ASTM D3815/D3815M-05(2019)

Standard Practice for Accelerated Weathering of Pressure-Sensitive Tapes by Open-Flame Carbon-Arc Exposure Apparatus

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice does not necessarily provide direct simulation of natural weathering exposure.  
4.2 Results from use of this practice shall not be represented as being equivalent to those of any natural weathering test until a satisfactory degree of correlation has been established for the material in question.  
4.3 Variations in results are possible when the operating conditions vary within the accepted limits for the instrument specified in Practices G151 and G152.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes one environment for the exposure of pressure-sensitive tapes to a laboratory accelerated weathering environment.  
1.2 This practice describes sample preparation and the laboratory-accelerated weathering environment to which it shall be exposed. It does not specify the length of time of the exposure nor what tests shall be performed on the material following the exposure.
Note 1: Practice D6551/D6551M describes xenon-arc exposures of tapes.  
1.3 The values stated in either SI or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently without combining values in any way.  
1.4 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2019
• ICS: 55.040 - Packaging materials and accessories
• Technical Committee: D10 - Packaging
• Drafting Committee: D10.14 - Tape and Labels

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D3815/D3815M-05(2011) - Standard Practice for Accelerated Weathering of Pressure-Sensitive Tapes by Open-Flame Carbon-Arc Exposure Apparatus
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2019
• Refers: ASTM D3715/D3715M-98(2019) - Standard Practice for Quality Assurance of Pressure-Sensitive Tapes
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2019
• Refers: ASTM D6551/D6551M-05(2019) - Standard Practice for Accelerated Weathering of Pressure-Sensitive Tapes by Xenon-Arc Exposure Apparatus
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2019
• Refers: ASTM G147-17 - Standard Practice for Conditioning and Handling of Nonmetallic Materials for Natural and Artificial Weathering Tests
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2017
• Refers: ASTM D6551/D6551M-05(2011) - Standard Practice for Accelerated Weathering of Pressure-Sensitive Tapes by Xenon-Arc Exposure Apparatus
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2011
• Refers: ASTM D3715/D3715M-98(2011) - Standard Practice for Quality Assurance of Pressure-Sensitive Tapes
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2011
• Refers: ASTM A666-10 - Standard Specification for Annealed or Cold-Worked Austenitic Stainless Steel Sheet, Strip, Plate, and Flat Bar
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2010
• Refers: ASTM D3330/D3330M-04(2010) - Standard Test Method for Peel Adhesion of Pressure-Sensitive Tape
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2010
• Refers: ASTM G151-10 - Standard Practice for Exposing Nonmetallic Materials in Accelerated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light Sources
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2010
• Refers: ASTM G151-09 - Standard Practice for Exposing Nonmetallic Materials in Accelerated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light Sources
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2009
• Refers: ASTM G147-09 - Standard Practice for Conditioning and Handling of Nonmetallic Materials for Natural and Artificial Weathering Tests
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2009
• Refers: ASTM G151-06 - Standard Practice for Exposing Nonmetallic Materials in Accelerated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light Sources
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2006
• Refers: ASTM G152-06 - Standard Practice for Operating Open Flame Carbon Arc Light Apparatus for Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials
• Effective Date: 15-Mar-2006
• Refers: ASTM D6551/D6551M-05 - Standard Practice for Accelerated Weathering of Pressure-Sensitive Tapes by Xenon-Arc Exposure Apparatus
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2005
• Refers: ASTM G152-05 - Standard Practice for Operating Open Flame Carbon Arc Light Apparatus for Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2005

Overview

ASTM D3815/D3815M-05(2019) is a standard practice developed by ASTM International for the accelerated weathering of pressure-sensitive tapes, using an open-flame carbon-arc exposure apparatus. This method provides a controlled laboratory environment to simulate the effects of weathering on adhesive tapes. It supports quality assurance and research by allowing manufacturers and testing labs to evaluate tape durability under accelerated conditions, utilizing either SI or inch-pound units.

Importantly, the practice does not directly replicate natural weathering but serves as a comparative tool, offering standardized exposure cycles. Users are responsible for correlating laboratory results to actual in-use or outdoor conditions for the specific tape material being evaluated.

Key Topics

• Accelerated Weathering Environment
  Defines a laboratory procedure for exposing pressure-sensitive tapes to cycles of light and moisture using an open-flame carbon-arc apparatus.
• Sample Preparation
  Specifies the preparation, selection, and orientation of tape specimens for consistent and repeatable results.
• Exposure Parameters
  Recommends following exposure cycles per ASTM Practices G151 and G152, without dictating exposure duration or follow-up tests.
• Reporting Requirements
  Stipulates documentation of all deviations from the standard, as well as inclusion of relevant details from related standards used in conjunction.
• Limitations and Correlation
  Emphasizes that results from this laboratory exposure should not be taken as equivalent to those from natural weathering unless proper correlation for the material is established.
• Safety and Compliance
  Reminds users to implement suitable safety, health, and environmental procedures and ensure compliance with applicable regulations.

Applications

ASTM D3815/D3815M-05(2019) is widely employed in the pressure-sensitive tape industry for several practical purposes:

• Product Development:
  Used by manufacturers to assess the weathering durability of adhesive tapes under controlled conditions, supporting R&D and formulation improvements.
• Quality Assurance and Control:
  Enables ongoing quality checks of production batches to ensure tape performance under exposure to light and moisture meets specified requirements.
• Comparative Testing:
  Assists in benchmarking new or alternative tape products against existing standards or prior formulations for weathering properties.
• Certification and Regulatory Compliance:
  Where required, serves as part of test regimes for certifying products conform to national or industry specifications.
• Material Consistency Verification:
  Helps in evaluating consistency among different batches or sources of pressure-sensitive tapes.

Note: While the standard provides a valuable comparative framework, users must conduct additional correlation studies before representing results as directly equivalent to natural weathering outcomes.

Related Standards

Several ASTM standards are referenced or commonly used in conjunction with ASTM D3815/D3815M-05(2019):

• ASTM D3330/D3330M - Test method for peel adhesion of pressure-sensitive tape
• ASTM D3715/D3715M - Practice for quality assurance of pressure-sensitive tapes
• ASTM D6551/D6551M - Practice for accelerated weathering of pressure-sensitive tapes by xenon-arc exposure apparatus
• ASTM G147 - Practice for conditioning and handling of nonmetallic materials for natural and artificial weathering tests
• ASTM G151 - Practice for exposing nonmetallic materials in accelerated test devices using laboratory light sources
• ASTM G152 - Practice for operating open-flame carbon-arc light apparatus for exposure of nonmetallic materials

ASTM D3815/D3815M-05(2019) is a critical standard for those seeking reproducible, laboratory-based evaluation of pressure-sensitive tape weathering, providing consistency in testing and facilitating material comparison and improvement across the adhesive tape industry.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D3815/D3815M − 05 (Reapproved 2019)
Standard Practice for
Accelerated Weathering of Pressure-Sensitive Tapes by
Open-Flame Carbon-Arc Exposure Apparatus
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3815/D3815M; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope D3330/D3330M TestMethodforPeelAdhesionofPressure-
Sensitive Tape
1.1 This practice describes one environment for the expo-
D3715/D3715M Practice for QualityAssurance of Pressure-
sure of pressure-sensitive tapes to a laboratory accelerated
Sensitive Tapes
weathering environment.
D6551/D6551M Practice for Accelerated Weathering of
1.2 This practice describes sample preparation and the
Pressure-Sensitive Tapes by Xenon-Arc Exposure Appa-
laboratory-accelerated weathering environment to which it
ratus
shall be exposed. It does not specify the length of time of the
G147 Practice for Conditioning and Handling of Nonmetal-
exposure nor what tests shall be performed on the material
lic Materials for Natural and Artificial Weathering Tests
following the exposure.
G151 Practice for Exposing Nonmetallic Materials inAccel-
NOTE 1—Practice D6551/D6551M describes xenon-arc exposures of
erated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light Sources
tapes.
G152 Practice for Operating Open Flame Carbon Arc Light
1.3 The values stated in either SI or inch-pound units are to
Apparatus for Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials
be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system
3. Summary of Practice
must be used independently without combining values in any
3.1 The pressure-sensitive tape is exposed in accordance
way.
with the conditions provided by Practices G151 and G152.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Exposure time is determined by applicable material specifica-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
tion or by mutual agreement by all interested parties.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
4. Significance and Use
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4.1 This practice does not necessarily provide direct simu-
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
lation of natural weathering exposure.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
4.2 Resultsfromuseofthispracticeshallnotberepresented
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
as being equivalent to those of any natural weathering test until
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
a satisfactory degree of correlation has been established for the
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
material in question.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
4.3 Variations in results are possible when the operating
2. Referenced Documents
conditions vary within the accepted limits for the instrument
2.1 ASTM Standards:
specified in Practices G151 and G152.
A666 Specification forAnnealed or Cold-WorkedAustenitic
5. Apparatus
Stainless Steel Sheet, Strip, Plate, and Flat Bar
5.1 Exposure Apparatus, conforming to the requirements
defined in Practices G151 and G152 for exposure using the
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D10 on Packaging
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.14 on Tape and Labels.
open-flame carbon arc with daylight filters.
Current edition approved April 1, 2019. Published April 2019. Originally
5.2 Panels, for holding or supporting the specimens ap-
approved in 1979. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as D3815/D3815M – 05
(2011). DOI: 10.1520/D3815_D3815M-05R19.
proximately 75 by 225 mm [3 by 9 in.] and rigid enough to
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
resist deforming during use.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
5.2.1 ThematerialshallbeType302or304stainlesssteelin
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. accordance with Specification A666 having a bright annealed
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D3815/D3815M − 05 (2019)
finish. The surface roughness height shall be 50 6 5 mm [2.0 roller (5.3), holding the specimen so that the roller causes the
6 0.1 µ-in.] arithmetical average deviation from the mean line. first contact of specimen with the panel.
5.2.2 Other dimensions or materials and finishes are accept- 8.1.1 When a test, such as in Test Method D3330/D3330M,
able when defined by the subsequent test standard or commod- is to follow this exposure, it is customary to apply the tape to
ity speci
...