Weatherstripping

Last updated

Weatherstripping is the process of sealing openings such as doors, windows, and trunks from the waters above. The term can also refer to the materials used to carry out such sealing processes. The goal of weatherstripping is to prevent rain and water from entering entirely or partially and accomplishes this by either returning or rerouting water. A secondary goal of weatherstripping is to keep interior air in, thus saving energy on heating and air conditioning.

Contents

Automotive

Purpose

Automotive weatherstripping is used extensively aboard automobiles, and can be found anywhere the interior compartment must be sealed from the environment. It must be functional and cohesive with the body design of the vehicle. In addition to factors standard to weatherstripping, additional factors must be considered for vehicles, specifically in the engineering of the parts. For example, the weatherstripping must function the same while the vehicle is parked and at full speed; be flexible to accommodate motion vibrations; endure extreme temperatures of hot and cold; withstand long periods of sun exposure; and resist automotive liquids such as oil, gasoline, and windshield washer fluid (methanol). Weatherstripping also plays a part in maintaining satisfactory ride quality in the vehicle, being partially responsible for sealing noise out from the passenger compartment.

Automobile flex when going over bumps, and vibrations cause relative motions between the relatively fixed body and movable parts like doors, windows, and sunroofs. This movement could allow water in the vehicle so the weatherstrip must compensate by filling the gap. Furthermore, this relative movement can cause noises such as squeaks, rattles, and creaks to be heard within the vehicle.

Considering a standard four-door vehicle, the doors require 20 feet (6.1 meters) or more of material per door, windows require upwards of 10 feet (3.0 meters), and trunks require large amounts.

Automotive weatherstripping can fail because of age or use. [1] Poorly performing weatherstripping should be reported to the car dealership if the vehicle is under warranty, as fixes may be known.

Materials

Automotive weatherstripping is commonly made of EPDM rubber, a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) mix of plastic and rubber, and a thermoplastic olefin (TPO) polymer/filler blend. Sunroof weatherstripping can also be made from silicone due to the extreme heat encountered by automobile roofs.

Buildings

Overview

Weatherstripping around openings – especially doors and windows – is used in buildings to keep out weather, increase interior comfort, lower utility bills, [2] and reduce noise. Builder weatherstripping can be made from felt; [3] vinyl, rubber, or poly foam; [2] [3] EPDM cellular rubber and vinyl tubing; [4] and metals such as brass and aluminum. [5]

Doors

Every exterior door, or door to an uninsulated room such as an attic, must be weatherstripped as required by building codes in various jurisdictions. The materials used in door weatherstripping are thresholds, a piece of material (either a sweep or a J-hook) to match the door to the threshold, and the actual weatherstripping itself. Doors can usually be divided into private homes and commercial properties. Some of these doors receive custom weatherstripping at the factory.

Pre-weatherstripped doors for private homes are usually made of fiberglass or a similar material and are shipped from the factory weatherstripped. The doors have a kerf in the door stop so that a foam, rubber, or vinyl strip can be placed inside for the door to rest against when closed. These doors also have the threshold — usually a molded piece of plastic — nailed to the frame in the factory. These units are not difficult to install and require only very little skill.

Custom weatherstripping, compared to pre-weatherstripped units, requires much more time and is considered to be a specialized skill. Weatherstrippers install a threshold, cut the door and install a sweep or J-hook to the bottom of the door, and nail spring-steel bronze into the doorjamb to seal the gap.

Door weatherstripping is critical for thermal comfort and the overall energy efficiency of any building, particularly in Zero Energy and Passive House building projects for cold climates.

Low-energy buildings require special doors with special weatherstripping standards, based on the alignment of the threshold and jamb gasketing, multiple weatherstripping, and special seals - including special silicone or synthetic rubber seals, but also compression and steel magnetic weatherstrips.

Windows

Weatherstripping can be used on windows to seal them on all sides. Metal caps on the window top [5] and on sashes [2] redirect rain to drip off instead of infiltrating. Foam or gasket weatherstripping can be applied to the sides and sashes. [6]

Other uses

Weatherstripping is also used on boats, to seal passenger and cargo areas from the elements.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polyurethane</span> Polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate (urethane) links

Polyurethane refers to a class of polymers composed of organic units joined by carbamate (urethane) links. In contrast to other common polymers such as polyethylene and polystyrene, polyurethane term does not refer to the single type of polymer but a group of polymers. Unlike polyethylene and polystyrene polyurethanes can be produced from a wide range of starting materials resulting various polymers within the same group. This chemical variety produces polyurethanes with different chemical structures leading to many different applications. These include rigid and flexible foams, and coatings, adhesives, electrical potting compounds, and fibers such as spandex and polyurethane laminate (PUL). Foams are the largest application accounting for 67% of all polyurethane produced in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silicone</span> Family of polymers of the repeating form [R2Si–O–SiR2]

In organosilicon and polymer chemistry, a silicone or polysiloxane is a polymer composed of repeating units of siloxane. They are typically colorless oils or rubber-like substances. Silicones are used in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medicine, cooking utensils, thermal insulation, and electrical insulation. Some common forms include silicone oil, grease, rubber, resin, and caulk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soundproofing</span> Methods to reduce sound pressure

Soundproofing is any means of impeding sound propagation. There are several methods employed including increasing the distance between the source and receiver, decoupling, using noise barriers to reflect or absorb the energy of the sound waves, using damping structures such as sound baffles for absorption, or using active antinoise sound generators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gasket</span> Type of mechanical seal

A gasket is a mechanical seal which fills the space between two or more mating surfaces, generally to prevent leakage from or into the joined objects while under compression. It is a deformable material that is used to create a static seal and maintain that seal under various operating conditions in a mechanical assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultrasonic welding</span> Welding process

Ultrasonic welding is an industrial process whereby high-frequency ultrasonic acoustic vibrations are locally applied to work pieces being held together under pressure to create a solid-state weld. It is commonly used for plastics and metals, and especially for joining dissimilar materials. In ultrasonic welding, there are no connective bolts, nails, soldering materials, or adhesives necessary to bind the materials together. When used to join metals, the temperature stays well below the melting point of the involved materials, preventing any unwanted properties which may arise from high temperature exposure of the metal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elastomer</span> Polymer with rubber-like elastic properties

An elastomer is a polymer with viscoelasticity and with weak intermolecular forces, generally low Young's modulus (E) and high failure strain compared with other materials. The term, a portmanteau of elastic polymer, is often used interchangeably with rubber, although the latter is preferred when referring to vulcanisates. Each of the monomers which link to form the polymer is usually a compound of several elements among carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and silicon. Elastomers are amorphous polymers maintained above their glass transition temperature, so that considerable molecular reconformation is feasible without breaking of covalent bonds. At ambient temperatures, such rubbers are thus relatively compliant and deformable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O-ring</span> Mechanical, toroid gasket that seals an interface

An O-ring, also known as a packing or a toric joint, is a mechanical gasket in the shape of a torus; it is a loop of elastomer with a round cross-section, designed to be seated in a groove and compressed during assembly between two or more parts, forming a seal at the interface.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earplug</span> Device to protect ears from loud noises

An earplug is a device that is inserted in the ear canal to protect the user's ears from loud noises, intrusion of water, foreign bodies, dust or excessive wind. Since they reduce the sound volume, earplugs may prevent hearing loss and tinnitus, in some cases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auto detailing</span> Activity to clean and maintain a vehicle

Auto detailing is an activity that keeps the vehicle in its best possible condition, primarily cosmetic, as opposed to mechanical. Detailing is achieved by removing visible and invisible contaminants from the vehicle's interior and polishing the exterior to its original blemish-free finish. The fundamental detail options include an exterior wash and wax, interior vacuuming, window cleaning, and surface polishing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EPDM rubber</span> Type of synthetic rubber

EPDM rubber is a type of synthetic rubber that is used in many applications.

A synthetic rubber is an artificial elastomer. They are polymers synthesized from petroleum byproducts. About 32 million metric tons of rubbers are produced annually in the United States, and of that amount two thirds are synthetic. Synthetic rubber, just like natural rubber, has many uses in the automotive industry for tires, door and window profiles, seals such as O-rings and gaskets, hoses, belts, matting, and flooring. They offer a different range of physical and chemical properties which can improve the reliability of a given product or application. Synthetic rubbers are superior to natural rubbers in two major respects: thermal stability, and resistance to oils and related compounds. They are more resistant to oxidizing agents, such as oxygen and ozone which can reduce the life of products like tires.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butyl rubber</span> Synthetic rubber; a copolymer of isobutylene with isoprene

Butyl rubber, sometimes just called "butyl", is a synthetic rubber, a copolymer of isobutylene with isoprene. The abbreviation IIR stands for isobutylene isoprene rubber. Polyisobutylene, also known as "PIB" or polyisobutene, (C4H8)n, is the homopolymer of isobutylene, or 2-methyl-1-propene, on which butyl rubber is based. Butyl rubber is produced by polymerization of about 98% of isobutylene with about 2% of isoprene. Structurally, polyisobutylene resembles polypropylene, but has two methyl groups substituted on every other carbon atom, rather than one. Polyisobutylene is a colorless to light yellow viscoelastic material. It is generally odorless and tasteless, though it may exhibit a slight characteristic odor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silicone rubber</span> Elastomer composed of silicone

Silicone rubber is an elastomer composed of silicone—itself a polymer—containing silicon together with carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Silicone rubbers are widely used in industry, and there are multiple formulations. Silicone rubbers are often one- or two-part polymers, and may contain fillers to improve properties or reduce cost. Silicone rubber is generally non-reactive, stable, and resistant to extreme environments and temperatures from −55 to 300 °C while still maintaining its useful properties. Due to these properties and its ease of manufacturing and shaping, silicone rubber can be found in a wide variety of products, including voltage line insulators; automotive applications; cooking, baking, and food storage products; apparel such as undergarments, sportswear, and footwear; electronics; medical devices and implants; and in home repair and hardware, in products such as silicone sealants.

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), sometimes referred to as thermoplastic rubbers (TPR), are a class of copolymers or a physical mix of polymers that consist of materials with both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sealant</span> Substance used to block the passage of fluids through openings

Sealant is a substance used to block the passage of fluids through openings in materials, a type of mechanical seal. In building construction sealant is sometimes synonymous with caulk and also serve the purposes of blocking dust, sound and heat transmission. Sealants may be weak or strong, flexible or rigid, permanent or temporary. Sealants are not adhesives but some have adhesive qualities and are called adhesive-sealants or structural sealants.

Thermoplastic Vulcanizates (TPVs) are a type of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) that undergo vulcanization processes during manufacturing, giving elastomeric properties to the final product. Vulcanization involves the cross-linking of polymer chains, leading to increased strength, durability, and flexibility. Their thermoplastic nature allows TPVs, unlike traditional vulcanized rubbers, to be melted and reprocessed multiple times. Across the automotive, household appliance, electrical, construction, and healthcare sectors, nearly 100 TPV grades are utilized globally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hutchinson SA</span> French rubber manufacturer

Hutchinson is a French multinational Group known as the third-largest manufacturer of non-tire rubber in the world. It was founded in 1853 by Hiram Hutchinson in Châlette-sur-Loing, France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schlegel International</span>

Schlegel International is a multi-national company based in the United Kingdom that makes seals for windows and doors, and supplies related hardware. The company was founded in Rochester, New York in the 1880s as a narrow-loom weaving operation. By 1988 it had manufacturing facilities in twelve countries, making seals for windows and doors in buildings and automobiles. That year it was acquired by BTR plc of the United Kingdom. In 1997 the Schlegel operations were acquired by UniPoly S.A. in a BTR management buy-out. From 2006 Schlegel International, with manufacturing operations in Europe, Australia and Brazil, was a subsidiary of Lupus Capital, now called Tyman plc. The Schlegel brand is also used for products made near Rochester, New York, by Schlegel International's North American sister company AmesburyTruth.

Implant induction welding is a joining method used in plastic manufacturing. The welding process uses an induction coil to excite and heat electromagnetically susceptible material at the joint interface and melt the thermoplastic. The susceptible material can be contained in a gasket placed between the welding surface, or within the actual components of a composite material. Its usage is common for large, unusually shaped, or delicate parts that would be difficult to weld through other methods.

References

  1. ↑ Wojdyla, Ben (24 April 2012). "How to Fix Your Car's Weatherstripping". Popular Mechanics . Hearst Magazine Media . Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 The DIY Network. "Making Your Home Airtight". www.diynetwork.com. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Window/Door and Specialty Weatherstripping". Frost King. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "Tubular Vinyl Gasket Weatherstrip". Frost King. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  5. 1 2 The Builders Supply (30 October 2012). "Dorbin Metal Strip". www.thebuilderssupply.com. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "Weather Strip Your Windows". Lowe's. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.