VIDEO: KWIK-SIL VERSUS KWIK-CAST, What’s The Difference

Both Kwik-Sil and Kwik-Cast are silicone adhesives, but they are a little different.

Kwik-Sil™ is a translucent, medium-viscosity silicone adhesive, developed for chronic peripheral nerve studies such as anterograde tracing with fluorescent indicators or electrode recording. Good adhesion and mechanical properties (tear strength and elongation) allow for days of study without breaking the bond. Curing speed is very reproducible.

Kwik-Cast™ is a very low viscosity silicone sealant developed to embed peripheral nerves with electrodes for acute multi-fiber recordings. It flows easily, filling the small spaces around the nerve and leaving no channels through which peritoneal fluid can travel and short the nerve/electrode contact. Equally important is the ability of the material to flow into itself and create one continuous mass from underneath the nerve all the way to the top of the nerve/electrode contact to ensure long-term recording stability. 

Kwik-Cast™ is color-coded to make the mixing foolproof. The catalyst is yellow, and the base is blue. When uniformly mixed, it is green. Kwik-Cast™ can be applied and cured underneath mineral oil. After recording, electrodes are easily recovered due to the low tear strength. The slightly longer curing time (approx. 3 minutes) makes it more suitable for stationary preparations and in vitro tissue studies.