INTERNATIONAL ISO

STANDARD 7389

Third edition
2002-10-01

Building construction — Jointing

products — Determination of elastic
recovery of sealants
Construction immobilière — Produits pour joints — Détermination de la
reprise élastique des mastics

Reference number
ISO 7389:2002(E)

© ISO 2002
ISO 7389:2002(E)

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 ISO 7389:2002(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO
member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical
committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has
the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in
liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 3.

Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this International Standard may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

International Standard ISO 7389 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 59, Building construction,
Subcommittee SC 8, Jointing products.

This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 7389:1987), subclauses 5.1 and 5.7 and clause 8 of
which have been technically revised.

© ISO 2002 – All rights reserved iii

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 7389:2002(E)

Building construction — Jointing products — Determination of

elastic recovery of sealants

1 Scope

This International Standard specifies a method for the determination of the elastic recovery of sealants after
maintained extension.

2 Normative references

The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of
this International Standard. For dated references, subsequent amendments to, or revisions of, any of these
publications do not apply. However, parties to agreements based on this International Standard are encouraged to
investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below. For
undated references, the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies. Members of ISO and IEC
maintain registers of currently valid International Standards.

ISO 6927, Building construction — Jointing products — Sealants — Vocabulary

ISO 13640, Building construction — Jointing products — Specifications for test substrates

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this International Standard, the terms and definitions given in ISO 6927 apply.

4 Principle

The test sealant is extended, held in extension and released. The elastic recovery is expressed as a percentage of
the extension.

5 Apparatus

5.1 Substrate materials used for the preparation of test specimens are defined in ISO 13640.

The materials shall be selected from mortar or anodized aluminium or glass. Other substrate materials may be used
as agreed by the parties concerned. For each test specimen, two supports of the same material are required with
dimensions as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Test substrates of other dimensions may be used, but then the dimensions
of the sealant bead and the area of adhesion shall be the same as those shown in Figures 1 and 2.

5.2 Spacers, for the preparation of the test specimens, of cross-section 12 mm × 12 mm, with anti-adherent
surface.

5.3 Spacers, with a width of 15 mm or 19,2 mm or 24 mm, to hold the test specimens at an elongation of 25 %,
60 % or 100 % respectively (see Table 1).

5.4 Anti-adherent substrate, for the preparation of test specimens, e.g. polyethylene (PE) film, preferably
according to the advice of the sealant manufacturer.

© ISO 2002 – All rights reserved 1

ISO 7389:2002(E)

5.5 Ventilated convection-type oven, capable of operating at (70 ± 2) ◦ C for conditioning according to
method B.

5.6 Container for water immersion of the specimen for conditioning according to method B.

5.7 Extension machine, capable of extending at a rate of (5,5 ± 0,7) mm/min.

5.8 Vernier inside caliper, accurate to 0,1 mm.

6 Preparation of test specimens

The sealant and the test substrate shall be brought to (23 ± 2) ◦ C. For each substrate three test specimens shall be
prepared. For each specimen, two supports (5.1) and two spacers (5.2) shall be assembled (see Figure 1) and set
up on the anti-adherent substrate (5.4).

The instructions of the sealant manufacturer concerning, for instance, whether a primer is to be used and the mixing
procedure for multi-component sealants shall be followed. The hollow void formed by the substrates shall be filled
with the sealant.

The following precautions shall be taken:

a) the formation of air bubbles shall be avoided;
b) the sealant shall be pressed to the contact surfaces of the substrates;
c) the sealant surface shall be trimmed so that it is flush with the faces of the substrates and the spacers.

The test specimens shall be set on edge of one of the supports and the anti-adherent shall be removed as soon as
possible. The test specimens shall rest in this position to allow curing or optimum drying of the sealant.

The spacers shall be maintained in place during conditioning.

7 Conditioning of test specimens

7.1 General

The test specimens shall be conditioned either according to method A (see 7.2) or method B (see 7.3).

7.2 Conditioning method A

The test specimens shall be conditioned for 28 days at (23 ± 2) ◦ C and (50 ± 5) % relative humidity.

7.3 Conditioning method B

First the test specimens shall be conditioned according to method A and subsequently subjected three times to the
following storage cycle:
a) 3 days in the oven (5.5) at (70 ± 2) ◦ C;
b) 1 day in distilled water (5.6) at (23 ± 2) ◦ C;
c) 2 days in the oven (5.5) at (70 ± 2) ◦ C;
d) 1 day in distilled water (5.6) at (23 ± 2) ◦ C.

This cycle may be carried out alternatively in the sequence: c) — d) — a) — b).

After conditioning according to method B, the test specimens shall be stored for a further period of 24 h at
(23 ± 2) ◦ C and (50 ± 5) % relative humidity before testing.

2 © ISO 2002 – All rights reserved

 ISO 7389:2002(E)

NOTE Conditioning method B is a normal conditioning procedure using the influence of heat and water. It is not intended to give
information on the durability of the sealant.

8 Procedure

The test shall be carried out at (23 ± 2) ◦ C and (50 ± 5) % relative humidity and all measurements shall be taken
with the vernier caliper (5.8). The measurements may be made either between the contact surfaces or may include
them.

The spacers used for the preparation of the test specimens shall be removed and the initial width, Wi , shall be
measured at both ends of each test specimen. The test specimens shall be placed in the extension machine (5.7)
and extended at a rate of (5,5 ± 0,7) mm/min to 25 % or 60 % or 100 % of the initial width, or by any other
percentage as agreed by the parties concerned. We is the width after elongation.

Table 1 gives the correspondence between the percentage elongation and the final elongated width for a test
specimen of 12 mm initial width.
Table 1 — Correspondence of elongation values
Elongation percentagea Width after elongation
% mm
25 15,0
60 19,2
100 24,0
a
Initial width, 12 mm.

The elongation shall be maintained for 24 h using the appropriate spacers. After this time the spacers shall be
removed and the test specimens shall be placed, with the long axis vertical, on a smooth low-friction surface such as
a talc-dusted glass plate. After 1 h, the width after elastic recovery, Wr , shall be measured at both ends of each test
specimen.

For Wi , We and Wr , the arithmetic mean of the respective measurements at both ends of the test specimen shall be
calculated.

9 Expression of results

The elastic recovery of each test specimen shall be calculated, by the equation

(We − Wr )
R= × 100
(We − Wi )

where

R is the elastic recovery, in percent;

Wi is the initial width, in millimetres, between the contact surfaces after conditioning;

We is the width, in millimetres, between the contact surfaces under elongation;

Wr is the width, in millimetres, between the contact surfaces after elastic recovery.

Values are rounded to the nearest 1 %.

The arithmetic mean of the three elastic recoveries shall be calculated, rounded to the nearest 1 %.

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ISO 7389:2002(E)

10 Test report

The test report shall contain the following information:

a) name of the laboratory and date of test;
b) a reference to this International Standard;
c) name, type (chemical family) and colour of sealant;
d) batch of sealant from which the test specimens were produced;
e) substrate material used;
f) primer used, if applicable;
g) method of conditioning (see clause 7);
h) percentage elongation in percent (see clause 8);
i) elastic recovery of each test specimen, in percent rounded to the nearest 1 % (see clause 9);
j) value of the mean elastic recovery;
k) any deviations from the method of this International Standard.
Dimensions in millimetres

Key
1 Mortar substrates
2 Sealant
3 Spacer
Figure 1 — Test specimen with mortar substrates

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 ISO 7389:2002(E)

Dimensions in millimetres

Key
1 Anodized aluminium or glass substrates
2 Sealant
3 Spacer
Figure 2 — Test specimen with anodized aluminium or glass substrates

© ISO 2002 – All rights reserved 5