Sorry, another silicone thread!

[animalnstinct]

I apologize in advance for being probably the 5,678th person to bring this issue up, but I'm in a slight panic at the moment trying to figure out if I need to remove one of my animals from their new enclosure. While all the other threads I searched provided lots of good information they didn't clarify for me whether or not there is a type of GE II with mold inhibitor agents added or not.

My wife put doubt in my mind last night about our sphagnum moss and whether or not it had been treated with anything. I decided to take a fine tooth comb to all our build materials we've used in the past few weeks (the sphag was fine of course). When I went to look at my P cambridgei who just got rehomed into a new habitat two days ago, I noticed that it reaked of the silicone.

I had let it cure for 2 weeks before moving her in, no lid was on so it was well ventilated. The smell had seemed to go away, and was replaced by that of the substrate. Except now that the lid is on it seems to be concentrating the silicone smell again, almost worse than before (could be in my head). There was barely any used in here, just enough to permanently affix a thick piece of driftwood standing up.

It was GE II Window/Door/Attic/Basement Brown Silicone. I don't see a bio-seal, just the 100% silicone guarantee, which we all know means practically nothing. When I read the back it said "mold-free product" which is why I'm panicking that there could be inhibitors added.

Did I get the wrong kind?

[beckdg]

my computer is not upside down... thought i'd cover that.

but no... windows and doors should not be an issue with mold inhibitors. can't say the smell isn't going to be an issue if it's still that strong, but folks have used ge II windows and doors before with good experiences.

kitchen/bath/whatever/whatever... should have the mold inhibitors due to the nature of the areas they're intended to be used in. (counter tops, basin tubs, shower enclosures, etc., etc., ...

[animalnstinct]

Awesome, thanks! I rehomed her temporarily anyways, because I would rather be safe than sorry; I figure I'll start leaving the lid on every few days until the build up of fumes/smell doesn't resurface, before I put anybody back in those habitats.

[beckdg]

sounds like a plan. good deal.

[Andry]

Did you make sure it cured all the way? I had a couple of bad bottles of Silicone in the past where it seemed to never cure. It wouldn't dry and the silicone remained soft and not dry. I asked on this board and they said to return it because I had a bad bottle of Silicone. I did and I learned there is Silicone that is just bad apparently. Maybe that's why it still smells? Just a suggestion.

[MartinM]

Whether or not the silicone is fully cured is a separate issue from whether it contains mold inhibitors. The characteristic vinegar smell means that the material is not fully cured, but I'd be willing to bet that the mold inhibitors are odorless. On the other hand, if there ARE mold inhibitors, they probably migrate to the surface of the silicone (and diffuse into the environment) more quickly in the uncured product.

Based on my experience, one should always test silicone that is new or that you've had around for a while. Put a glob of it on an exposed surface and test for firmness after twenty-four hours. That's not enough time for a full cure, but if it has firmed up nicely in that time you will probably have no problems later on. Bear in mind that thicker beads will take longer to cure. Higher temperatures and good ventilation will speed curing time.

Martin

[fallenangelfyre]

Originally Posted by beckdg

my computer is not upside down... thought i'd cover that.

[beckdg]

Originally Posted by fallenangelfyre

check out the op's sig.