Solvent / Stripper for Cured Silicone Sealant

I work with silicone sealant in an aquaculture facility and have never come across such a chemical. I have also seen many builing programms where people just cut out the old silicon and maybe this is because there isn't such a thing.

The best tool I've found so far is a surgeons scalpal.

It can be a nightmare to get silicon sealant off sometimes and I'm also interested in knowing if there is such a thing but I have my doubts as to wether it exists or not.

a heat gun?

What does methylene Chloride do?

methylene chloride

it will pollute the planet

Makes people sick?

A STANLEY KNIFE and elbow grease

I've seen something in the hardware store called a silicone "softener" that is supposed to aid in its removal, but I haven't tried it myself. That stuff is a bugger though, isn't it?

Unibond do a cured silicon remover, polycell do one, there's one called silicone eater...

A good razor knife around the edge to break the seal is probably your best bet. As the others said previously. If there is such a solvent, think what it would do to the surrounding surfaces. Even granite could be stained and ruined if it were to permeate the stone.

This is what I do for other than oil rated silicone, cut it free and on non-permeable surfaces use gasoline. Just keep brushing it on every minute or so to keep the surface wet. It will start to curl around the edges then come loose. Wipe dry and wash with soap and water. On the oil rated cut and scrape. Hope this is helpful

The "softeners'" used contain acetic acid. Vinegar is usually 4-10% acetic acid. Glacial acetic acid;(110% acetic acid), is available at some photography stores(used as a colour booster), it is almost a "gell" when cool. Protect yourself from it, with respirators,gloves,etc.. Best done outside, remove excess silicone with a sharp knife,scraper..

That must therefore depend on the type of silicone sealant. Some sealants contain acetic acid to help the cure. If the sealant is of the type the call natural cure then it doesn't contain acetic acid. I think thats what it's called anyway but I may be wrong. When glazing windows you have to make sure you don't use sealant containing acetic acid because this reacts with the double glazing sealer.

Hi,

In Australia I have used an industrial cured silicone remover called 'Di-aqua' - it's available in various forms such as concentrate (by another name) and the dilute version 'Di-aqua' etc. and was probably imported from the U.S. anyway. It's not quick, takes a few hours but is really good - the part has to be immersed. I was told it breaks the oxygen bonds in the silicone (if that's wrong, I don't need to hear from the chemists out there, thank you!). However, it DID work very well leaving just a sludge in the bottom of the container and we used it regularly to clean up clogged silicone dispensers. Unfortunately that was a few years ago and I can't remember more than that (plus I no longer work there!). The net may help. Best of luck.