PRODUCT DATA SHEET

Sikaflex®-403 Tank & Silo

Polyurethane based elastic tank and silo sealant

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
CHARACTERISTICS / ADVANTAGES
Sikaflex®-403 Tank & Silo is a 1-part, moisture curing,
elastic sealant. It is designed for sealing steel contain- ▪ Resistant to domestic and municipal sewage, liquid
ers built in sections such as enamelled steel or stain- manure and silage liquid.
less steel tanks.The Product is resistant to liquid ma- ▪ Good mechanical resistance.
nure, silage liquids and is suitable for sealing domestic ▪ Very good resistance to specific chemicals.
and municipal sewage systems. ▪ Very good tear propagation resistance.
▪ High modulus of elasticity.
USES ▪ Movement capability of ± 20 % (ISO 9047).

The Product is used for: APPROVALS / STANDARDS

▪ Sealing segmented or bolted steel tanks including
wall to floor connection joints. ▪ CE marking and declaration of performance based on
▪ Tanks for the anaerobic digestion process including EN 15651-4:2012 Sealants for non-structural use in
Biogas tanks. joints in buildings and pedestrian walkways — Part 4:
▪ Liquid manure tanks. Sealants for pedestrian walkways.
▪ Drive-in silos for agricultural use. ▪ Foodstuff and migration behaviour EN 1186, EN
▪ Agricultural stables. 13130, CEN/TS 14234, ISEGA, No. 56997 U 22.
▪ Silage clamp retaining walls. ▪ General building regulations, DIBt, No. Z-74.62-212.
▪ Domestic and municipal sewage treatment plants in-
cluding waste water.
▪ Floor joints where very high chemical resistance is
required.

PRODUCT INFORMATION
Chemical Base Polyurethane
Packaging 600 ml cylindrical foil pack 20 foil packs per box

Shelf Life 12 months from date of production

Storage Conditions The Product must be stored in original, unopened and undamaged sealed
packaging in dry conditions at temperatures between +5 °C and +25 °C. Al-
ways refer to packaging.
Colour Black, Concrete Grey
Density 1.20 kg/l (ISO 1183-1)

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Product Data Sheet

Sikaflex®-403 Tank & Silo
November 2022, Version 01.01
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Shore A Hardness 40 (after 28 days) (EN ISO 868)

Secant Tensile Modulus 0.90 N/mm2 at 60 % elongation (+23 °C) (ISO 8339)

Elongation at Break 700 % (ISO 37)

Movement Capability ± 20 % (EN ISO 9047)

Elastic Recovery 80 % (EN ISO 7389)

Tear Propagation Resistance 10.0 N/mm (ISO 34-2)

Service Temperature IMPORTANT

Defining continuous maximum service temperature
In any process system service temperatures affect the aggressiveness of
the chemical mixture. Exceeding the stated performance limits could cause
depolymerisation of the sealant.
1. During specification analyse the content of the chemicals to establish
their behavior at temperature.
Service temperature range in a dry condition.
Maximum +75 °C
Minimum -40 °C
Maximum service temperature in a wet condition.
Movement joints ≤ +45 °C
Overlap sealing ≤ +65 °C

Chemical Resistance IMPORTANT

Chemical attack
Chemical resistance is only effective after the Product is fully cured and is
dependent on the chemicals, their concentration and their temperature.
Exceeding the stated performance limits could cause depolymerisation of
the sealant.
1. Analyse the content, exposure time and temperature of the chemicals
2. Design the joints for the intended conditions
Sikaflex®-403 Tank & Silo is resistant to:
▪ Water
▪ Sea water
▪ Liquid manure
▪ Silage liquid
▪ Dilute alkalis
▪ Neutral water based dispersed detergents or cleaners
▪ Domestic and municipal sewage
Sikaflex®-403 Tank & Silo is not resistant to:
▪ Concentrated organic and inorganic acids
▪ Organic solvents
▪ Chlorinated or aromatic hydrocarbons
Joint Design Refer to all relevant local construction guidelines and regulations. The seal-
ant must be specified and included in the design of the containment sys-
tem.
Reference must be made to the following document: Design guideline: Di-
mensioning of construction joints.

APPLICATION INFORMATION
Sag Flow 0 mm (20 mm profile, +50 °C) (EN ISO 7390)

Product Temperature Maximum +40 °C

Minimum +5 °C

Ambient Air Temperature Maximum +40 °C

Minimum +5 °C

Product Data Sheet

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Substrate Temperature Maximum +40 °C
Minimum +5 °C
The substrate temperature must be +3 °C above dew point temperature
and free from frost and ice.
Backing Material Use closed cell, polyethylene foam backing rod
Curing Rate 3 mm/24 hours (+23 °C / 50 % r.h.)
Skin Time 5 hours (+23 °C / 50 % r.h.)

VALUE BASE For optimum adhesion, joint durability and critical,

high performance applications such as joints on multi-
All technical data stated in this Product Data Sheet are storey buildings, highly stressed joints or extreme
based on laboratory tests. Actual measured data may weather exposure, use the following priming and pre-
vary due to circumstances beyond our control. treatment procedures:
NON-POROUS SUBSTRATES
Enameled steel, aluminum, anodised aluminum, stain-
FURTHER DOCUMENTS less steel, galvanised steel, epoxy and fusion bonded
Refer to the following document: epoxy, powder coated metals, or glazed tiles:
▪ Pretreatment Chart Constructive Sealants and Ad- 1. Clean and pre-treat using Sika® Aktivator-205 applied
hesives. with a clean cloth or Sika® Primer-3 N applied with a
brush.
2. Consult the tank manufacturer for specific prepara-
ECOLOGY, HEALTH AND SAFETY tion and priming advice.
Other metals, such as copper, brass and titanium-zinc:
User must read the most recent corresponding Safety
1. Clean and pre-treat using Sika® Aktivator-205 with a
Data Sheets (SDS) before using any products. The SDS
clean cloth.
provides information and advice on the safe handling, 2. Wait until the flash off time has been achieved.
storage and disposal of chemical products and con- 3. Apply Sika® Primer-115 or Sika® Primer-3 N by brush.
tains physical, ecological, toxicological and other PVC substrates:
safety-related data. 1. Clean and pre-treat using Sika® Primer-215 applied
with a brush.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS POROUS SUBSTRATES
Concrete, aerated concrete and cement based
renders, mortars and bricks:
SUBSTRATE PREPARATION
1. Prime surface using Sika® Primer-115 or Sika®
Primers are adhesion promoters and not an alternat- Primer-3 N applied by brush.
ive to improve poor preparation or cleaning of the For more details of the primer or pre-treatment
joint surface. products refer to the individual Product Data Sheet.
Note: Primers also improve the long term adhesion Contact Sika Technical Services for additional informa-
performance of the sealed joint. tion.
The substrate must be sound, clean, dry and free of all APPLICATION
contaminants such as dirt, oil, grease, cement laitance,
old sealants and poorly bonded coatings which could IMPORTANT
affect adhesion of the sealant. Strictly follow installation procedures
The substrate must be of sufficient strength to cope Strictly follow installation procedures as defined in
with the stresses induced by the sealant during move- Method Statements, application manuals and working
ment. instructions which must always be adjusted to the ac-
1. Use techniques such as wire brushing, grinding, grit tual site conditions.
blasting or other suitable mechanical tools to re- IMPORTANT
move all weak substrate material. Allowing insufficient curing time
2. Repair all damaged joint edges with suitable Sika re- Putting the Product into service too early can result in
pair products. a reduction of the long-term stability of sealed sec-
3. Completely remove all dust, loose and friable materi- tions.
al from all surfaces before application of any activat- 1. Allow the Product to fully cure before it is exposed to
ors, primers or sealant. mechanical or chemical stress.
4. Where joints in the substrate are saw-cut, flush away
all slurry material and allow joint surfaces to dry.

Product Data Sheet

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IMPORTANT 7. Remove the tape within the skinning time of the
Corrosion Product after finishing.
Corrosion protection is dependent on the thickness of For lap joints such as in enameled steel containers
the sealant layer. For butt or lap joints the Product consult the tank manufacturer for specific application
provides effective protection at an application thick- advice.
ness of ≥ 8 mm. OVER-PAINTING THE SEALANT
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT
Resistance to chlorine Tacky paint over the sealant
The Product is resistant to chlorine for tank disinfec- Some paint systems may exhibit plasticiser migration
tion and dosing purposes only. that will cause the painted surface to be tacky.
1. Contact the tank supplier for guidelines and detailed 1. Consult the paint manufacturer for specific advice on
conditions on dosing and disinfection. over-painting sealants.
IMPORTANT 2. Trial the paint system with the Product prior to un-
Use on Bituminous, natural rubber or EPDM rubber dertaking the project.
substrates IMPORTANT
These substrates can leach oils, plasticisers or solvents Cracking paint over the sealant
that can degrade the sealant causing the Product to Rigid paint systems reduce the elasticity of the
become tacky. Product and may crack when used on joints subject to
1. Do not use the Product on any building materials movement.
which leach oils, plasticisers or solvents a) Do not use rigid paint systems to over-paint joints
IMPORTANT subject to movement.
Absorbency of natural stone substrates The Product can be over-painted with most conven-
Staining from plasticiser migration may occur when tional paint coating systems. Prior to application test
used on cast, reconstituted or natural stone such as the paint system for compatibility.
granite, marble or limestone substrates. 1. Allow the Product to fully cure before over-painting.
1. Do not use on natural stone substrates 2. Carry out preliminary trials to test the paint for com-
IMPORTANT patibility in accordance with ISO/TR 20436:2017 -
Swimming pools Buildings and civil engineering works — Sealants —
Do not use to seal joints in and around swimming Paintability and paint compatibility of sealants
pools. Colour variation
IMPORTANT Note: Colour variations may occur due to the exposure
Alcohol affecting the curing mechanism in service to chemicals, high temperatures or UV-radi-
Exposure to alcohol during curing may interfere with ation, especially with white colour shade. This effect is
the curing reaction and cause the Product to be tacky. aesthetic and does not adversely influence the tech-
a) Do not expose the Product to alcohol containing nical performance or durability of the product.
products during the curing period
1. Apply masking tape where neat or exact joint lines CLEANING OF TOOLS
are required. Clean all tools and application equipment immediately
2. After the required substrate preparation, insert a after use with Sika® Thinner C. Once cured, hardened
backing rod to the required depth. material can only be removed mechanically. For clean-
3. Prime the joint surfaces as recommended in sub-
ing skin use Sika® Cleaning Wipes-100.
strate preparation.
▪ Note: Avoid excessive application of primer to avoid
causing puddles at the base of the joint.
4. Prepare the end of the foil pack or cartridge, insert
into the sealant gun and fit the nozzle.
▪ Note: The Product is supplied ready to use.
5. Extrude the Product into the joint ensuring that it
comes into full contact with the sides of the joint and
avoiding any air entrapment.
6. IMPORTANT Do not use tooling products containing
solvents. As soon as possible after application, tool
the sealant firmly against the joint sides to ensure
adequate adhesion and a smooth finish. Use a com-
patible tooling agent such as Sika® Tooling Agent N
to smooth the joint surface.

Product Data Sheet

Sikaflex®-403 Tank & Silo
November 2022, Version 01.01
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LOCAL RESTRICTIONS
Please note that as a result of specific local regulations
the performance of this product may vary from coun-
try to country. Please consult the local Product Data
Sheet for the exact description of the application
fields.

LEGAL NOTES
The information, and, in particular, the recommenda-
tions relating to the application and end-use of Sika
products, are given in good faith based on Sika’s cur-
rent knowledge and experience of the products when
properly stored, handled and applied under normal
conditions in accordance with Sika’s recommenda-
tions. In practice, the differences in materials, sub-
strates and actual site conditions are such that no war-
ranty in respect of merchantability or of fitness for a
particular purpose, nor any liability arising out of any
legal relationship whatsoever, can be inferred either
from this information, or from any written recom-
mendations, or from any other advice offered. The
user of the product must test the product’s suitability
for the intended application and purpose. Sika re-
serves the right to change the properties of its
products. The proprietary rights of third parties must
be observed. All orders are accepted subject to our
current terms of sale and delivery. Users must always
refer to the most recent issue of the local Product
Data Sheet for the product concerned, copies of which
will be supplied on request.

SIKA LIMITED
Watchmead
Welwyn Garden City
Hertfordshire, AL7 1BQ
Tel: 01707 394444
Web: www.sika.co.uk
Twitter: @SikaLimited

Sikaflex-403TankSilo-en-GB-(11-2022)-1-1.pdf

Product Data Sheet

Sikaflex®-403 Tank & Silo
November 2022, Version 01.01
020515010000000050

5/5