SEDL / STP / STP1514-EB / STP48971S

Cleaning Silicone Residue from Glass

Klosowski, Jerome M.
Chief Chemist, Building Diagnostics, Inc., Austin, TX

Breeze, Edward S.
Professional Engineer, EDI Building Consultants, Inc., Houston, TX

Nicastro, David H.
Professional Engineer, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Building Diagnostics, Inc. and Engineering Diagnostics, Inc., Austin, TX

Pages: 10    Published: Jan 2010

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Abstract

Silicone sealants have been used widely in the waterproofing industry because they resist deterioration. However, residue from silicone sealant (or from pre-formed silicone seals) can be difficult to remove from adjacent surfaces, if it contacts these surfaces inadvertently from improper application or fluid run-down. This article focuses on the challenge of removing silicone residue from window glass. Several of the likely sources of the silicone residue are discussed, along with the difficulty of measuring the presence of the colorless and odorless thin residue film. The testing used commercially available cleaners and digesters to attempt to remove the silicone residue. The results were mixed and largely inconclusive; however, the test methodology developed can be used for further study by additional laboratories.