Adhesion-in-Peel of Elastomeric Joint Sealants: Standard Test Method For
Adhesion-in-Peel of Elastomeric Joint Sealants: Standard Test Method For
Adhesion-in-Peel of Elastomeric Joint Sealants: Standard Test Method For
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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6.2.2.1 Slabs may be prepared and shipped to other loca- 7.1.4 Place a strip of masking tape 25 mm (1 in.) wide
tions for use. The slabs may be shipped dry and shall be across the test surface of the substrate so that the lower edge of
returned to saturated lime water storage on arrival until needed. the tape is parallel and at least 76.2 mm (3 in.) from the lower
6.2.2.2 Prior to use, wet grind the previously ground surface short edge of the substrate (Fig. 1A).
to remove any laitance, rinse thoroughly under running tap 7.1.5 Spread a portion of the conditioned compound, after
water, and dry the slabs overnight at 105 to 110°C (220 to being mixed thoroughly for 5 min (if multicomponent), over
230°F). Clean the slabs by vigorous brushing with a stiff- the 102 by 76-mm (4 by 3-in.) area, which includes the
bristled fiber brush to remove any film or powder. Condition masking tape, to a depth slightly more than 1.6 mm (1⁄16 in.), as
the slabs at standard conditions for not less than 1 day and not shown in Fig. 1B.
more than 7 days. 7.1.6 Smear one piece of cloth with the compound at one
6.2.3 Plate Glass, polished, clear, 152 by 76 by 6.3 mm (6 end over an area of 102 by 76 mm (4 by 3 in.), forcing it into
by 3 by 1⁄4 in.). both sides of the cloth with a putty knife until the sealant has
NOTE 1—Because of the fact that adhesive properties of a joint sealant thoroughly penetrated the cloth.
are related to the nature of the substrate, it is strongly recommended that 7.1.7 Lay the impregnated cloth over the layer of compound
whenever possible the peel test be made with the substrates that are to be and place the spacer bars of proper thickness (see 6.3) on each
used in the building under consideration in addition to or in place of the side of the specimen.
specified substrates described in 6.2.1, 6.2.2, and 6.2.3. Such substrates 7.1.8 Place a 1.6-mm (1⁄16-in.) metal rod lengthwise on top
include brick, marble, limestone, granite, stainless steel, plastic, quarry
of each spacer strip and squeegee the compound to 1.6 mm (1⁄16
tile, and others. For practical reasons the specimen dimensions may be
changed from the standard sizes provided the thickness of the sealant in.) thick by rolling the glass rod over the metal rods (starting
remains as specified. from the taped end), and simultaneously pressing on the cloth
and sealant beneath it. Trim off the excess amount that is
6.3 Spacer Strips, four, of hard wood, metal, or glass as
squeezed out (Fig. 1C).
follows: two 152 by 76 by 6.3 mm (6 by 3 by 1⁄4 in.) for
7.1.9 Cure the specimens containing multicomponent com-
preparing the test specimens on aluminum and glass, and two
pounds 14 days at 23 6 2°C (73.4 6 3.6°F). Cure those
of the same length and width but 9.3 mm (3⁄8 in.) thick for
containing single component compounds 21 days as follows
preparing the test specimens on mortar.
(Note 3): 7 days at 23 6 2°C (73 6 3.6°F), 50 6 5 % relative
6.4 Glass Rod, about 12.7 mm (1⁄2 in.) in diameter and about
humidity; 7 days at 37.8 6 2°C (100 6 3.6°F) and 95 6 5 %
305 mm (12 in.) long.
relative humidity; and finally 7 days at 23 6 2°C (73 6 3.6°F)
6.5 Stainless Steel or Brass Rods, two, 1.6 mm (1⁄16in.) in
and 50 6 5 % relative humidity.
diameter, about 305 mm (12 in.) long.
6.6 Masking Tape, paper, roll, 25.4 mm (1 in.) wide. 7.1.10 After the specimen has cured for about 7 days, coat
6.7 Airplane6/Wire7 Cloth Grade A, desized, 4.28 oz/yd, the cloth with a layer of the compound about 1.6 mm (1⁄16 in.)
80/84 count, 6 pieces at least 178 mm (7 in.) long and 76 mm thick to help minimize cloth failure (Fig. 1D).
(3 in.) wide, or suitable wire cloth,7 30-mesh, 0.254-mm 7.1.11 Immediately following the full curing period (see
(10-mil) thickness. 7.1.9 and Note 3), make four cuts with a sharp blade length-
6.8 Putty Knife, stiff, about 38 mm (11⁄2 in.) wide. wise of the specimen, cutting completely through to the
6.9 Knife, with sharp razor-type blade. substrate surface, and remove excess material so as to leave
two 25.4-mm (1-in.) wide strips of cloth-covered sealant
7. Test Specimens separated by a space about 9.5 mm (3⁄8 in.) wide (Fig. 1E)
7.1 Two test specimens shall be prepared on aluminum, two (7.1.12). Caution—Extreme caution should be taken in remov-
on cement mortar, two on glass, and two on each of any other ing the excess material so that the sealant/substrate bond in the
substrate materials specified, using the following procedures: test strips is not disturbed.
7.1.1 Condition not less than 250 g of sealant (and sufficient 7.1.12 If peel adhesion is to be tested on glass substrate
portion of other components, if a multicomponent) in a closed specimens after ultraviolet exposure through glass, after com-
container for 24 h at 23 6 2°C (73.4 6 3.6°F) and 50 6 5 % pleting step 7.1.11 and before proceeding with 7.1.13, place
relative humidity. such specimens with the sealant surface facing away from the
7.1.2 Clean the test surfaces of all metal and glass substrates light source on the drum of an accelerated weathering machine
with methyl ethyl ketone or similar solvent followed by a as specified in Practice G 23 (see description of Type D
thorough cleaning with a detergent solution (Note 2), a final apparatus). Expose the specimens to the ultraviolet radiation
rinse with distilled or deionized water, and air dry. Clean for 200 h without water spray and continue as stated in 7.1.13.
masonry surfaces with a dry stiff fiber bristle brush. 7.1.13 Immediately following step 7.1.11 (except as ex-
7.1.3 Apply primer to the clean dry test surfaces only when plained in 7.1.12), completely immerse the specimen in dis-
specified and supplied by the sealant manufacturer and agreed tilled or deionized water for 7 days. Mortar specimens are
upon by the purchaser. placed in a separate container from the glass and aluminum
specimens, because the highly alkali conditions generated
6
Available from Reeves Brothers, Inc., 1271 Ave. of Americas, New York, NY could have an effect on the glass and aluminum.
10020.
7
Available from Tetko Inc., 333 South Highland Ave., Briarcliff Manor, NY NOTE 2—At the request of the sealant manufacturer the detergent
10510. Also available from McMaster Carr Supply Co., P.O. Box 4355, Chicago, IL cleaning step shall be omitted from the specified cleaning procedure.
60680. NOTE 3—The manufacturer can suggest other curing conditions for the
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single-component sealants that may be used provided: (a) the curing time 9.1.2 Identification of the type of sealant, such as single- or
does not exceed 21 days, and (b) the temperature does not exceed 50°C multicomponent, color, etc.
(122°F). 9.1.3 Average peel strength in newtons (or pounds-force)
8. Procedure for the four strips tested on each substrate.
9.1.4 The percentage loss in bond and cohesion for each
8.1 Immediately following the 7 days’ immersion, prepare strip tested.
the specimen for testing by wiping it dry, releasing the sealant 9.1.5 Any indication of cloth failure.
from the tape by undercutting the sealant 12.7 mm (1⁄2 in.) and 9.1.6 Variation, if any, from the specified test procedure.
leaving a 63.5-mm (21⁄2-in.) length adhered to the substrate.
8.2 Place the specimen in the testing machine and peel the 10. Precision and Bias
cloth back at an angle of 180° at a rate of separation of 50.8 10.1 Round-robin studies of the peel test conducted by
mm (2 in.)/min (Fig. 2). Peel the sealant for about 1 min and members of ASTM Committee C-24 as well as by individual
record the average force in newtons (or pounds-force) indi- members of the sealant industry indicate that peel tests made
cated by the dial or recording chart of the machine. If the cloth on one sealant sample with a specified substrate by a single
peels clean from the sealant, disregard the values. In such operator in a single laboratory may yield a range of values that
instances, undercut the compound with a sharp blade to vary by 610 to 620 % from the mean value.
produce separation at the interface to the test surface and 10.2 The range of values that can be encountered when peel
continue the test. tests are performed by several laboratories on the same sealant
8.3 Test four strips for each of the substrate materials sample with the same substrate is commonly 660 % from the
specified. mean value and is often 6100 %. The reason for this inter-
laboratory variation has not yet been determined.
9. Report
9.1 Report the following information for each sample 11. Keywords
tested: 11.1 adhesion-in-peel; elastomeric joint sealant; ultraviolet
9.1.1 Identification of sample. exposure; water immersion
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