Glass sealant and structural adhesive have drastically different properties. Therefore, it's crucial to distinguish between them when using them. Incorrect use can lead to serious consequences. Here are two key differences in their properties:
Adhesive Strength: Glass sealant, in my opinion, is a type of sealant, similar to the most common silicone weather-resistant sealant. Therefore, its adhesive strength isn't particularly high. Its primary function is sealing. It's essentially a silicone sealant. Structural adhesive, on the other hand, requires extremely high adhesive strength. This includes compressive strength, tensile strength, and shear strength. Structural adhesives require a compressive strength greater than 65 MPa, a tensile strength greater than 30 MPa, and a shear strength greater than 18 MPa.
Service Life: Many structural adhesives are designed to last the same lifespan as the building. That is, if a building is designed for a 50-year lifespan, then the structural adhesive used must also have a service life of 50 years. Therefore, structural adhesives have a very long lifespan. In contrast, silicone sealant typically develops problems like peeling and cracking after a few years. Thus, structural adhesives are far superior to silicone sealant.