Tips for Using Car Sealant Strips

2026-03-08 19:49:40

Automotive sealing strips are one of the important components of automobiles, widely used in doors, windows, body, seats, sunroof, engine case, trunk and other parts. They can be used to produce rubber hinges for installing passenger car luggage compartment doors, and also have other waterproof, sealing and other functions.

Classification of automotive sealing strips:

1. Vulcanized rubber sealing strip

Generally made of EPDM material. Excellent comprehensive performance, with outstanding ozone resistance, excellent weather resistance, good high and low temperature resistance, outstanding chemical resistance, ability to withstand various polar solutes, and low relative density. The disadvantage is that it has a large expansion in general mineral oil and lubricating oil, and is usually a dark colored product. The temperature range for use is -60 to+150 ℃. With its wide applicability and excellent comprehensive performance, it has been recognized by domestic and foreign industry enterprises.

2. Silicone rubber sealing strip

Has outstanding high and low temperature resistance, ozone resistance, and weather resistance; Has good hydrophobicity and appropriate breathability; Has insulation properties; It can meet the hygiene level required for food hygiene and meet the requirements for various colors. The disadvantage is that the mechanical strength is poor in rubber materials and it is not resistant to oil. The temperature range for use is -100 to+300 ℃. Suitable for high temperature, cold, areas with strong ultraviolet radiation, and medium to high-rise buildings.

3. Chloroprene rubber sealing strip (CR)

Compared with other special rubbers, some have poorer performance, but the overall performance balance is good. It has excellent weather resistance, ozone resistance, heat aging resistance, oil and solvent resistance, good chemical resistance, excellent flame resistance, and good adhesion. Poor storage stability, hardening phenomenon may occur during storage, and poor cold resistance. The relative density is relatively high. Usually black products. Used in environments with requirements for oil resistance, heat resistance, acid and alkali resistance. The temperature range for use is -30 to+120 ℃.

4. Nitrile rubber sealing strip

The main characteristics are oil resistance and solvent resistance, but not resistant to media such as ketones, esters, and chlorinated hydrocarbons, with good elasticity and mechanical properties. The disadvantage is that it is prone to aging and cracking in ozone and oxidation, and has poor cold resistance and low temperature resistance.

5. Thermoplastic elastomer sealant strip

It has good elasticity and excellent wear resistance, good oil resistance, a wide range of adjustable hardness (Shore A hardness 65-80 degrees), superior mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation at break), excellent cold resistance and resistance to chemical interwoven corrosion, and the price of raw materials is relatively high. For materials that are recyclable and reusable. The temperature range for use is -60 to+80 ℃. Suitable for earthquake prone areas, areas near railways or factories with high-power cranes that experience strong vibrations, as well as areas with strong ultraviolet radiation.

6. Thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) sealing strip

It has the flexibility and elasticity of rubber, can be produced by plastic processing methods, does not require vulcanization, and the waste can be recycled and reused. It is a material with a wide range of performance, good heat and cold resistance, low relative density, oil and solvent resistance similar to chloroprene rubber, but not very good in compression deformation and wear resistance. The temperature range for use is -40 to+150 ℃. Suitable for cold weather and medium to high-rise buildings.

7. Plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PPVC) sealing strip

The material is cheap and easy to obtain, with corrosion resistance, wear resistance, acid and alkali resistance, and various chemical media. It is resistant to combustion and has high mechanical strength; The disadvantage is that plasticizers in the system are prone to migration, becoming harder and brittle over time, losing elasticity, not resistant to aging, and have poor weather resistance and low-temperature performance. Generally, it is a dark colored product. Suitable for situations with low light intensity, minimal temperature changes, and mild weather conditions.

8. Surface coating material

It is to apply polyurethane, organosilicon, polytetrafluoroethylene and other substances on the surface of the sealing strip to replace the traditional surface flocking process. The coated sealing strip has good wear resistance and smoothness, especially the sealing strip coated with silicone surface coating, which has a low surface friction coefficient and is conducive to the sliding of door and window sashes. Suitable for doors and windows with sliding doors and window sashes. It is a substitute for traditional siliconized wool strips.

Daily maintenance and usage tips for automotive sealing strips:

1. Check for large cracks and fractures in the sealing strip. If the sealing strip breaks, adhesive can be used for repair. Especially with the use of specialized adhesive for sealing strips, it is easy to repair large crack strips. Of course, if the sealing strip is severely damaged or has a significant degree of aging, it is still easier to replace it with a new sealing strip.

2. After using car detergent to clean the door and window sealing strips, car owners should apply a layer of highly permeable protective agent, which can prevent the sealing strips from aging and greatly improve their sealing performance. In addition, the gaps between the sealing strips are easily filled with sand and dust, which can cause rusting. For this, a brush should be used to clean up dust and other debris.

3. When replacing the entire vehicle body, a layer of sealant should be applied to the overlapping part of the weld seam, with a thickness of about 1mm, and the adhesive layer should not have defects such as virtual adhesion or bubbles. A 3mm-4mm elastic coating and anti-corrosion coating should be applied to the entire floor surface and front wheel casing surface. These measures can not only greatly enhance the sealing of the entire vehicle and slow down the rusting speed of the body, but also greatly improve ride comfort.

4. The sealing between the car door and the body is a difficult part, with strict sealing requirements. The parts that should be sealed are relatively long, and the cross-sectional shapes of each sealing part are not the same. In addition, the car door opens and closes frequently. Three or four seals are often installed on sedans, with a quadruple seal structure for the front pillar and roof side crossbeam. This type of multi pass seal is usually arranged in the front door gap, which not only has a sealing function, but also has the function of car sound insulation and noise reduction.

5. After the car window glass is damaged, the owner should check whether the sealing strip is damaged when replacing the glass. Due to the fact that car windows often cannot return to their original shape after repair, in addition to ensuring easy pulling or lifting of the window glass, attention should also be paid to the sealing around the window glass. If the gap between the glass and the glass groove is uneven, and the rubber strip has poor contact with the glass and glass groove, the car owner can easily pull off the sealing strip by hand.

6. When changing the roof of the car, the owner should first apply a layer of conductive sealant around the edge of the roof. After welding, apply a layer of edge glue in the water channel and joint. This not only helps to seal the car body, but also prevents early rusting of the car body due to water accumulation at the edge welding joint.

7. The car sunroof is a basic feature of most household sedans. When the car sunroof is opened, the rubber seal track is exposed to the air, inevitably accumulating dust and even running into small gravel. Long term use may cause the sunroof to deform due to wear and tear, and block the drainage holes. So it is very important to regularly clean the track and apply lubricating oil to it.

Although automotive sealing strips are small components inside the car body, they can ensure stable and heavy opening and closing of doors, as well as provide shelter from wind and rain, dust, heat insulation, and sound insulation. They also have a decorative effect on the edges where doors and windows meet. When the car body is subjected to vibration and distortion, the sealing strip also plays a role in buffering, absorbing, and protecting the glass. Therefore, car maintenance is no small matter, and no aspect can be ignored.