ASTM C1521-13
Standard Practice for Evaluating Adhesion of Installed Weatherproofing Sealant Joints

Standard No.

ASTM C1521-13

Release Date

2013

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Status

Be replaced

Replace By

ASTM C1521-19

Latest

ASTM C1521-19(2020)

Scope

4.1 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.

4.2 A sealant usually fails to perform as a weatherseal when it experiences cohesive or adhesive failure.

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 parameters.

4.4 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.

4.5 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.

4.6 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.

4.7 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 sealant joints.

4.8 The nondestructive methods are most effective while the sealant is in a state of extension due to mild or low temperatures. They are least effective during high temperature when the sealant is in a compressed condition.

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 p......

ASTM C1521-13 Referenced Document

• ASTM C1193 Standard Guide for Use of Joint Sealants
• ASTM C717 Standard Terminology of Building Seals and Sealants
• ASTM C794 Standard Test Method for Adhesion-in-Peel of Elastomeric Joint Sealants

ASTM C1521-13 history

• 2020 ASTM C1521-19(2020) Standard Practice for Evaluating Adhesion of Installed Weatherproofing Sealant Joints
• 2019 ASTM C1521-19 Standard Practice for Evaluating Adhesion of Installed Weatherproofing Sealant Joints
• 2013 ASTM C1521-13 Standard Practice for Evaluating Adhesion of Installed Weatherproofing Sealant Joints
• 2009 ASTM C1521-09e1 Standard Practice for Evaluating Adhesion of Installed Weatherproofing Sealant Joints
• 2009 ASTM C1521-09 Standard Practice for Evaluating Adhesion of Installed Weatherproofing Sealant Joints
• 2008 ASTM C1521-08a Standard Practice for Evaluating Adhesion of Installed Weatherproofing Sealant Joints
• 2008 ASTM C1521-08 Standard Practice for Evaluating Adhesion of Installed Weatherproofing Sealant Joints
• 2002 ASTM C1521-02a Standard Practice for Evaluating Adhesion of Installed Weatherproofing Sealant Joints
• 2002 ASTM C1521-02 Standard Practice for Evaluating Adhesion of Installed Weatherproofing Sealant Joints