Performance of Tape-Bonded Seams of EPDM Membranes: Effect of Material and Application Factors on Peel Creep-Rupture Response.
Performance of Tape-Bonded Seams of EPDM Membranes:
Effect of Material and Application Factors on Peel
Creep-Rupture Response.
(4351 K)
Rossiter, W. J., Jr.; Vangel, M. G.; Kraft, K. M.;
Filliben, J. J.
NIST BSS 176; 59 p. May 1997.
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
Order number: PB97-177158
Keywords:
adhesive tapes; adhesive testing; application factors;
building technology; creep rupture; EPDM membranes; peel
strength; roofing; seams; time-to-failure
Abstract:
An investigation, conducted under the auspices of an
industry-government consortium, studied the effects of
material and application factors on the peel
creep-rupture response and peel strength of EPDM
(ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer) tape-bonded seam
specimens. Two material factors (tape system and
thickness) and five application factors (EPDM surface
condition, primer, application temperature, application
pressure, and time-at-application temperature) were
examined in a two-level statistically designed
experiment. Some tapes had thicknesses typical of those
commercially available at the time of the study, and
were designated as having 'standard' thickness. The
thicknesses of 'standard' and thin tapes were
approximately 0,9 mm (0.035 in) and 0.6 mm (0.025 in),
respectively. Specimens were prepared either primed or
unprimed using EPDM that was either cleaned or
contaminated. Application temperatures were low, 5 deg
C (41 deg F), or high, 60 deg C (140 degF), and
application pressures were low, 0.2 MPa (30 lbf/in2), or
high, 2MPa (300 lbf/in2). The time at which the
specimens remained at the application temperature was
short, about 24 hours, or long, 672-960 hours. To
interpret the data, plots of mean time-to-failure and
mean peel strength versus the combinations of
application factors for each of the four pairs of tape
system and tape thickness were analzyed. Comparisons of
times-to-failure between the tape-bonded sample sets
were made with those of liquid-adhesive-bonded sample
sets tested in an earlier phase of the study.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899