Description
Shin-Etsu KE-45 RTV Silicone Adhesive Sealant
KE-45 is a one-component, oxime cure (neutral cure) RTV silicone adhesive sealant that cures at room temperature into a tough, durable elastomer. It is a non-sag thixotropic paste with unprimed adhesion to metals, plastics, glass, and ceramics, used for form-in-place gasketing, electronics sealing, and general industrial bonding and sealing.
Because KE-45 is a neutral oxime cure rather than an acetoxy cure, it does not release acetic acid and does not have the vinegar odor associated with standard acetoxy RTV silicones. It is available in six colors and in 100 g tubes and 330 ml cartridges.
Common Applications
KE-45 covers most one-part silicone bonding and sealing work where the joint needs to stay flexible and hold position while it cures.
- Form-in-place gasketing. Dispense a bead directly on the part and let it cure in place instead of cutting or buying a gasket.
- Sealing electronic assemblies and enclosures. Neutral cure with no acetic acid release, and published dielectric and volume resistivity data.
- Electrical insulation sealing. 20 kV/mm dielectric strength with a 30 Shore A flexible cured rubber.
- General industrial bonding and sealing on metal, glass, plastic, and ceramic, usually without primer.
- Glass to metal joint sealing. Shin-Etsu ran two years of outdoor adhesion testing on glass with 100 percent cohesive break throughout.
- Joints exposed to outdoor weathering. Documented hardness, tensile, and elongation retention after two years of exposure.
- Bonding dissimilar materials. 310 percent elongation lets the bond line absorb thermal movement and vibration between materials that expand at different rates.
- Vertical and overhead joints. Thixotropic non-sag paste stays where you put it.
Key Product Details
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | One-component adhesive / sealant |
| Chemistry | RTV silicone, condensation cure (oxime) |
| Consistency | Thixotropic paste, non-sag |
| Colors Available | White, Translucent, Black, Gray, Red, Aluminum |
| Density @ 23 C | 1.05 g/cm³ |
| Tack Free Time | 6 minutes |
| Cure Conditions | 7 days @ 23 C / 50% RH |
| Shore A Hardness | 30 |
| Tensile Strength | 1.90 MPa |
| Tear Strength | 7.0 kN/m |
| Elongation | 310% |
| Lap Shear Strength (aluminum) | 1.00 MPa |
| Volume Resistivity | 10 TΩ·m |
| Dielectric Strength | 20 kV/mm |
| Dielectric Constant | 2.6 @ 50 Hz |
| Dielectric Dissipation Factor | 5 x 10-3 @ 50 Hz |
| Thermal Conductivity | 0.21 W/m·K |
| Usable Temperature Range | -40 C to +180 C (-40 F to +356 F) |
| Cure By-product | Methyl ethyl ketoxime (MEKO) |
| Storage Temperature | 1 C to 30 C |
| UN Number | None assigned |
Color and Grade Selection
| Grade | Color | Packaging | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| KE-45-W | White | 100 g tube, 330 ml cartridge | Standard grade |
| KE-45-T | Translucent | 100 g tube, 330 ml cartridge | Standard grade |
| KE-45-B | Black | 100 g tube, 330 ml cartridge | Standard grade |
| KE-45-G | Gray | 330 ml cartridge | Cartridge only |
| KE-45-R | Red (listed as reddish brown by Shin-Etsu) | 100 g tube, 330 ml cartridge | High temperature grade |
| KE-45-AL | Aluminum | 330 ml cartridge | Specialty grade |
White, translucent, and black are the general purpose colors. Gray is a cartridge-only option where a neutral joint appearance is needed. Red and Aluminum are specialty grades with separate pricing and availability, so contact us before designing them into a production process.
Performance in Production
- One component and ready to use. No mixing, no ratio to hold, no pot life to work against.
- Non-sag thixotropic paste holds position on vertical and overhead joints without slumping.
- Tack free in about 6 minutes, so parts can move off the bench quickly, with full properties developing over 7 days at 23 C and 50% RH.
- Cure starts at the surface and works inward. Higher temperature and higher humidity cure faster.
- Neutral cure means no acetic acid release and no vinegar odor, which matters in enclosed assembly areas.
- Unprimed adhesion to metal, glass, plastic, and ceramic in most cases. Shin-Etsu Primer C-2 is available where adhesion needs improvement.
- 30 Shore A with 310% elongation gives a soft, flexible bond line that tolerates thermal movement and vibration.
- Dielectric properties dip temporarily during cure and recover once fully cured.
- Air gun applicators should be set to roughly 0.2 to 0.3 MPa maximum.
Weather Resistance
Shin-Etsu ran two years of outdoor exposure testing on KE-45 per JIS K 6249 and JIS A 1439.
| Exposure | Hardness (Shore A) | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Elongation (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | 30 | 2.3 | 350 |
| 6 months | 37 | 2.0 | 360 |
| 1 year | 37 | 2.0 | 320 |
| 2 years | 37 | 1.8 | 310 |
Adhesion to glass using Shin-Etsu PRIMER-C held at 100% cohesive break through the full two years of exposure, meaning the failure stayed in the rubber rather than at the bond line.
Available Sizes
- 100 g tube (White, Translucent, Black, Red)
- 330 ml cartridge, 10.3 oz (White, Translucent, Black, Gray, Red, Aluminum)
- 17 kg pail and 200 kg drum available on request
The 330 ml cartridge fits standard 10.3 oz cartridge guns. KE-45-AL is a special order item with an extended lead time and an order multiple, so reach out for current availability before you plan around it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is KE-45 an electronics grade or spec grade silicone?
KE-45 is sold as a general industrial adhesive and sealant, and it shows up in a lot of electrical and electronic assembly work because Shin-Etsu lists sealing electronics as a typical application and publishes full electrical data for it: 10 TΩ·m volume resistivity, 20 kV/mm dielectric strength, 2.6 dielectric constant, and a 5 x 10-3 dissipation factor at 50 Hz. It is not sold against a MIL spec, a UL file, or an electronic-grade designation, and Shin-Etsu notes that oxime cure silicones may corrode copper under sealed conditions, so test on copper and copper alloys first. If your print calls out a specific approval, qualification, or a low-corrosion electronics grade, call us and we will match it to the right Shin-Etsu product.
Is KE-45 an acetoxy or a neutral cure silicone?
KE-45 is a neutral cure silicone. It uses an oxime condensation cure and releases methyl ethyl ketoxime (MEKO) instead of acetic acid, so there is no vinegar odor. Use adequate ventilation while it cures.
How long does KE-45 take to cure?
Tack free time is about 6 minutes. Shin-Etsu’s recommended cure is 7 days at 23 C and 50% RH. Cure begins at the surface and moves inward, and both higher temperature and higher humidity speed it up.
Does KE-45 need a primer?
Usually not. KE-45 is formulated for unprimed adhesion to metals, plastics, glass, and ceramics. Shin-Etsu Primer C-2 is available where a specific substrate needs help.
What temperature can KE-45 handle?
Continuous usable range is -40 C to +180 C (-40 F to +356 F). KE-45-R is offered as a high temperature grade, so contact us for its rating before specifying above 180 C.
Can KE-45 bond a large flat surface?
No. Because it cures with atmospheric moisture, deep section and wide-area cure is limited, and a joint that seals off air completely will not cure. Use KE-45 for beads, gaskets, and joints. For large bonded areas, ask us about a two-part silicone or a different chemistry.
What is the difference between the KE-45 colors?
White, translucent, and black are the general purpose options in both tube and cartridge. Gray is cartridge only. Red (KE-45-R) is a high temperature grade and Aluminum (KE-45-AL) is a specialty grade, both priced and stocked separately.
Questions on fit? Call 800-220-1966 or email [email protected].
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