Designation: C794 – 10

Standard Test Method for

Adhesion-in-Peel of Elastomeric Joint Sealants1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C794; 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 Department of Defense.

1. Scope 4. Summary of Test Method

1.1 This test method covers a laboratory procedure for 4.1 This test method consists of preparing test specimens by
determining the strength and characteristics of the peel prop- embedding a wire mesh screen between two thin layers of the
erties of a cured-in-place elastomeric joint sealant, single- or sealant being tested, on test substrates, curing these specimens
multicomponent, for use in building construction. under specified time and conditions, then placing the specimen
1.2 The values stated in metric (SI) units are to be regarded in a tension-testing machine in such a way that the embedded
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided wire mesh screen is peeled back from the substrate at 180°,
for information only. while measuring the force exerted as well as the mode of
1.3 The committee with jurisdiction over this standard is not failure of the sealant from the substrate.
aware of any comparable standards published by other orga-
nizations. 5. Significance and Use
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the 5.1 There are differences in opinion among those concerned
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the with sealant technology whether or not this adhesion-in-peel
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- test simulates the type of strain and e-tensile stresses encoun-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- tered by a sealant in normal use. Nevertheless, this test
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. provides a valuable measurement of the ability of the cured
sealant to maintain a bond to the substrate under severe peel
2. Referenced Documents conditions.
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 5.2 Many sealant manufacturers utilize the adhesion-in-peel
C717 Terminology of Building Seals and Sealants test for determining the adhesive characteristics of sealant/
C1375 Guide for Substrates Used in Testing Building Seals primer combinations with unusual or proprietary substrates.
and Sealants This test is especially useful for quality measurements com-
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in paring batches of the same sealant relative to adhesion or for
ASTM Test Methods studying adhesion of a given sealant to a variety of substrates.
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to 5.3 This test method alone is not appropriate for comparing
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Determine the Precision of a Test Method the overall performance of different sealants in a given appli-
cation. The adhesive force that determines if a given sealant is
3. Terminology useful in a given application also depends on the modulus of
3.1 The definitions given in Terminology C717 on terms elasticity and the degree to which the sealant will be strained.
relating to building seals and sealants are applicable to this test This test, as it exists, does not consider the modulus of
method. elasticity, nor amount of stress that will be produced by a given
strain in an actual sealant in a moving joint. No known
1
correlations are given to relate and apply modulus values to the
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C24 on Building
Seals and Sealants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C24.30 on peel values.
Adhesion. 5.4 This test requires that the results indicate whether the
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2010. Published October 2010. Originally failure mode is primarily adhesive or cohesive. It is important
approved in 1975. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as C794 – 06. DOI:
10.1520/C0794-10.
to note that a cohesive failure is not necessarily better than an
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or adhesive failure, if the adhesive value is sufficient for the
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
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Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on

the ASTM website.

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 C794 – 10
application. Having adhesive failure allows one to study the
change of adhesion with time and with the various stress
conditions.
6. Apparatus and Materials
6.1 Tensile Testing Machine with tension grips capable of
pulling at the rate of separation of approximately 50 mm (2
in.)/min, and having a chart indicator calibrated in 0.45-N
(0.1-lbf) units.
6.2 Standard Substrates—This test method may be per-
formed on a wide variety of substrates. See Guide C1375 for a
description of standard substrates and recommended surface
preparation. Since adhesive properties of a joint sealant are
related to the nature of the substrate, it is strongly recom-
mended that whenever possible that adhesion-in-peel testing be
performed on substrate samples that are representative of the
building materials. Examples of such substrates include brick,
marble, limestone, granite, aluminum, stainless steel, plastic,
ceramic tile, and others.
6.3 Masking Tape, paper, roll, 25 mm (1 in.) wide.
6.4 Wire Mesh Screen3 stainless steel or aluminum, 20-
mesh, 0.4 mm (0.016 in.) wire thickness, cut to a width of 25
+ 0, -2 mm (1.0 + 0, -0.08 in.) by a minimum length of 250 mm NOTE—A – 25 by 2 mm (1 by 0.08 in.) indentation
(10 in.). The wire mesh screen selected must be flexible yet B – 25 by 4 mm (1 by 0.16 in.) indentation
strong enough to not tear during adhesion-in-peel testing. The FIG. 1 Special Tooling Device
wire mesh screen must be flat and free of kinks. To ensure
adhesion of the joint sealant to the wire mesh, thoroughly clean 7.1.1 Condition a minimum of 250 g of sealant for 24 h at
the screen prior to use. Sealant primer on the wire mesh screen 23 6 2°C (73 6 4°F) and 50 6 5 % relative humidity.
is generally recommended by the sealant manufacturer to Multi-component sealants will require mixing for 5 min or as
enhance adhesion of the joint sealant to the screen. Sealant may recommended by the sealant manufacturer. Specific mixing
also be pre-applied to the screen to enhance adhesion. equipment and mixing procedures may be recommended by the
6.4.1 Discussion—Adhesion of the joint sealant to the mesh sealant manufacturer.
screen is essential to evaluate adhesion-in-peel properties of 7.1.2 Unless specified otherwise, standard conditions of
the sealant to the substrate. Due to the unique characteristics of temperature and relative humidity used throughout this test
each sealant, the sealant manufacturer must determine for each method are defined as 23 6 2°C (73 6 4°F) and 50 % relative
sealant the appropriate screen composition, mesh dimension, humidity.
wire diameter and screen cleaning and priming procedure. 7.1.3 Clean and prepare the substrate samples as described
Polyester mesh, fiberglass mesh, airplane cloth, fabric, plastic in Guide C1375. Substrate materials not described in C1375
film or similar material can be used in lieu of a wire mesh should be prepared in accordance with the sealant manufactur-
provided that the material is pliable, of a thickness no greater er’s recommendations.
than 0.5 mm (0.02 in.), does not adversely affect sealant cure 7.1.4 Apply primer(s) to the substrate(s) if recommended by
and does not rupture during adhesion-in-peel testing. the sealant manufacturer.
6.5 Tooling Device—aluminum or similar rigid material, 7.1.5 Masking tape can be applied to the substrate surfaces
created to produce a 2 mm (0.08 in.) by 25 mm (1 in.) sealant adjacent to the test area to allow easy removal of excess joint
bead and 4 mm (0.16 in.) by 25 mm (1 in.) sealant bead after sealant.
tooling (Fig. 1). The width of the tooling device may be up to 7.1.6 Wire mesh screens must be thoroughly cleaned and
27 mm (1.06 in.) to allow easy tooling of the sealant without primed, if required, as recommended by the sealant manufac-
snagging the edges of the screen. turer.
6.6 Putty Knife, rigid, approximately 40 mm (1.6 in.) wide. 7.1.7 For each substrate preparation/cleaning condition to
6.7 Knife, with sharp razor-type blade. be tested, apply a bead of sealant at least 100 mm (4 in.) in
length to the substrate surface (Fig. 2).
7. Test Specimens and Cure Procedures 7.1.8 Immediately place the wire mesh screen on the sealant
7.1 Four test specimens (adhesion-in-peel samples) shall be bead and lightly tap it into the joint sealant (Fig. 3).
prepared on each of the substrates using the following proce- 7.1.9 Holding the screen with a finger to prevent slippage,
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dures: gently draw down the sealant imbedding the wire mesh into the
wet sealant, using the special tooling device – side A (Fig. 1)
3
Available from Tetko Inc., 333 South Highland Ave., Briarcliff Manor, NY
at an 90° angle to the substrate (Fig. 4). The wire mesh screen
10510. Also available from McMaster Carr Supply Co., P.O. Box 4355, Chicago, IL should be imbedded to a uniform depth of 2 mm (0.08 in.) from
60680. the substrate surface (Fig. 5).

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 C794 – 10

FIG. 4 Tooling Sealant after Imbedding Wire Screen Mesh with

Special Tooling Device – Side A

FIG. 2 First Sealant Bead Applied to Substrate (with masking

tape)

FIG. 5 Adhesion-in-Peel Test Specimen after Imbedding Wire

Mesh Screen

7.1.12 Excess sealant beyond the edge of the wire mesh

screen may be removed while the sealant is wet using a putty
FIG. 3 Wire Mesh Screen being Imbedded in Wet Sealant Bead knife or spatula. Avoid moving the screen imbedded in the
sealant. Masking tape, if used, should be removed at this time.
7.1.10 Immediately apply a second bead of joint sealant 7.1.13 After the sealant is cured, excess sealant may be
over the first bead of sealant and wire mesh screen (Fig. 6). carefully removed along the length of the test sample using a
7.1.11 Again holding down the screen with a finger to razor knife. Fig. 8 shows a final prepared adhesion-in-peel test
prevent slippage, use the special tooling device – side B (Fig. sample.
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1) and draw down the sealant at a 90° angle to the substrate. 7.1.14 Allow the sealant to cure as recommended by the
The total depth of the sealant should be 4 mm (0.16 in.) (Fig. sealant manufacturer. Standard curing time is 21 days at
7) and the wire mesh screen should be imbedded uniformly at standard conditions. Curing time and conditions may vary
the approximate midpoint of the total sealant depth. depending on the sealant type and application.

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 C794 – 10
8. Test Procedure
8.1 Once the sealant is fully cured, gently wrap the loose
end of the wire mesh screen and bend back. Using a razor
knife, provide a fresh cut along the sealant to the substrate
interface (Fig. 9).
8.1.1 Place the test specimen in the tensile testing machine
with the substrate secured to the fixed member and the loose
end of the wire mesh screen secured to the movable member at
an angle of 180° (Fig. 10).
8.1.2 Pull the screen at a rate of 50 mm (2 in.)/min for a total
of 1 min (Fig. 11).
8.1.2.1 If the screen breaks during the testing, disregard the
value. If possible, undercut the sealant with a razor knife and
repeat the test. If the screen continues to break, prepare new
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FIG. 6 Applying Second Bead of Sealant

test samples using a higher strength wire mesh screen.
8.1.2.2 If the sealant peels away cleanly from the screen,
disregard the value. Undercut the sealant with the razor knife
and repeat the test. If adhesive failure to the screen continues,
prepare new test samples using a more thoroughly cleaned or
primed, or both, wire mesh screen. If necessary, use a material
other than a wire mesh screen.
8.1.2.3 If the adhesion-in-peel test sample shows adhesive
failure to the screen in two repeated attempts but peel force
values are above the specified requirements, further sample
testing may not be required. In such cases, report failure mode
as screen delamination, since adhesive or cohesive failure of
the sealant to the substrate is not fully established. The screen
should be pulled for a total of 1 min as described in 8.1.2.
NOTE 1—Discussion—Some sealants may have a non-homogeneous
mode of failure during the initial adhesion-in-peel testing. During the first
30 to 60 s of testing, the sealant may achieve a steady state and longer test
duration may be needed to accurately assess the failure mode of the
FIG. 7 Tooling Second Bead of Sealant with Special Tooling
sealant.
Device – Side B

FIG. 8 Finished Adhesion-in-Peel Test Samples

FIG. 9 Cut Along Sealant/Substrate Interface with Razor Knife

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 C794 – 10
8.1.4 Record the peak force in Newton (pound force).
8.1.5 Observe and record the approximate percentages of
sealant failure modes over the total test area. Sealant failure is
described as either adhesive or cohesive failure. See Fig. 12 for
an example of each failure mode. Failure observed within the
substrate (that is, paint removal, etc.) should be reported as
substrate failure.
8.2 Water Immersion Test—Using either four separate test
specimens or the same test specimen used for dry adhesion
testing and following completion of standard cure as described
in 7.1.13, immerse the test samples for 7 days in distilled water
conditioned to 23 6 2°C (73 6 4°F). Mortar and concrete
specimen should be placed in a separate container from glass
and aluminum specimen because the high alkali condition
generated could have an adverse effect on the glass and
aluminum.
8.2.1 Following water immersion, remove the test samples,
lightly dry with a cloth or paper towel and test within 10 min
as described in 8.1 through 8.1.5.
8.3 Additional conditions may be used including different
cure conditions, different water temperature or duration of
immersion, exposure of sealant to chemicals or other materials
or exposure to ultraviolet radiation, heat or weathering.

9. Report
FIG. 10 Adhesion-in-Peel Test Specimen Secured in Tensile
9.1 Report the following information for each sample
Testing Machine tested:
9.1.1 Description of substrate test sample, that is, bronze
anodized aluminum, clear float glass, polished granite, etc.
9.1.2 Description of substrate surface preparation and clean-
ing,
9.1.3 Description of screen cleaning, and priming, if per-
formed,
9.1.4 Identification of the type of sealant, such as single- or
multi-component, color, product name, etc.,
9.1.5 Identification of primer type if used or record “no
primer”,

FIG. 11 Wire Mesh Screen Pulled at 180° on Tensile Testing

Machine

NOTE—Left: Cohesive Failure

8.1.3 Record the average peel force in Newton (poun-force) Right: Adhesive Failure
over the duration of the test. --`,,```,,,,````-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
FIG. 12 Examples of Cohesive Failure and Adhesive Failure

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 C794 – 10
TABLE 1 21 Day Dry Adhesion – Average Load (units)
Repeatability Reproducibility
Repeatability Reproducibility
AverageA Standard Standard
Sealant Sx Limit Limit
x Deviation Deviation
r R
Sr SR
Sealant A 19.18 6.03 3.71 6.84 10.40 19.15
A
The average of the laboratories’ calculated averages.

TABLE 2 21 Day Dry Adhesion – Peak Load (units)

Repeatability Reproducibility
Repeatability Reproducibility
AverageA Standard Standard
Sealant Sx Limit Limit
x Deviation Deviation
r R
Sr SR
Sealant A 23.13 4.84 3.43 5.68 9.61 15.90
A
The average of the laboratories’ calculated averages.

9.1.6 Average and peak peel strength in Newton (pound- single material, and the inability of all six laboratories to report
force) for each adhesion-in-peel test, every result, Practice E691 was followed for the design and
9.1.7 Percent sealant failure type for each adhesion-in-peel analysis of the data.4
test. 10.1.1 Repeatability Limit (r)—Two test results obtained
9.1.8 Variation, if any, from the specified test procedure. within one laboratory shall be judged not equivalent if they
Examples of common variation in the test method include: differ by more than the “r” value for that material; “r” is the
9.1.8.1 Use of a material other than a wire mesh screen, that interval representing the critical difference between two test
is, polyester mesh, fiberglass mesh, airplane cloth, etc., results for the same material, obtained by the same operator
9.1.8.2 Screen width different than 25 mm (1 in.), using the same equipment on the same day in the same
9.1.8.3 Screen mesh count different than 20, laboratory.
9.1.8.4 Sealant cure condition different than standard con- 10.1.1.1 Repeatability limits are listed in Tables 1-6
ditions, 10.1.2 Reproducibility Limit (R)—Two test results shall be
9.1.8.5 Variation in water temperature or duration of immer- judged not equivalent if they differ by more than the “R” value
sion, for that material; “R” is the interval representing the critical
9.1.8.6 Exposure of test samples to chemicals or other difference between two test results for the same material,
materials, obtained by different operators using different equipment in
9.1.8.7 Exposure of test samples to ultraviolet light, heat or different laboratories.
weathering conditions. 10.1.2.1 Reproducibility limits are listed in Tables 1-6.
10.1.3 The above terms, (repeatability limit and reproduc-
10. Precision and Bias ibility limit) are used as specified in Practice E177.
10.1 The precision of this test method is based on an 10.1.4 Any judgment in accordance with 10.1.1 and 10.1.2
interlaboratory study of C794, Standard Test Method for would normally have an approximate 95 % probability of being
Adhesion-in-Peel of Elastomeric Joint Sealants, conducted in correct, however the precision statistics obtained in this ILS
2008. Results in this study were obtained from a total of six must not be treated as exact mathematical quantities which are
laboratories, testing a single sealant. Every “test result” re- applicable to all circumstances and uses. The limited number
ported represents an individual determination. Each participat- of materials tested guarantees that there will be times when
ing laboratory was asked to report four replicate test results for differences greater than those predicted by the ILS results will
each time/analysis combination. Except for the use of only a arise, sometimes with considerably greater or smaller fre-
quency than the 95 % probability limit would imply. The

4
Supporting data have been filed at ASTM International Headquarters and may
be obtained by requesting Research Report RR:C24-1058.

TABLE 3 21 Day Dry Adhesion – Percent CF (%)

Repeatability Reproducibility
Repeatability Reproducibility
AverageA Standard Standard
Sealant Sx Limit Limit
x Deviation Deviation
r R
Sr SR
Sealant A 90.00 22.36 6.32 23.02 17.71 64.46
A
The average of the laboratories’ calculated averages.

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 C794 – 10

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TABLE 4 7 Day Water Immersion Adhesion – Average Load (units)
Repeatability Reproducibility
Repeatability Reproducibility
AverageA Standard Standard
Sealant Sx Limit Limit
x Deviation Deviation
r R
Sr SR
Sealant A 15.56 3.01 1.70 3.35 4.76 9.37
A
The average of the laboratories’ calculated averages.

TABLE 5 7 Day Water Immersion Adhesion – Peak Load (units)

Repeatability Reproducibility
Repeatability Reproducibility
AverageA Standard Standard
Sealant Sx Limit Limit
x Deviation Deviation
r R
Sr SR
Sealant A 18.76 3.73 2.01 4.12 5.63 11.53
A
The average of the laboratories’ calculated averages.

TABLE 6 7 Day Water Immersion Adhesion – Percent CF (%)

Repeatability Reproducibility
Repeatability Reproducibility
AverageA Standard Standard
Sealant Sx Limit Limit
x Deviation Deviation
r R
Sr SR
Sealant A 92.50 18.37 2.36 18.48 6.60 51.76
A
The average of the laboratories’ calculated averages.

repeatability limit and the reproducibility limit should be ries, on a single material. This sealant was described as the
considered as general guides, and the associated probability of following: Sealant A: Single-component Silicone Sealant.
95 % as only a rough indicator of what can be expected.
10.2 Bias—At the time of the study, there was no accepted 11. Keywords
reference material suitable for determining the bias for this test
method, therefore no statement on bias is being made. 11.1 adhesion-in-peel; elastomeric joint sealant; water
10.3 The precision statement was determined through sta- immersion
tistical examination of all reported results, from six laborato-

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