5.1 Seals are manufactured in flat extruded shapes and are primarily used to span joint openings. The seal is adhered to construction substrates utilizing a liquid applied adhesive, to seal building openings such as panel joints, metal flashing joints or other joints in place of conventional liquid applied sealants. In actual use, failure of an applied seal in an active joint is usually manifested by cohesive failure of the seal; adhesive failure between the adhesive and the substrate; adhesive failure between the adhesive and the seal; cohesive failure of the substrate or tear propagation parallel to the joint length.

FIG. 1 Standard Substrate Test Specimen Assemblies

FIG. 2 Beveled Bridge Joint Configuration

FIG. 3 U-joint Configuration

FIG. 4 Test Specimen Showing 5 mm Cut in the Middle of the Seal for Tear Propagation Testing

FIG. 5 Partial Tear

Tear propagates perpendicular to the length of the joint as shown above, left; or at any angle leading to the joint wall as shown above, right. In each case tear stops at the joint wall with an intact unbroken joint length on both sides of at least 12.5 mm.

FIG. 6 Tear

Tear propagates parallel to the joint wall and opens one side or both sides.

5.2 This test method can be used for testing the adhesion of the adhesive to the substrate and to the seal, tensile load at various strains and tear resistance at various strains after the specimens are exposed to wet, cold, hot and artificial weathering conditionings. All or some of these properties are experienced on actual job sites.