ASTM C1521-02a

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 method results are most useful in identifying sealant joints with poor adhesion. The results of these methods can be used to assess the likely performance of the sealant joint and to compare performance against other joints.
SCOPE
1.1 This 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 conjunction with other information to determine the overall performance of the sealant joint. The user of this practice should define 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.
1.2 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 the 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 committee with jurisdiction over this practice is not aware of any ...

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-May-2002
• ICS: 83.060 - Rubber
• Technical Committee: C24 - Building Seals and Sealants
• Drafting Committee: C24.30 - Adhesion

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C1521-02 - Standard Practice for Evaluating Adhesion of Installed Weatherproofing Sealant Joints
• Effective Date: 10-May-2002
• Replaced By: ASTM C1521-08 - Standard Practice for Evaluating Adhesion of Installed Weatherproofing Sealant Joints
• Effective Date: 01-May-2008
• Referred By: ASTM C1193-16(2023) - Standard Guide for Use of Joint Sealants
• Effective Date: 10-May-2002
• Referred By: ASTM C1722-23 - Standard Guide for Repair and Restoration of Dimension Stone
• Effective Date: 10-May-2002
• Referred By: ASTM C1394-20 - Standard Guide for In-Situ Structural Silicone Glazing Evaluation
• Effective Date: 10-May-2002
• Referred By: ASTM C1401-23 - Standard Guide for Structural Sealant Glazing
• Effective Date: 10-May-2002

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 – 02a
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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.4 The committee with jurisdiction over this practice is not
aware of any comparable practices published by other organi-
1.1 This practice describes field tests to determine the
zations or committees.
adhesive and cohesive characteristics of an installed sealant
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
joint, by manually placing a strain on the sealant. The sealant
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
to be tested shall be fully cured. The results of this method can
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
be used in conjunction with other information to determine the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
overall performance of the sealant joint. The user of this
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
practice should define the other parameters to be evaluated
such as cleaning of the substrate, depth control of the sealant,
2. Referenced Documents
sealant profile, etc. This method describes both nondestructive
2.1 ASTM Standards:
and destructive procedures.
2
C 717 Terminology of Building Seals and Sealants
1.2 The destructive procedure stresses the sealant in such a
way as to cause either cohesive or adhesive failure of the
3. Terminology
sealant or cohesive failure of the substrate where deficient
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this rec-
substrate conditions exist. The objective is to characterize the
ommended procedure, see Terminology C 717.
adhesive/cohesive performance of the sealant on the specific
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
substrate by applying whatever strain is necessary to effect
3.2.1 flap, n—the term “flap” as used in this specification
failure of the sealant bead. It is possible that the strain applied
refers to a portion of an installed sealant bead that has been
to the sealant bead may result in the failure of a deficient
purposelycutalongonesubstratebondlineandacrossthebead
substrate before effecting a failure in the sealant.
at two locations resulting in a portion of bead adhered along
NOTE 1—The destructive procedure requires immediate repair of the
one substrate bond line.
sealant bead.Appropriate materials and equipment should be available for
3.2.2 tail, n—the term “tail” as used in this specification
this purpose.
refers to a portion of an installed sealant bead that has been
NOTE 2—Sealant formulations may fail in cohesion or adhesion when
purposely cut along both substrate bond lines and across the
properly installed, and tested by this method. The sealant manufacturer
bead at one location resulting in a portion of bead unadhered to
should be consulted to determine the appropriate guidelines for using this
method. the substrates but adhered to the remainder of the sealant bead.
1.3 The nondestructive procedure places strain on the seal-
4. Significance and Use
ant and a stress on the adhesive bond. Though termed nonde-
4.1 Many parameters contribute to the overall performance
structive, this procedure may result in an adhesive failure of a
of a sealant application. Some of the most significant param-
deficient sealant bead, but should not cause a cohesive failure
eters are sealant bead size and configuration, joint movement,
in the sealant. The results of this procedure should be either
quality of workmanship, the quality of the adhesive bond, and
adhesive failure or no failure.
the quality of the sealant material.
NOTE 3—The nondestructive procedure may require immediate repair
4.2 Asealant usually fails to perform as a weatherseal when
of the sealant bead, if failure is experienced. Appropriate materials and
it experiences cohesive or adhesive failure.
equipment should be available for this purpose.
4.3 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
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C24 on Building
parameters.
Seals and Sealants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C24.30 on
Adhesion.
Current edition approved May 10, 2002. Published July 2002. Originally
2
published as C 1521 – 02. Last previous edition C 1521 – 02. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
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