ASTM_D_2377_-_14.pdf

Designation:D237714Standard Test Method forTack-Free Time of Caulking Compounds and Sealants1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2377;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method describes the determination of thetack-free time property of caulking compounds and sealants.This test method is applicable to both gun and knife grades.1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regardedas the standard.The values given in parentheses are forinformation only.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.1.4 The committee with jurisdiction over this standard is notaware of any comparable standard published by other organi-zations.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2C717 Terminology of Building Seals and Sealants3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsRefer to Terminology C717 for definitionsof the following terms:caulking compound,compound,seal-ant.4.Apparatus4.1 Cabinet or Room,capable of maintaining StandardConditions as defined in Terminology C717.4.2 Brass Sheet,34by 112in.(19 by 38 mm),approximately14in.(6.4 mm)thick.4.3 TemplateA rectangular template of steel or brass,18in.(3.2 mm)thick,1 by 334in.(25.4 by 95.1 mm)inside,andapproximately 2 by 434in.(51 by 121 mm)outside.4.4 Steel SheetsTwo rectangular tin-plated steel sheets,approximately 3 by 5 in.(76 by 127 mm),and of a convenientthickness.4.5 Plastic StripsTwo,clear,low-density polyethylenestrips,1 by 5 in.(25.4 by 127 mm)by 0.004 6 0.001 in.(0.1016 6 0.0254 mm)thick.4.6 Spatula,steel,having a 4 to 5-in.(102 to 127-mm)longnarrow blade.4.7 Thin Knife Blade.5.Solvent5.1 Methyl Ethyl Ketone,Ethylene Dichloride,or similarsolvent.6.Conditioning6.1 Condition the sample in the original closed container forat least 5 h at Standard Conditions as defined in TerminologyC717.7.Sampling7.1 Take the sealant from a previously unopened containerand thoroughly mix before using.8.Test Specimens8.1 Prepare two test specimens as follows:8.1.1 Thoroughly mix the conditioned compound and com-pletely clean the template and steel sheets with solvent.8.1.2 Center the template on the tin panel and carefully fillit,avoiding air pockets.Strike off the surface of the compoundflat to a uniform18-in.(3.2-mm)thickness.With a thin knifeblade,cut all around the outside edge of the compound and liftthe template straight up and off.9.Procedure(Fig.1)9.1 For gun grade compounds,expose the specimen for 72h at Standard Conditions as defined in Terminology C717.Forknife grade compounds,expose for 120 h under the sameconditions.9.2 At the end of the exposure period,center the polyeth-ylene strip lengthwise along the top surface of the compound.Set the brass weight in the center on top of the polyethylenestrip and allow it to remain there for 30 s.1This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee C24 on BuildingSeals and Sealants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C24.20 onGeneral Test Methods.Current edition approved Feb.1,2014.Published March 2014.Originallyapproved in 1965.Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D2377 00(2008).DOI:10.1520/D2377-14.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 9.3 Remove the brass weight and carefully withdraw thepolyethylene strip with thumb and forefinger at right angles tothe compound.No caulking compound or sealant shall adhereto the polyethylene strip in either specimen.9.4 Repeat steps 9.1 through 9.3 with the second testspecimen.10.Report10.1 Report if any caulking compound or sealant hasadhered to the polyethylene strip in either specimen.11.Precision and Bias11.1 No statement is made about either the precision or biasof this test method for measuring tack-free time,since theresult merely states whether there is conformance to the criteriafor sucess in the procedure.12.Keywords12.1 caulking compound;compound;sealant;tack-freeASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentionedin this standard.Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights,and the riskof infringement of such rights,are entirely their own responsibility.This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsib