ASTM C1521-02

Standard Practice for Evaluating Adhesion of Installed Weatherproofing Sealant 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 comparable practices published by other organizations or committees.
1.5 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jan-2002
• ICS: 83.060 - Rubber
• Technical Committee: C24 - Building Seals and Sealants

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM C1521-02a - Standard Practice for Evaluating Adhesion of Installed Weatherproofing Sealant Joints
• Effective Date: 10-May-2002

Standards Content (Sample)

Designation: C 1521 – 02
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 zations or committees.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
1.1 This practice describes field tests to determine the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
adhesive and cohesive characteristics of an installed sealant
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
joint, by manually placing a strain on the sealant. The sealant
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
to be tested shall be fully cured. The results of this method can
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
be used in conjunction with other information to determine the
overall performance of the sealant joint. The user of this
2. Referenced Documents
practice should define the other parameters to be evaluated
2.1 ASTM Standards:
such as cleaning of the substrate, depth control of the sealant,
2
C 717 Terminology of Building Seals and Sealants
sealant profile, etc. This method describes both nondestructive
and destructive procedures.
3. Terminology
1.2 The destructive procedure stresses the sealant in such a
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this rec-
way as to cause either cohesive or adhesive failure of the
ommended procedure, see Terminology C 717.
sealant or cohesive failure of the substrate where deficient
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
substrate conditions exist. The objective is to characterize the
3.2.1 flap, n—the term “flap” as used in this specification
adhesive/cohesive performance of the sealant on the specific
refers to a portion of an installed sealant bead that has been
substrate by applying whatever strain is necessary to effect
purposely cut along one substrate bond line and across the bead
failure of the sealant bead. It is possible that the strain applied
at two locations resulting in a portion of bead adhered along
to the sealant bead may result in the failure of a deficient
one substrate bond line.
substrate before effecting a failure in the sealant.
3.2.2 tail, n—the term “tail” as used in this specification
NOTE 1—The destructive procedure requires immediate repair of the
refers to a portion of an installed sealant bead that has been
sealant bead. Appropriate materials and equipment should be available for
purposely cut along both substrate bond lines and across the
this purpose.
bead at one location resulting in a portion of bead unadhered to
NOTE 2—Sealant formulations may fail in cohesion or adhesion when
the substrates but adhered to the remainder of the sealant bead.
properly installed, and tested by this method. The sealant manufacturer
should be consulted to determine the appropriate guidelines for using this
4. Significance and Use
method.
4.1 Many parameters contribute to the overall performance
1.3 The nondestructive procedure places strain on the seal-
of a sealant application. Some of the most significant param-
ant and a stress on the adhesive bond. Though termed nonde-
eters are sealant bead size and configuration, joint movement,
structive, this procedure may result in an adhesive failure of the
quality of workmanship, the quality of the adhesive bond, and
deficient sealant bead, but should not cause a cohesive failure
the quality of the sealant material.
in the sealant. The results of this procedure should be either
4.2 A sealant usually fails to perform as a weatherseal when
adhesive failure or no failure.
it experiences cohesive or adhesive failure.
NOTE 3—The nondestructive procedure may require immediate repair
4.3 If a sealant bead fails, an evaluation of the total joint
of the sealant bead, if failure is experienced. Appropriate materials and
movement may be needed to determine if the joint sealant was
equipment should be available for this purpose.
strained beyond design or if the sealant failed within design
1.4 The committee with jurisdiction over this practice is not
parameters.
aware of any comparable practices published by other organi-
4.4 If a sealant bead fails adhesively, there is no straight-
forward procedure for determining the cause. The adhesive
failure may be due to workmanship, the specific surface
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C24 on Building
Seals and Sealants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C24.32 on
Chemically Curing Sealants.
2
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 2002. Published April 2002. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
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