Frequently asked questions

What is Sika All-in-One Modulus?

SikaTack-MOVE has been developed with the aim of providing our customers with a product which can be used for all passenger vehicle types, regardless of model and make.

SikaTack-MOVE has a new formula which makes it usable on vehicles which require a high-modulus product at the same time as it can be used on vehicles which require a low-modulus product. Using SikaTack-MOVE, the driver of the car will benefit from the advantages of a low-modulus product (sound insulation etc) at the same time as the increased stiffness of a high-modulus product is taken into account.

I left a case of SikaTack in the van over the weekend and it froze. Is that OK?

Yes. Freezing does not damage Sikaflex or SkaTack products at all. In fact, we always recommend storing Sika products in cool and dry conditions. You can’t get much cooler than frozen. Just make sure that you allow several hours to condition (thaw) the product to room temperature.

Do Sika products meet the non-conductivity requirements of aluminium-bodied vehicles?

Yes. SikaTack-MOVE, SikaTack-HighModul, SikaTack-Drive, SikaTack-Ultrafast II, SikaTack-Ultrafast, and SikaTack-Plus all meet or exceed the published standards of electrical resistance. SikaTack-MOVE and SikaTack-HighModul can also be used in aluminium-, magnesium-, and hybrid-bodied vehicles such as Audi A2, Audi A8 and Jaguar XJ.

I use a battery gun, but it doesn’t always work with Sika products.

The best battery gun on the market is made by the Milwaukee Tool Company. This is an extremely powerful gun, which can be used for both cartridges and unipaks. The gun has a charging time of only 60 minutes and with fully charged battery you can press out up to 50 cartridges before recharging. If you have problems gunning out highly viscous material, check whether the material is too cold (hot-applied products should be gunned at 80°C, and cold applied products ideally at 23°C).

Can Sika products be used after their expiration date?

No. SikaTack adhesives, Sika Aktivator and Sika Primer must all be used before the end of their shelf life. This ensures that the product works as intended with the published adhesion qualities and Safe Drive-Away Times.

SikaTack adhesives have a shelf life of 9 months. Sika Aktivator has a shelf life of 12 months, and Sika Primer-206 G+P has a shelf life of 9 months. Opened bottles of Sika Aktivator must be used within 1 month (and before the end of its shelf-life).

How far in advance can I activate a windshield?

If the activated windshield is properly stored and dust-free, it can remain active for up to eight hours. If eight hours have passed, the windshield can simply be re-activated. A windshield can be activated maximum 3 times.

What should I do if the pinchweld is corroded?

This is a common problem. If you discover rust on the pinchweld, this must be removed before proceeding with the glass installation process. Areas of corrosion, which have reduced the metal’s strength or thickness, must be repaired in a car body shop. Smaller corrosion areas can be removed with sand paper or another abrasion type of tool. Ideally, remove the corrosion by sanding or abrading while leaving as much as possible of the original paint or base coating on the pinchweld intact and of good integrity. The remaining surface must be smooth, uniform, and completely rust free. Apply Sika Primer-206 G+P with a brush or dauber on the prepared area. It is recommended to apply two layers of primer for best protection against corrosion.

What should I do with bare metal exposed in scratches?

Small scratches and nicks in the paint during the removal of the old windshield can result in exposure of bare metal. These scratches can easily be touched up with Sika Primer-206 G+P.

Can I also put primer on the remaining bead of polyurethane?

No. Sika does not recommend putting primer on the fresh cut polyurethane bead since this reduces the adhesion quality and is an unnecessary step, since all SikaTack adhesives develop very strong adhesion to the fresh-cut PUR with a wipe of Sika Aktivator.

Is it possible to use SikaTack products together with primers or preps from other suppliers?

Sika does not recommend mixing polyurethane adhesives and primers/preps from different suppliers since the chemical compatibility of these products are unknown.

Why do you recommend using a “V” bead?

All SikaTack adhesives are supplied with a pre-cut triangular “V” tip nozzle. This is the recommended nozzle tip, which must be used in order to achieve optimal adhesion results. A round bead traps air when compressed between the glass and the pinchweld, which leads to reduced adhesion result. We also recommend holding the application gun at a 90° angle to the bonding surface since this forces the polyurethane into the irregularities of the surface and hence leads to improved adhesion results.

Can I use a paper towel to apply Sika Aktivator?

This may reduce adhesion quality. We recommend to use a lint-free cloth to apply Sika Aktivator in a wipe-on, wipe-off manner. When the cloth requires re-wetting, always expose a clean portion of the cloth to the Sika Aktivator bottle.  It is better to use a lint free cloth, but a paper towel works well too.

Can I heat products which are normally cold-applied in the SikaTack Oven?

We do not recommend to heat cold-applied products in the SikaTack Oven since this may impair the application- and adhesion properties of the product and affect the published Safe Drive-Away Times.