joint sides. This ensures adequate adhesion and a smooth, professional finish.
Use a compatible tooling agent, such as Sika® Tooling Agent N, to smooth the joint surface. Do not use any tooling products that contain solvents.
The sealant must be completely cured before the pool is filled. The cure rate is approximately 2.0 mm per 24 hours.
Warning: May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.
Wear chemical-resistant, impervious gloves and safety eyewear as indicated by risk assessment. If adequate ventilation is not provided, use respiratory protection appropriate for gas, vapour, or aerosol concentrations.
Ensure adequate local exhaust ventilation where required, or use appropriate respiratory protection.
Store in dry conditions, protected from direct sunlight, at temperatures between +5 °C and +25 °C. Keep containers tightly closed in a well-ventilated area. Dispose of contents and containers at an approved waste disposal facility. Do not contaminate waterways.
Proper substrate preparation is critical for adhesion, especially in wet and immersed environments. General applications may not require priming, but critical or high-performance installations demand specific pre-treatment.
Surface prep: Clean surfaces thoroughly with Sika® Aktivator-205, wiping with a clean towel to remove oils, grease, dust, and loose particles. Allow a flash-off time between 15 minutes and 6 hours.
Primer: Optional for basic performance, but required for critical applications where water immersion or high stress is present. Use Sika® Aktivator-205 as part of the cleaning process.
Surface prep: Clean with Sika® Aktivator-205. Allow sufficient flash-off time.
Primer: Required. Apply Sika® Primer-3 N with a brush after Aktivator-205 flash-off, then allow a further flash-off time between 30 minutes and 8 hours before sealing.
Surface prep: Clean the surface. Ensure it is dry, sound, and free from contaminants.
Primer: Required. Pre-treat using Sika® Primer-215 applied with a brush. Allow a flash-off time between 30 minutes and 8 hours.
Surface prep: Ensure the substrate is clean, dry, sound, and homogeneous. Remove any loose particles or contaminants.
Primer: Required. Prime using Sika® Primer-3 N applied with a brush. Allow a flash-off time between 30 minutes and 8 hours before applying the sealant.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.05 kg/l |
| Shore A Hardness | 20 (after 28 days) |
| Tensile Strength | 1.5 N/mm² |
| Secant Tensile Modulus | 0.30 N/mm² at 100 % elongation (23 °C) |
| Movement Capability | ± 25 % |
| Elastic Recovery | > 90 % |
| Tear Propagation Resistance | 4.0 N/mm |
| Service Temperature | −40 °C to +80 °C |
| Sag Flow | < 2 mm (20 mm profile, 23 °C) |
| Ambient Air Temperature | +5 °C to +40 °C |
| Substrate Temperature | +5 °C to +40 °C |
| Curing Rate | 2.0 mm/24 h (23 °C / 50 % r.h.) |
| Skinning Time | 5 min (23 °C / 50 % r.h.) |
| Shelf Life | 12 months |
| VOC Content | 50.4 g/l |
Here are some common examples on where Sikasil Pool Silicone Sealant used by our customers.
