Sealants without Methyl Ethyl Ketoxime

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cobul
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
Silicone sealants using the RTV Neutral curing method emit Methyl Ethyl Ketoxime (MEKO), which can be toxic when inhaled. For sealing gaps at the bottom of doors to prevent ants from entering, alternatives that do not produce MEKO or other toxic byproducts during curing are sought. While general-purpose silicone sealants typically recommend gloves for handling, they are not considered hazardous enough to require respirators in most cases. Sealants are categorized as either acetic or neutral cure; acetic cure releases acetic acid, which can be problematic in sensitive applications like electronics, while neutral cure produces MEKO. Those concerned about MEKO can opt for acetic silicones, which do not release this byproduct.
Cobul
Messages
100
Reaction score
11
I found out the silicone sealants with RTV Neutral (Room Temperature Vulganizing) curing method emits Methyl Ethyl Ketoxime which can be toxic when inhaled.

I just want to seal my the bottom of the door edge to avoid ants outdoor from getting inside.

What sealants can you use that doesn't contain any Methyl Ethyl Ketoxime or toxic byproduct when it is curing? Just enough to prevent ants from getting inside via the small gap.
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
There are many, many different types of sealants
If you are nervous about using such a widely used product as silicone sealant you probably need to tell what you ARE comfortable using.
I had a quick look at some SDS for general purpose silicone sealants and all they recommend is to use gloves (for obvious reasons); there are no mentions of e.g. using a respirator even in enclosed spaces meaning these are not generally considered to be hazardous to handle.
 
Reply
  • Informative
  • Like
Likes berkeman and jim mcnamara
Typical silicone sealants usually either come in "acetic cure" or "neutral cure".

Acetic ones will say on the label that they release acetic acid during the reaction of methyl triacetoxysilane, and will release the characteristic vinegar scent of acetic acid.

Sometimes this acetic acid is unacceptable in certain applications like electronics, as it may cause corrosion.
In this case, "neutral cure" chemistry is used.

This releases no acid when curing, and this is where you will typically find an oxime such as methyl ethyl ketoxime produced.

If you're concerned about the MEKO byproduct, one of the common acetic silicones won't release it.
 

Thread 'Solubility of MgSO47H2O in water'

It seems like a simple enough question: what is the solubility of epsom salt in water at 20°C? A graph or table showing how it varies with temperature would be a bonus. But upon searching the internet I have been unable to determine this with confidence. Wikipedia gives the value of 113g/100ml. But other sources disagree and I can't find a definitive source for the information. I even asked chatgpt but it couldn't be sure either. I thought, naively, that this would be easy to look up without...
View full post »

Thread 'Why does having 8 valence electrons make an element inert?'

I was introduced to the Octet Rule recently and make me wonder, why does 8 valence electrons or a full p orbital always make an element inert? What is so special with a full p orbital? Like take Calcium for an example, its outer orbital is filled but its only the s orbital thats filled so its still reactive not so much as the Alkaline metals but still pretty reactive. Can someone explain it to me? Thanks!!
View full post »

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top