Designation: D 1337 – 04

Standard Practice for

Storage Life of Adhesives by Viscosity and Bond Strength1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1337; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 4.2 This practice is intended to determine whether the

1.1 This practice covers a means by which the storage life of storage life conforms to the minimum specified storage life
an adhesive can be measured using viscosity and adhesive required of an adhesive by viscosity tests (Procedure A) or by
performance testing. bond strength tests (Procedure B), or by both. It does so by
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the providing results before and after a set of standard conditions
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information that simulate storage life. The determination of what the
only. requirements for percentage of the original property retained or
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the the minimum value for a property is found in the relevant
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the material specification, or as agreed between manufacturer and
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- user.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- PROCEDURE A—VISCOSITY TEST
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5. Apparatus
2. Referenced Documents
5.1 Viscometer—Use the apparatus as described in Test
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2 Methods D 1084, Method B.
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
5.2 Controlled-Temperature Chamber, capable of maintain-
D 897 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Adhesive
ing temperature to 63°C (65°F), to provide temperature
Bonds
storage conditions.
D 906 Test Method for Strength Properties of Adhesives in
Plywood Type Construction in Shear by Tension Loading 6. Storage of Adhesive
D 907 Terminology of Adhesives 6.1 Store the adhesive and all its components, if there are
D 1002 Test Method for Apparent Shear Strength of Single- any, in their original and unopened containers when the
Lap-Joint Adhesively Bonded Metal Specimens by Ten- container is approximately litre (or quart) size. When the
sion Loading (Metal-to-Metal) adhesive is supplied in larger containers, the desired number of
D 1084 Test Methods for Viscosity of Adhesives samples is withdrawn from the large container. In this latter
3. Terminology case, the size, type of closure, and nature (such as glass, steel,
or tin-coated steel) of the small storage container is agreed
3.1 Definitions—Many terms in this practice are defined in
upon by the purchaser and the manufacturer.
Terminology D 907.
6.2 For storage temperature, use any one of the standard
4. Significance and Use temperatures specified in Practice D 618. The time of storage is
any time agreed upon by the purchaser and the manufacturer. If
4.1 This practice is applicable to all adhesives having a
the effect of storage time is desired, it is suggested that at least
relatively short storage life.
three quantities of the adhesive be stored under the prescribed
conditions, and tested at various intervals of time. Use a
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D14 on Adhesives separate, unopened container at each such test.
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D14.10 on Working Properties.
Current edition approved April 1, 2004. Published April 2004. Originally 7. Conditioning
approved in 1954. Last previous edition approved in 1996 as D 1337 – 96.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
7.1 Condition all containers after storage at 23 6 3°C (73.4
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM 6 5°F) before opening. If the adhesive consists of two or more
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on components, blend the components in accordance with the
the ASTM website.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 D 1337 – 04
instructions from the manufacturer, and again adjust the 13. Preparation of Test Specimens
temperature to 23 6 3°C, if required. 13.1 Prepare test panels or sheets for determining the bond
strength of the adhesive in accordance with any of the ASTM
8. Procedure test methods suitable for the purpose. For example, the lap-type
8.1 Measure the viscosity on both the original adhesive as shear specimens or the spool-type tension specimens such as
received, and on the adhesive after being subjected to storage. those described in the following methods are acceptable for
Test the adhesive in either its original container or after use: Test Method D 897, Test Method D 906, and Test Method
transferring into a more suitable container. D 1002.
13.2 In preparing the test specimens, use the adhesive in
9. Report accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer. Prepare
9.1 Report the following information: test specimens for bond strength for both the original adhesive
9.1.1 Complete identification of the adhesive, including as received and for the adhesive which has been subjected to
type, source, manufacturer’s code number, form, date of test, the storage test, using the same procedure and conditions of
date of manufacture, and the mixing proportions followed in bonding.
preparing the adhesive for use, 14. Procedure
9.1.2 Conditions of storage, including temperature, length
14.1 Conduct the bond strength test by means of the testing
of storage, and type and size of container used,
machine on samples of both the original adhesive as received
9.1.3 Complete identification of the viscometer and details
and on the adhesive after being subjected to storage.
identified by Test Methods D 1084.
9.1.4 Viscosity results on both the freshly received and 15. Report
stored adhesives, and 15.1 Report the following information:
9.1.5 Pertinent observations, such as settling, discoloring, 15.1.1 Complete identification of the adhesive, including
separating, caking, or gelling which might influence the type, source, manufacturer’s code number, form, date of test,
usability of the adhesive. date of manufacture, and the mixing proportions followed in
preparing the adhesive for use,
PROCEDURE B—BOND STRENGTH TEST 15.1.2 Complete identification of the adherends used, in-
cluding the method of cleaning, the manner of applying the
10. Apparatus adhesive, the curing treatment, all other pertinent bonding
10.1 Testing Machine, of suitable capacity, capable of main- conditions, and the methods used,
taining a specified rate of loading, and equipped with self- 15.1.3 Conditions of storage of the adhesive, including
aligning grips for holding the test specimens, as defined in the temperature, length of storage, and the type and size of
chosen Test Method D 897, D 906, or D 1002. container used,
10.2 Controlled-Temperature Chamber, capable of main- 15.1.4 Bond strength results on both the freshly received
taining temperature to 63°C (65°F), to provide temperature and stored adhesive, and dates when the tests were performed,
storage conditions. and
15.1.5 Pertinent observations, such as settling, discoloring,
11. Storage of Adhesive separating, caking, or gelling which might influence the
11.1 Store the adhesive as described in 6.1 and 6.2. usability of the adhesive.
11.2 For storage temperature use any one of the standard 16. Precision and Bias
temperatures specified in Practice D 618. The time of storage
16.1 The precision and bias of Procedure A of this practice
shall be any time agreed upon by the purchaser and the
for measurement viscosity is essentially as specified in Test
manufacturer. If the effect of storage time is desired, it is
Methods D 1084, Method B. The precision and bias of Proce-
suggested that at least three quantities of the adhesive be stored
dure B of this practice for measuring shear strength is
under the prescribed conditions and tested at various intervals
essentially as specified in Test Methods D 897, D 906, and
of time. Use a separate, unopened container at each such test.
D 1002.
12. Conditioning 17. Keywords
12.1 Condition as described in 7.1 17.1 bond strength; storage life; viscosity

ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentioned
in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk
of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the
responsible technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should
make your views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.

2
 D 1337 – 04

This standard is copyrighted by ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,
United States. Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the above
address or at 610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or [email protected] (e-mail); or through the ASTM website
(www.astm.org).