Original Tech (Dichromate Cured)
The legacy "Type I" standard (AMS-S-8802 Type I / BMS 5-45). These use a sodium dichromate curing agent. Despite being phased out due to toxicity, they remain the benchmark for chemical reliability because their cure mechanism is robust and predictable.
Tack-Free Time: 12 – 24 hours. Full Cure Time: 7 – 14 days. Cure Reliability: Superior: Less dependent on environmental moisture; cures more predictably in dry conditions than Gen 1.5 or Gen 2. Health & Environment: High Hazard: Contains hexavalent chromium (carcinogen). Requires strict PPE and hazardous waste protocols.
Non-Chromated Polysulfides (Manganese Dioxide)
The "Type II" standard. These replaced dichromate with Manganese Dioxide. While eliminating carcinogens, this chemistry introduced a greater dependency on environmental moisture for the cure reaction.
Tack-Free Time: 12 – 24 hours. Full Cure Time: 7 – 14 days. Environmental Note: Moisture Dependent: Requires ambient humidity to cross-link properly; cure times can stall significantly in dry hangars. Health & Environment: High Hazard: Safe: Eliminates hexavalent chromium; significantly safer for technicians and reduces environmental compliance costs.
Rapid Cure Polysulfides
Accelerated versions of Gen 1.5, designed for AOG maintenance. While fast, they are the most environmentally sensitive generation; they effectively "starve" for moisture in low-humidity environments, leading to stalled cures.
Tack-Free Time: 2 – 8 hours. Full Cure Time: 8 – 24 hours. Environmental Note: Critical Moisture Dependency: Highly susceptible to stalling in dry climates; cure benchmarks often assume 50% relative humidity.
Ultra-Rapid Polythioether
The modern pinnacle (Permapol P3 technology). By switching chemistry from polysulfide to polythioether, this generation provides the fastest cure in the industry while being completely indifferent to hangar conditions.
Tack-Free Time: < 1 hours. Full Cure Time: ~3 hours. Cure Stability: Indifferent: Does not require moisture; cure rate remains consistent regardless of ambient temperature or humidity. Health & Environment: Best-in-Class: Non-chromated, low VOC, and significantly reduced chemical footprint.
Miscellaneous Specialized Categories
These categories capture the other high-performance specifications appearing on the site, focused on weight reduction and extreme temperature resilience.
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