SIST EN 12961:2002

• Abstract:

  This European Standard describes the determination of optimum heat activation temperature and maximum activation life of solvent-based or dispersion adhesives coated onto adherends, primarily based on the requirements for sole attaching adhesives. Optimum heat activation temperature and maximum heat activation life depend mainly on the type, composition and colour of the adhesive as well as the footwear material used.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Jan-2002
• ICS: 61.060 - Footwear
• ICS: 83.180 - Adhesives
• Technical Committee: IPMA - Polimer materials and products
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 01-Feb-2002
• Due Date: 01-Feb-2002
• Completion Date: 01-Feb-2002
• Ref Project: EN 12961:2001 - Adhesives for leather and footwear materials - Determination of optimum activation temperatures and maximum activation life of solvent-based and dispersion adhesives

• Refers: SIST ISO 554:1995 - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and/or testing -- Specifications
• Effective Date: 03-Jun-2026
• Refers: SIST ISO 868:1996 - Plastics and ebonite -- Determination of indentation hardness by means of a durometer (Shore hardness)
• Effective Date: 09-Feb-2026
• Refers: SIST EN 15062:2006 - Adhesives for leather and footwear materials - Solvent-based and dispersion adhesives - Testing ageing of bonds under specified conditions
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Refers: SIST EN 1067:2006 - Adhesives - Examination and preparation of samples for testing
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Refers: SIST EN 915:1996 - Gymnastic equipment - Asymmetric bars - Functional and safety requirements, test methods
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Refers: SIST EN ISO 15605:2004 - Adhesives - Sampling (ISO 15605:2000)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Refers: SIST EN 923:2016 - Adhesives - Terms and definitions
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Refers: SIST EN 15307:2015 - Adhesives for leather and footwear materials - Sole-upper bonds - Minimum strength requirements
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 1392:2006 - Adhesives for leather and footwear materials-Solvent-based and dispersion adhesives-Testing of bond strength under specified conditions
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Amended By: SIST EN 12961:2002/A1:2005 - Adhesives for leather and footwear materials - Determination of optimum activation temperatures and maximum activation life or solvent-based and dispersion adhesives
• Effective Date: 22-Dec-2008

SIST EN 12961:2002 is the Slovenian adoption of EN 12961:2001 from CEN. It specifies a laboratory method for determining the optimum heat activation temperature and the maximum activation life of solvent-based and dispersion adhesives coated onto leather and footwear materials, mainly for sole attaching adhesives. In practice, it helps manufacturers and test laboratories see how long a coated adhesive can wait before activation and which activation temperature gives a satisfactory bond on the chosen footwear materials.

What does SIST EN 12961:2002 specify?

SIST EN 12961:2002 covers adhesives coated onto adherends and is focused on two practical questions: what heat activation temperature works best, and how long after application the adhesive can still be activated successfully. The scope is written mainly around sole attaching adhesives, because that is where these properties matter most in footwear production.

SIST EN 12961:2002 is organized into clauses on scope, normative references, terms and definitions, principle, safety, adhesive and materials, apparatus, test pieces, procedure, evaluation and expression of results, and test report.

What are the key requirements of SIST EN 12961:2002?

Determination of optimum activation temperatures

Clause 4 and clause 9.1 require the adhesive on the sole-side material to be heated to a series of surface temperatures, then assembled immediately with the coated upper-side material and tested in peel. This shows which activation temperature gives the best bond for the adhesive and footwear material combination being used.

Clause 9.1.2 requires the heat activator and the temperature measuring device to be checked on spare strips before the main test. That matters because the test is based on the actual surface temperature of the adhesive coat, not just the heater setting.

Clause 9.1.3 and clause 10.1 use peel resistance and non-coalescence as the decision criteria. In practice, the user selects the activation temperature range that gives acceptable bond strength with limited coalescence failure.

Determination of maximum activation life

Clause 9.2 repeats the same bonding and peel-test approach after different drying times. This shows how long a coated adhesive can remain before activation and still perform within the acceptance criteria.

Clause 9.2.1 links the drying schedule to the adhesive type, separating one component and two component products. For a buyer or production engineer, this means the test reflects realistic shop-floor waiting times rather than a single fixed delay.

Clause 9.2.3 allows later drying times to be omitted once the adhesive clearly loses performance. That saves testing effort when the activation life has already been exceeded.

Test conditions and reporting

Clause 6 requires full identification of the adhesive and the materials used, including the adhesive name or designation, manufacturer, colour, and, for two component adhesives, the cross-linking agent and mixing ratio. This is what makes test results traceable and comparable.

Clause 8 requires conditioning in the standard atmosphere from ISO 554 and uses the peel-test framework of EN 1392. That keeps the test conditions controlled so that differences in results reflect the adhesive, not uncontrolled sample history.

Clause 11 requires the test report to identify the activator, the temperature-measuring equipment, the test materials, the procedure used, and the individual and mean results. For quality control, this is the record that shows how the result was obtained.

What terms does SIST EN 12961:2002 define?

• Optimum activation temperatures - the range of surface temperatures of a heat-activated adhesive coat that gives a bond with satisfactory peel strength and less than 10 % non-coalescence.
• Maximum activation life - the longest time after adhesive application at which heat activation still gives bonds with less than 10 % reduction in peel strength and less than 10 % non-coalescence.
• Non-coalescence - coalescence failure in the activated adhesive coat, used as a quality criterion in the peel test.
• Peel strength - the bond strength measured in peel testing, used here as the main performance result.
• One component adhesive - an adhesive tested after drying times that match single-component shoe-manufacturing practice.
• Two component adhesive - an adhesive tested after mixing with its cross-linking agent and identified by the mixing ratio.
• Reference footwear test material - a footwear material from EN 522 used when a standard test material is needed for research and development.

Who uses SIST EN 12961:2002?

SIST EN 12961:2002 is used by adhesive manufacturers, footwear producers, test laboratories, and quality assurance staff. They use it to compare adhesive formulations, check suitability for sole attaching, qualify materials for production, and document laboratory test results for procurement or development.

What changed in SIST EN 12961:2002 from the previous edition?

SIST EN 12961:2002 is identical to EN 12961:2001.

Which standards are used with SIST EN 12961:2002?

• EN 522 - provides reference footwear test materials representing defined polymer groups.
• EN 923 - supplies general adhesive terms and definitions.
• EN 1066 - covers sampling of adhesives.
• EN 1067 - covers examination and preparation of adhesive samples for testing.
• EN 1392 - provides the peel test method and related test conditions used in this standard.
• ISO 554 - specifies the standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing.
• ISO 868 - provides Shore hardness measurement for rubber and plastic materials used in identification.

What does the SIST EN 12961:2002 document contain?

SIST EN 12961:2002 contains the principle of the method, safety guidance, material identification rules, apparatus requirements, specimen preparation, and the detailed procedure for both activation temperature and activation life determinations. Table 1 sets out the drying-time sequence used for maximum activation life testing.

Clause 10 explains how to tabulate peel resistance and non-coalescence results, and clause 11 lists the items required in the test report. The document is therefore a complete laboratory method for testing bonded footwear materials under controlled conditions.

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.WHPSHUDWXUHKlebstoffe für Leder und Schuhwerkstoffe - Bestimmung der optimalen Aktiviertemperatur und der maximalen Dauer der Aktivierbarkeit von Lösemittel- und DispersionsklebstoffenAdhésifs pour cuir et matériaux pour articles chaussants - Détermination de la température optimale d'activation et de la durée maximale d'activation des adhésifs a base de solvant et en dispersionAdhesives for leather and footwear materials - Determination of optimum activation temperatures and maximum activation life of solvent-based and dispersion adhesives83.180LepilaAdhesives61.060ObuvalaFootwearICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 12961:2001SIST EN 12961:2002en01-februar-2002SIST EN 12961:2002SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
EUROPEAN STANDARDNORME EUROPÉENNEEUROPÄISCHE NORMEN 12961March 2001ICS 83.180English versionAdhesives for leather and footwear materials - Determination ofoptimum activation temperatures and maximum activation life ofsolvent-based and dispersion adhesivesAdhésifs pour cuir et matériaux pour articles chaussants -Détermination de la température optimale d'activation et dela durée maximale d'activation des adhésifs à base desolvant et en dispersionKlebstoffe für Leder und Schuhwerkstoffe - Bestimmungder optimalen Aktiviertemperatur und der maximalen Dauerder Aktivierbarkeit von Lösemittel- undDispersionsklebstoffenThis European Standard was approved by CEN on 4 February 2001.CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this EuropeanStandard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such nationalstandards may be obtained on application to the Management Centre or to any CEN member.This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translationunder the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the Management Centre has the same status as the officialversions.CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATIONCOMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATIONEUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNGManagement Centre: rue de Stassart, 36
B-1050 Brussels© 2001 CENAll rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reservedworldwide for CEN national Members.Ref. No. EN 12961:2001 ESIST EN 12961:2002

Page 2EN 12961:2001ContentsPageForeword.31Scope.42Normative references.43Terms and definitions.44Principle.45Safety.56Adhesive and materials.57Apparatus.58Test pieces.59Procedure.610Evaluation and expression of results.711Test report.8SIST EN 12961:2002

Page 3EN 12961:2001ForewordThis European Standard has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 193, "Adhesives", the secretariat ofwhich is held by AENOR.This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text orby endorsement, at the latest by September 2001, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at thelatest by September 2001.According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the followingcountries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland,France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland and the United Kingdom.SIST EN 12961:2002

Page 4EN 12961:20011 ScopeThis European Standard specifies the determination of optimum heat activation temperatures and maximumactivation life of solvent-based or dispersion adhesives coated onto adherends, primarily based on therequirements for sole attaching adhesives. Optimum heat activation temperatures and maximum heat activation lifedepend mainly on the type, composition and colour of the adhesive as well as the footwear material used.2 Normative referencesThis European Standard incorporates by dated or undated reference, provisions from other publications. Thesenormative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text and the publications are listed hereafter. Fordated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these publications apply to this EuropeanStandard only when incorporated in it by amendment or revision. For undated references the latest edition of thepublication referred to applies(including amendments).EN 522Adhesives for leather and footwear materials – Bond strength –Minimum requirements and adhesive classificationEN 923Adhesives — Terms and definitionsEN 1066Adhesives —
SamplingEN 1067Adhesives —
Examination and preparation of samples for testingEN 1392Adhesives for leather and footwear materials — Solvent-basedand dispersion adhesives —Test methods for measuring the bondstrength under specified conditionsISO 554Standard atmospheres for conditioning and/or testing —SpecificationsISO 868Plastics and ebonite — Determination of indentation hardness bymeans of a durometer (Shore hardness)3 Terms and definitionsFor the purpose of this standard, the definitions in accordance with EN 923, EN 1392, and the following definitions,apply:3.1optimum activation temperaturesrange of surface temperatures of a heat activated adhesive coat at which a bond is produced which on peel testinghas satisfactory strength with a proportion of non-coalescence of less than 10 %.3.2maximum activation lifelongest time interval, beginning with adhesive application, at the end of which, compared to bonds obtained afterdrying without storing, heat activation at an optimum activation temperature produces bonds of less than 10 %reduction in peel strength with non-coalescence of less than 10%.4 PrincipleThe surfaces of the upper and the sole materials used for testing are treated specifically to the type of material.Strips of specified size and form are cut from the treated materials and coated with the adhesive under test. Thecoats applied are dried for a specified period of time under specified conditions.For determination of the optimum activation temperatures coats on sole material strips are heat activated to varioussurface temperatures at intervals of 10 C from 50 C to 90 C, unless otherwise specified, and immediatelyassembled with dried but not activated coats on strips cut from upper material. The test pieces produced are storedfor a specified time under specified conditions before their strength is determined in a peel test in accordance withEN 1392.SIST EN 12961:2002

Page 5EN 12961:2001For determination of the maximum activation life coats on sole material strips are dried and heat activated, aftervarious specified time intervals, to a determined optimum activation temperature and immediately assembled withdried but not activated coats on strips cut from upper material. The test pieces obtained are stored for a specifiedtime under specified conditions before their strength is determined in a peel test in accordance with EN 1392.5 SafetyPersons using this standard shall be familiar with normal laboratory practice.This standard does not purport to address all the safety problems, if any, associated with its use.It is the respons
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