Petroleum Products: Caulk

So far this month, we’ve seen uses of petroleum to manufacture products all over our houses, bodies and in our foods. Today, we’re taking it back to the bathroom—or anywhere really, where a sealant is needed—and examining the sometimes clear, rubbery stuff known as caulk.

Just as there are about a bajillion different types of paints, preservatives and other petroleum-based products, there are also seemingly equally numerous types of caulk on the market, each designed for a specific type of use.

When selecting a caulk, one has to consider whether it will be used indoors or outdoors, on which type of surfaces, whether or not the caulk needs to be flexible, temperature, and other such measures.

Given the range in types, there is also a range in recipes, however the vast majority are made from a petrochemical base that is either an oil, resin or rubber, acrylic or polyurethane.

Other ingredients are then added to adjust the final properties of the caulks. Below is a video from Discover’s How it’s Made on caulk and sealants.[[{"fid":"979","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default"},"type":"media","attributes":{}}]]