CAF 3
Universal silicone sealant for general sealing and bonding applications.
Universal silicone sealant (1-component, acetic) for general sealing and bonding applications
documents
Internal reference:
40-305.TU
HS code:
39100000
CAF 3 is a universal silicone sealant (1-component, acetic) for general sealing and bonding applications.
The Elkem CAF series comprises one-component (1K), moisture-curing acetic silicone sealants—ready-to-use from the cartridge, with high resistance to temperature and chemicals. CAF 3 is designed for specific industrial applications—see below for its key properties and areas of application.
CAF 3 is the standard industrial silicone sealant for general repair and maintenance applications—a one-component, acetic-curing, ready-to-use product that has proven itself in many industries.
What sets CAF 3 apart
What is CAF 3 used for?
processing
Recommended Accessories
Important information
CAF 3 Compared to Related CAF Products
Crosslinking, mechanics, and temperature listed side by side — all values taken from the official Elkem TDS. “— ” = not specified in the data sheet.
CAF 3 Current Product |
CAF 1 → | CAF 4 → | CAF 731 → | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Networking System | 1K Acetic | 1K Acetic | 1K Acetic | 1K Neutral (Alkoxy) |
| Color | Translucent | red | Off-white | White |
| Shore A hardness | 26 | 47 | 37 | 40 |
| elongation at break | 260 % | 200 % | 290 % | 420 % |
| tensile strength | 1.3 MPa | 4.4 MPa | 3.8 MPa | 3.3 MPa |
| tear resistance | 2.5 kN/m | 6.0 kN/m | 4.5 kN/m | 13 kN/m |
| skin formation time | 8 min | 7 min | 10 min | 10 min |
| Continuous operating temperature | +200 °C | +225 °C | +225 °C | +150 °C |
| Peak temperature | +225 °C | +300 °C | +250 °C | +180 °C |
| Main application | Industrial Maintenance | Electric heating elements | Industrial Maintenance | Aviation Adhesives |
Technical Specifications for CAF 3
| product information | |
|---|---|
| manufacturer | Elkem Silicones |
| brand | CAF |
| network type | Single-component (relative humidity) |
| Number of components | 1K (single-component) |
| mixing ratio | Single-component |
| container | 100 g |
| Additional features | |
|---|---|
| UV resistance | No |
| Physical properties | |
|---|---|
| Paint cured | Transparent |
| Self-leveling | Yes |
| consistency | Flowable |
| Electrical Properties | |
|---|---|
| Electrical insulation | Yes |
| product approvals | |
|---|---|
| food contact | No |
| Suitable for medical use | No |
For binding values, please refer to the technical data sheet (TDS) in the "Documents" tab.
Documents and Data Sheets
Click on a document to view a preview, or click the download icon to download it directly.
Technical Data Sheets (TDS) 2
Frequently Asked Questions About CAF 3
Practical questions regarding application and design — answered by SILITECH.
CAF 3: Universal silicone sealant (1-component, acetic) for general sealing and bonding applications. Main applications include industrial maintenance, general workshop use, and equipment repair.
Acetic cure (acetic acid curing) means that the 1K system cures through exposure to atmospheric moisture and releases small amounts of acetic acid during curing—as indicated by its characteristic odor. Acetic systems are well-established, cost-effective industry standards that offer excellent adhesion to glass, ceramics, and many metals. Caution: Acetic acid can cause corrosion on copper, zinc, and electrogalvanized steel—use a neutral variant (e.g., CAF 530, CAF 731, or CAF 730) in these cases.
CAF 3 adheres without a primer to glass, ceramics, many metals (stainless steel, aluminum, copper for neutral variants), and numerous engineering plastics. Adhesion is not possible on PE, PP, PTFE, and silicone oils—these substrates are generally not bondable with silicone. If in doubt, we recommend conducting a preliminary test or consulting SILITECH regarding the specific material pairing.
Prepare the substrate so that it is clean, free of grease, and dry. Apply the sealant evenly from the cartridge or container—refer to the TDS for skin formation and curing times. Store in the unopened original container at 5 to 30 °C, protected from direct sunlight. Use opened containers promptly — for acetic systems, reseal tightly immediately after opening. Consult the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before use.
In the comparison table above, you will find related CAF products with different properties—such as different colors, different cross-linking systems (acetic vs. neutral), or different mechanical properties. If you are unsure about the best choice, we would be happy to advise you—please contact SILITECH with your requirements (substrate pairing, temperature, corrosion resistance, and appearance).
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product specifications
| product information | |
|---|---|
| manufacturer | Elkem Silicones |
| brand | CAF |
| network type | Single-component (relative humidity) |
| Number of components | 1K (single-component) |
| mixing ratio | Single-component |
| container | 100 g |
| Additional features | |
|---|---|
| UV resistance | No |
| Physical properties | |
|---|---|
| Paint cured | Transparent |
| Self-leveling | Yes |
| consistency | Flowable |
| Electrical Properties | |
|---|---|
| Electrical insulation | Yes |
| product approvals | |
|---|---|
| food contact | No |
| Suitable for medical use | No |
| keywords | |
|---|---|
| keywords | |
| Mechanical properties | |
|---|---|
| Shore A hardness | 26.0 Shore A |
| Modulus at 100% elongation | 0.5 MPa |
| tensile strength | 1.3 MPa |
| elongation at break | 260.0 % |
| Tear resistance | 2.5 kN/m |
| processing | |
|---|---|
| Viscosity of the mixture | 140,000 mPa·s |
| skin formation time | 8.0 min |
| Fully cured after 24 hours | 4.5 mm |
| Mesh 2 mm layer | 5.0 h |
| Physical & Thermal | |
|---|---|
| Density (23°C) | 1.03 g/cm³ |
| Temperature resistance (duration) | -60 to 200 °C |
| Peak temperature (short-term) | 225 °C |
| thermal conductivity | 0.2 W/(m·K) |
| Electrical specifications | |
|---|---|
| Dielectric constant ε (1 kHz) | 2.7 |
| Dielectric strength | 19.0 kV/mm |
| Forward resistance | 1e+15 Ω·cm |
| Loss factor tan δ | 0.002 |
| storage | |
|---|---|
| Shelf life in original packaging | 18 months |
| Storage temperature | 2 to 30 °C |
Documents and Data Sheets
Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and Technical Data Sheets (TDS) available for download: