ASTM C1521-08a

Standard Practice for Evaluating Adhesion of Installed Weatherproofing Sealant Joints

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Many parameters contribute to the overall performance of a sealant application. Some of the most significant parameters are sealant bead size and configuration, joint movement, quality of workmanship, the quality of the adhesive bond, and the quality of the sealant material.
A sealant usually fails to perform as a weatherseal when it experiences cohesive or adhesive failure.
If a sealant bead fails, an evaluation of the total joint movement may be needed to determine if the joint sealant was strained beyond design or if the sealant failed within design parameters.
If a sealant bead fails adhesively, there is no straightforward procedure for determining the cause. The adhesive failure may be due to workmanship, the specific surface preparation used, the specific sealant used, poor “installed” joint design, poor bond chemistry and other causes.
Because of the complex nature of the performance of a sealant bead, an understanding of the quality of the adhesive bond is instrumental in any evaluation of sealant performance. It is critical that the test procedures used truly evaluate the quality of the adhesive bond and do not simply take advantage of the tear resistance of the sealant.
This method does not evaluate the performance of a sealant joint as a weatherseal. It only evaluates the characteristics of the adhesive bond relative to the cohesive strength of the sealant in a particular installation. Since any failures that result from use of this test method are intentionally induced, they do not necessarily mean that the sealant joint will not perform as a weatherseal.
The results of these methods are most useful in identifying sealant joints with poor adhesion. The continuous inspection procedure is also useful in the identification of places of poor joint configuration. Obvious cohesive failures are also identified. The results of these methods can be used to assess the likely performance of the sealant joint and to compare performance against other seal...
SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes destructive and nondestructive procedures.
1.2 The destructive procedure stresses the sealant in such a way as to cause either cohesive or adhesive failure of the sealant or cohesive failure of the substrate where deficient substrate conditions exist. The objective is to characterize the adhesive/cohesive performance of the sealant on the specific substrate by applying whatever strain is necessary to effect failure of the sealant bead. It is possible that the strain applied to the sealant bead may result in the failure of a deficient substrate before effecting a failure in the sealant.
Note 1—The destructive procedure requires immediate repair of the sealant bead. Appropriate materials and equipment should be available for this purpose.
Note 2—Sealant formulations may fail in cohesion or adhesion when properly installed, and tested by this method. The sealant manufacturer should be consulted to determine the appropriate guidelines for using this method.
1.3 The nondestructive procedure places strain on the sealant and a stress on the adhesive bond. Though termed nondestructive, this procedure may result in an adhesive failure of a deficient sealant bead, but should not cause a cohesive failure in the sealant. The results of this procedure should be either adhesive failure or no failure.
Note 3—The nondestructive procedure may require immediate repair of the sealant bead, if failure is experienced. Appropriate materials and equipment should be available for this purpose.
1.4 The non-destructive procedure can be used for continuous inspection of 100 % of the joint(s) or for any areas where deficient conditions, which are inconsistent with the practices of Guide C 1193, are suspected.
1.5 The committee with jurisdiction over this practice is not aware of any comparable practices published by other organizations or committees.
1.6 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be ...

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2008
• ICS: 83.060 - Rubber
• Technical Committee: C24 - Building Seals and Sealants
• Drafting Committee: C24.30 - Adhesion

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C1521-08 - Standard Practice for Evaluating Adhesion of Installed Weatherproofing Sealant Joints
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2008
• Replaced By: ASTM C1521-09 - Standard Practice for Evaluating Adhesion of Installed Weatherproofing Sealant Joints
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM C1722-23 - Standard Guide for Repair and Restoration of Dimension Stone
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2008
• Referred By: ASTM C1193-16(2023) - Standard Guide for Use of Joint Sealants
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2008
• Referred By: ASTM C1394-20 - Standard Guide for In-Situ Structural Silicone Glazing Evaluation
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2008
• Referred By: ASTM C1401-23 - Standard Guide for Structural Sealant Glazing
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2008

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: C 1521 – 08a
Standard Practice for
Evaluating Adhesion of Installed Weatherproofing Sealant
1
Joints
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 1521; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.6 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
1.1 This practice describes destructive and nondestructive
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
procedures.
and are not considered standard.
1.2 The destructive procedure stresses the sealant in such a
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
way as to cause either cohesive or adhesive failure of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
sealant or cohesive failure of the substrate where deficient
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
substrate conditions exist. The objective is to characterize the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
adhesive/cohesive performance of the sealant on the specific
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
substrate by applying whatever strain is necessary to effect
failure of the sealant bead. It is possible that the strain applied
2. Referenced Documents
to the sealant bead may result in the failure of a deficient
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
substrate before effecting a failure in the sealant.
C 717 Terminology of Building Seals and Sealants
NOTE 1—The destructive procedure requires immediate repair of the
C 1193 Guide for Use of Joint Sealants
sealant bead.Appropriate materials and equipment should be available for
this purpose.
3. Terminology
NOTE 2—Sealant formulations may fail in cohesion or adhesion when
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this rec-
properly installed, and tested by this method. The sealant manufacturer
ommended procedure, see Terminology C 717.
should be consulted to determine the appropriate guidelines for using this
method. 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 flap, n—the term “flap” as used in this specification
1.3 The nondestructive procedure places strain on the seal-
refers to a portion of an installed sealant bead that has been
ant and a stress on the adhesive bond. Though termed nonde-
purposelycutalongonesubstratebondlineandacrossthebead
structive, this procedure may result in an adhesive failure of a
at two locations resulting in a portion of bead adhered along
deficient sealant bead, but should not cause a cohesive failure
one substrate bond line.
in the sealant. The results of this procedure should be either
3.2.2 tail, n—the term “tail” as used in this specification
adhesive failure or no failure.
refers to a portion of an installed sealant bead that has been
NOTE 3—The nondestructive procedure may require immediate repair
purposely cut along both substrate bond lines and across the
of the sealant bead, if failure is experienced. Appropriate materials and
bead at one location resulting in a portion of bead unadhered to
equipment should be available for this purpose.
the substrates but adhered to the remainder of the sealant bead.
1.4 The non-destructive procedure can be used for continu-
4. Significance and Use
ous inspection of 100 % of the joint(s) or for any areas where
deficient conditions, which are inconsistent with the practices
4.1 Many parameters contribute to the overall performance
of Guide C 1193, are suspected.
of a sealant application. Some of the most significant param-
1.5 The committee with jurisdiction over this practice is not
eters are sealant bead size and configuration, joint movement,
aware of any comparable practices published by other organi-
quality of workmanship, the quality of the adhesive bond, and
zations or committees.
the quality of the sealant material.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C24 on Building
2
Seals and Sealants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C24.30 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Adhesion. contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved July 1, 2008. Published August 2008. Originally
approved in 2002. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as C 1521 – 08. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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C 1521 – 08a
4.2 Asealant usually fails to perform
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:C1521–08 Designation: C 1521 – 08a
Standard Practice for
Evaluating Adhesion of Installed Weatherproofing Sealant
1
Joints
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 1521; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1This practice describes field tests to determine the adhesive and cohesive characteristics of an installed sealant joint, by
manually placing a strain on the sealant. The sealant to be tested shall be fully cured. The results of this method can be used in
conjunctionwithotherinformationtodeterminetheoverallperformanceofthesealantjoint.Theuserofthispracticeshoulddefine
the other parameters to be evaluated such as cleaning of the substrate, depth control of the sealant, sealant profile, etc.This method
describes both nondestructive and destructive procedures.
1.1 This practice describes destructive and nondestructive procedures.
1.2 The destructive procedure stresses the sealant in such a way as to cause either cohesive or adhesive failure of the sealant
orcohesivefailureofthesubstratewheredeficientsubstrateconditionsexist.Theobjectiveistocharacterizetheadhesive/cohesive
performance of the sealant on the specific substrate by applying whatever strain is necessary to effect failure of the sealant bead.
It is possible that the strain applied to the sealant bead may result in the failure of a deficient substrate before effecting a failure
in the sealant.
NOTE 1—The destructive procedure requires immediate repair of the sealant bead. Appropriate materials and equipment should be available for this
purpose.
NOTE 2—Sealant formulations may fail in cohesion or adhesion when properly installed, and tested by this method. The sealant manufacturer should
be consulted to determine the appropriate guidelines for using this method.
1.3 The nondestructive procedure places strain on the sealant and a stress on the adhesive bond.Though termed nondestructive,
this procedure may result in an adhesive failure of a deficient sealant bead, but should not cause a cohesive failure in the sealant.
The results of this procedure should be either adhesive failure or no failure.
NOTE 3—The nondestructive procedure may require immediate repair of the sealant bead, if failure is experienced. Appropriate materials and
equipment should be available for this purpose.
1.4 Thenon-destructiveprocedurecanbeusedforcontinuousinspectionof100%ofthejoint(s)orforanyareaswheredeficient
conditions, which are inconsistent with the practices of Guide C 1193, are suspected.
1.5 Thecommitteewithjurisdictionoverthispracticeisnotawareofanycomparablepracticespublishedbyotherorganizations
or committees.
1.6
1.6 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C 717 Terminology of Building Seals and Sealants
C 1193 Guide for Use of Joint Sealants
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C24 on Building Seals and Sealants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C24.30 on Adhesion.
Current edition approved MayJuly 1, 2008. Published JuneAugust 2008. Originally approved in 2002. Last previous edition approved in 20022008 as
C1521–02a.C 1521 – 08.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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C 1521 – 08a
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this recommended procedure, see Terminology C 717.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 flap, n—the term “flap” as used in this specification refers to a portion of an installed seala
...