Under extreme environmental conditions, such as heavy wind loads and extreme temperatures, primary sealants in insulating glass units (IGUs) can be exposed to high stresses. A reactive butyl-based warm edge spacer system – which incorporates the functions of the spacer, desiccant and gas-tight primary sealant – is well suited to compensate for these stresses. In contrast to rigid spacer frames, this spacer utilizes the whole interior of the IGU to absorb movements caused by environmental stresses. The reactive thermoplastic spacer utilizes the very low gas permeation and moisture vapour transmission rates of butyls to produce absolutely gas tight IG units even in combination with silicone secondary, which is known to have low gas retention

Presented by various experts on behalf of H.B. Fuller Company.