The service temperature range for polyurethane sealants is -40 °F to 185 °F (-40 °C to 85 °C).

Physically remove excess sealant by wiping, scraping or cutting.  Residual traces of sealant can be removed by wiping the surface with a cloth or abrasive pad saturated with a solvent such as mineral spirits or xylene. Test a hidden area of the surface to be cleaned to ensure no adverse effects due to solvent interaction. Where abrasive pads are used, care should be exercised in order to ensure the surface appearance is not adversely effected.

The surface temperature of the substrate should be less than 150 °F (66 °C) at the time the sealant is applied.

The surface temperature of the substrate should be 40 °F (4 °C) and rising or above at the time the sealant is applied. It is also recommended that the sealant be stored at room temperature prior to application.

Polyurethane sealants are paintable once they are fully cured. Adhesion of the paint to the sealant should be evaluated through a site mockup to determine appropriateness of use.  Additionally, for applications involving dynamically moving joints, it should be expected that the paint film will tear exposing the sealant below.  For this reason, it is recommended that the sealant and the paint be of similar colors.

Curing of polyurethane sealants occurs at approximately 1/16” (1.66mm) depth per day at 75 °F (24 °C) and 50% RH. The cure time will increase as the temperature and/or humidity decreases. A good rule of thumb is an additional 24 hours of cure for every 10 °F (-12 °C) decrease in temperature.

Vulkem 45SSL has a skin-over time of 5 hours at 75°F at 50% RH.  At these conditions, the sealant will be tack-free in 17 hours and continue to cure at a rate of 1/16 per day.  At higher temperatures and higher humidity, the sealant will cure faster while at lower temperatures or lower humidity, cure rate will be extended.  The cure of Vulkem 45SSL can be accelerated using minimal amounts of potable water.  Contact your local Tremco sales representative or Tremco Technical Services at 866-209-2404 for specific guidelines and recommendations.

The shelf life for Tremco polyurethanes is 6 to 24 months depending on type of sealant and/or packaging. Please contact Technical Service for specific shelf life of a product at 866-209-2404.

A sealant that works as a semi- self leveler has a moderately fluid composition that allows it to spread and smooth itself with minimal effort -- but with less fluidity than a fully self-leveling sealant. This makes Vulkem 45SSL especially well suited for sealing expansion joints in concrete.