New Materials and New Developments in Sealants for the Construction Industry 

New Materials and New Developments in Sealants for the Construction Industry 

From high-performance silicone to eco-friendly polyurethane, the global sealant industry is undergoing a silent revolution. New material technologies are redefining the boundaries of building durability and sustainability. 

The global building sealant industry is undergoing a new round of technological innovation and market transformation. In 2023, the global market size of polymer sealants reached approximately 20.7 billion yuan. It is projected to grow to 8.29 billion yuan by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.5%. 

With increasingly strict environmental regulations and rising demands in the construction industry, sealant materials have witnessed a completely new development pattern in terms of technological innovation, application fields, and market share. 

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01 Global Market Size and Structure 

The global sealant market is experiencing steady growth. The global market size of polyurethane sealants was approximately 20.7 billion yuan in 2023, and is expected to reach 26.7 billion yuan by 2030. The compound annual growth rate over the next six years is projected to be 4.2%. 

The global market size of single-component organic silicone sealant was approximately 23.27 billion yuan in 2024, and is expected to reach nearly 33.26 billion yuan by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.3%. 

The Asia-Pacific region is the largest market for sealants globally, accounting for over 50% of the total. It is followed by North America and Europe, with their shares being approximately 20% and 25% respectively. 

In terms of the market competition landscape, the top five polyurethane sealant manufacturers worldwide are Henkel, Sika, Arkema, H.B. Fuller, and Soudal. These leading companies account for over 35% of the market share. 

02 Product Quality and Technological Evolution 

The quality standards of sealant products have been continuously improved. Silicone sealants, due to their excellent resistance to high and low temperatures, ultraviolet rays, and ozone aging, have remained free from aging and degradation of adhesion properties even after being used for over 30 years, while other organic sealants have a service life of only 5 to 10 years. 

Technological innovation drives product upgrades. The European standard ETAG002 and the American standard ASTM C1184 have set higher requirements for the strength, elasticity and durability of structural sealants. 

The Chinese GB16776 standard has increased the safety factor from 2.5 times to 4 times, and stipulates that the minimum strength value of structural sealant should be 0.6 MPa, which is higher than the 0.345 MPa of the American standard. 

Elasticity performance has become a key indicator for evaluating the quality of sealants. According to the European standard ETAG002, elasticity is characterized by the elastic recovery rate, which refers to the situation where a structural sealant specimen is stretched to 25% and then left to rest for 24 hours. After that, the elongation recovery of the specimen is measured. 

03 Installation Techniques and Construction Innovation 

The installation process of sealant is of vital importance for achieving the performance. The construction performance characterizes the usage performance of the product and is a key characteristic indicator for construction applications, directly influencing the ease of construction operations. 

In the Chinese standards GB/T16776, JG/T475 and the American standard ASTM C1184, various performance indicators such as fluidity, extrudability, surface drying time and application period that are frequently involved in on-site construction have been stipulated. 

Good construction performance can effectively ensure the speed and efficiency of the construction process; poor construction performance not only causes operational difficulties but also easily leads to construction quality defects. 

For applications in special environments, such as coastal areas that are frequently exposed to sea winds, the European standard ETAG002 has added requirements for tests involving salt fog (NaCl), acid fog (SO2), and immersion in cleaning agents. 

04 Technical Standard System and Certification 

The global sealant technology standard system is constantly being improved. The main standards include: China's national standard GB/T16776, the new industry standard JG/T475, the American standard ASTM C1184, and the European standard ETAG002. 

These standards differ in terms of strength requirements, area of bond failure, and durability tests. The Chinese standard GB16776 stipulates that the cohesive failure area must be greater than 95%, while the European standard ETAG002 requires it to be greater than 90%, and the American standard ASTM C1184 does not specify the bond failure area. 

In terms of durability testing, the American standard ASTM C1184 stipulates a 5000-hour water-ultraviolet light aging test; the Chinese standard GB 16776 has a test duration of 300 hours; and the European standard ETAG002 examines an aging test of water-light exposure for 1008 hours. 

In 2021, the China National Certification and Accreditation Administration issued the "Implementation Rules for Green Product Certification", including sealant in the scope of green product certification. The certification model includes application for certification, initial inspection, product sampling inspection, evaluation and approval of certification results, and post-certification supervision. 

05 Diversification of Application Areas 

Construction projects remain the main application field for sealants, accounting for approximately 70% of the total demand in 2023. Among them, residential buildings account for 60% of the total demand in the construction industry, while public buildings and commercial buildings each account for 25% and 15% respectively. 

The decoration and renovation field is an important application direction, accounting for approximately 20% in 2023; the industrial and other fields account for 10%. 

The application of organic silicone sealant in the construction field mainly covers three aspects: the sealing of building facades and residential buildings, and the processing of energy-saving glass for doors and windows. 

With the development of industries such as automobiles, electronic and electrical equipment, and solar energy, the demand for organic silicon sealants has grown rapidly, and the requirements for their performance have also been continuously increasing. 

06 Environmental Regulations and Sustainable Development 

The impact of environmental regulations on the sealant industry is becoming increasingly significant. On July 18, 2024, the EU Eco-design Regulation 2024/1781 came into effect. This new regulation replaces the previous Eco-design Directive 2009/125/EC and significantly expands the scope of eco-design requirements. 

This regulation allows for the establishment of ecological design requirements for almost all products traded within the European Union, covering the entire life cycle of the products, from production to disposal. 

ESPR introduced digital product passports, which mainly provide a convenient way to access the necessary information for the product in a digital format. Without digital product passports, the product cannot be placed on the EU market or put into use. 

China is also actively promoting green product certification. Sealants are classified into different categories such as silicone type, silane-terminated polyether type, polyurethane type, polysulfide type, acrylic type and butyl type for certification. 

07 Industrial Chain and Enterprise Competitive Strategies 

The upstream and downstream of the sealant industry are collaborating closely. Fluctuations in raw material prices have had a significant impact on the industry, but leading enterprises have maintained their competitiveness through technological innovation and capacity expansion. 

The competitive strategies of global sealant enterprises are diversified. Henkel holds the leading position in the global polyurethane sealant market with approximately 15% of the market share, followed by Sika, Arkema, Fullo and Sudar. 

In the field of silicone sealants, the major global manufacturers include international companies such as 3M, Henkel, Dow Corning, and Wacker Chemical, as well as Chinese domestic enterprises like Guangdong Baiyun Chemical and Zhijiang Silicone. 

Chinese enterprises are accelerating their development. With the rapid growth of the organic silicon sealant market in China, foreign organic silicon manufacturers are setting up production bases in China, while domestic manufacturers are also significantly expanding their production capacity. 

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The global sealant industry is moving towards higher performance, environmental friendliness and intelligence. In the next five years, with the full implementation of the EU's ecological design regulations and the promotion of green building standards, the sealant industry will undergo deeper technological changes. 

By 2030, innovative products such as bio-based sealants, UV-curable sealants and smart-responsive sealants will gradually become the mainstream in the market, driving the global construction industry towards a more sustainable direction. 

The implementation of digital product passports will significantly enhance supply chain transparency. Consumers and professionals can easily scan a QR code to obtain data on the environmental impact throughout the product's lifecycle, enabling them to make more environmentally friendly choices.