CAF 3
Universal silicone sealant for general sealing and bonding applications.
Universal silicone sealant (1K, acetic) for general sealing and bonding applications
Documents
Internal reference:
40-305.TU
HS code:
39100000
CAF 3 is a universal silicone sealant (1K, acetic) for general sealing and bonding applications.
The Elkem CAF range comprises one-component (1K), moisture-curing silicone sealants – ready-to-use from the cartridge, with high temperature and chemical resistance. CAF 3 is tailored to specific industrial applications – the most important properties and areas of application are listed below.
CAF 3 is the standard industrial silicone sealant for general repair and maintenance applications — 1K acetic-curing, ready-to-use, proven in many industries.
What makes CAF 3 stand out
What is CAF 3 used for?
processing
Recommended accessories
Important instructions
CAF 3 compared to related CAF products
Networking, mechanics, and temperature directly next to each other — all values from the official Elkem TDS. “— " = not specified in the datasheet.
CAF 3 Current product |
CAF 1 → | CAF 4 → | CAF 731 → | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Networking system | 1K Acetic | 1K Acetic | 1K Acetic | 1K Neutral (Alkoxy) |
| Color | Translucent | Red | Broken 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 bonding |
Technical specifications for CAF 3
| Product information | |
|---|---|
| brand | CAF |
| Manufacturer | Elkem Silicones |
| Networking type | Single-component (humidity) |
| Number of components | 1K (single-component) |
| consistency | Flowable |
| Mixing ratio | Single-component |
| Container | 100 g |
| Other features | |
|---|---|
| UV resistance | No |
| Physical properties | |
|---|---|
| Paint has hardened | Transparent |
| Self-leveling | Yes |
| 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 datasheets
Click on a document for a preview or the download icon for a direct download.
Frequently Asked Questions about CAF 3
Practical application and design questions — answered by SILITECH.
CAF 3: Universal silicone sealant (1K, acetic) for general sealing and bonding applications. Main applications are industrial maintenance, workshop general use, and plant repair.
Acetic cure (acetic acid crosslinking) means that the 1K system crosslinks through atmospheric moisture and releases small amounts of acetic acid during curing—recognizable by its characteristic odor. Acetic systems are established, economical industry standards with excellent adhesion to glass, ceramics, and many metals. Caution: Acetic acid can cause corrosion on copper, zinc, and electroplated steels—use a neutral variant (e.g., CAF 530, CAF 731, or CAF 730) for these materials.
CAF 3 adheres without primer to glass, ceramics, many metals (stainless steel, aluminum, copper in neutral variants), and numerous engineering plastics. Adhesion is not possible to PE, PP, PTFE, and silicone oils—these substrates are fundamentally incompatible with silicone. If in doubt, we recommend a preliminary test or consulting SILITECH regarding the specific material pairing.
Prepare the substrate to be clean, grease-free, 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 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 adapted properties—different color, different crosslinking system (acetic vs. neutral), or different mechanical properties. If you are unsure about the optimal choice, we would be happy to advise you—contact SILITECH with your requirements (substrate pairing, temperature, corrosion requirements, appearance).
Your question isn't listed here
Our technical team will advise you personally on material selection, processing questions, and individual requirements. Quickly and competently.
Product specifications
| Product information | |
|---|---|
| brand | CAF |
| Manufacturer | Elkem Silicones |
| Networking type | Single-component (humidity) |
| Number of components | 1K (single-component) |
| consistency | Flowable |
| Mixing ratio | Single-component |
| Container | 100 g |
| Other features | |
|---|---|
| UV resistance | No |
| Physical properties | |
|---|---|
| Paint has hardened | Transparent |
| Self-leveling | Yes |
| Electrical properties | |
|---|---|
| Electrical insulation | Yes |
| Product approvals | |
|---|---|
| Food contact | No |
| Suitable for medical use | No |
| Keywords | |
|---|---|
| Keywords | |
| Mechanical properties | |
|---|---|
| Shore hardness A | 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 mixture | 140,000 mPa·s |
| Skin formation time | 8.0 min |
| Fully cured after 24 hours | 4.5 mm |
| Crosslinking 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 characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Dielectric constant ε (1 kHz) | 2.7 |
| Dielectric strength | 19.0 kV/mm |
| Contact 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 datasheets
Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and Technical Data Sheets (TDS) are available for download: