828m high, thanks to special silicones

Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building – reaches the spectacular height of 828 metres, making it Dubai’s true showpiece. Constructed of giant glass facades and aluminium, around a central core, the tower resists even the most unpredictable weather conditions thanks to the special silicone-based adhesives and sealants.

According to feica.com, with Burj Khalifa, architects and engineers have overcome one of the world’s major technical challenges. Their starting point was the shape of the skyscraper, which must withstand heavy wind and inclement weather. To this they added the logistical nightmare of bringing tons of material and hundreds of workers up the ever-rising building as they were needed.

And it was the adhesives and sealants that provided the cornerstone of what was needed to reach those dizzying heights – and will ensure that the materials used remain in place for the life of the building. The exterior cladding utilises reflective glazing with aluminium and textured stainless steel panels and stainless steel vertical fins. Close to 26,000 glass panels, each individually hand-cut, were used. The completed structure has the surface area of about 17 football fields.

To compensate for the forces acting upon the building, silicone insulating glass sealant has been used. Alongside this, silicone structural glazing sealant provides the very strong bond, ensuring additional stability between the single glass panes and the aluminium structure. Inside the  engineersused a different silicone sealant to seal the bathrooms in the luxury flats. This sealant offers outstanding flexibility, combined with safe adhesion to both porous and non-porous surfaces.

For the construction of the building, experts tested a range of different materials. It needed to meet demanding requirements in terms of flexibility, heat and earthquake resistance and it was only by using these highly specialised silicone formulations that Burj Khalifa was able to rise 828 metres up into the sky and become one of the wonders of the modern world.

828m high, thanks to special silicones

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  Burj Khalifa: Various silicone-based adhesives and sealants give stability, even high up in the sky
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  Burj Khalifa: Various silicone-based adhesives and sealants give stability

Burj Khalifa: Various silicone-based adhesives and sealants give stability