1(6)

ADHESIVES FOR FLOOR AND WALL COVERINGS: UDC 69.025.35:645.1/2

RESISTANCE AGAINST PLASTICISER 691.17
620.172:.176

Key words: Adhesives, floor coverings, wall coverings,

influence of plasticiser, test method

1 SCOPE 6.1 Principle

This Nordtest method is intended for the determination of 6.1 .1 Shear strength
resistance against plasticiser for adhesives.
The test specimens, consisting of baseplate, adhesive and
covering, are bonded as prescribed in Subclause 6.4.1 .1.
2 FIELD OF APPLICATION Then they are stored according to Subclause 6.4.1.2 and
measured after Subclause 6.4.1.3.
The method is in particular intended for testing adhesives used
for securing PVC floor and wall coverings and also skirting
board of plastic. The method can be used to compare the
adhesive and cohesive properties of different adhesives. The 6.1.2 90º peel off strength
test result will also depend on the properties of the covering
The test specimens, consisting of baseplate, adhesive and
and the baseplate.
covering, are bonded as prescribed in Subclause 6.4.2.1.
Then they are stored according to Subclause 6.4.2.2 and
measured after Subclause 6.4.2.3.
3 REFERENCES
None.

6.2 Apparatus
4 DEFINITIONS
6.2.1 Shear strength
Shear strength is the maximum force necessary to pull the
bonded covering off the baseplate, divided by the area of the Template for application of adhesive to the 8 baseplates. The
overlap joint (1000 mm²). template shall have space for 4 pairs of baseplates when the
baseplates of each pair are placed with the short sides
A 90º peel off strength is the force necessary to pull the
touching. The plates shall be covered so that 30 mm x 50 mm
bonded covering off the baseplate, divided by the width of the
at one end shall remain unglued (see Fig. 5). The template in
joint (50 mm).
Fig. 1 is suitable, see also Clause 7. With this template it is
Open time is the time from when the adhesive is applicated to possible to apply adhesive to 22 baseplates in one operation.
the time when the covering is placed upon it. The difference in open time may, however, affect the test
result.

5 SAMPLING Applicator for the adhesive, see Fig. 2 and Clause 7.

Unless otherwise agreed, the base material, adhesive and Template for bonding, which makes it easy to get an overlap
covering to be tested are supplied by the sponsor of the test. of 20 ± 1 mm by pushing the baseplate and the covering up to
walls that are 50 mm apart. The template in Fig. 3 is suitable.
The base material must be in pieces (baseplates) with a
See also Clause 7.
difference in thickness not extending 0.5 mm.
Pressing device which gives a load of 300 ± 10 N to the 50 mm
x 20 mm area of the overlap joint. Such a device can be the
6 METHOD OF TEST one shown in Fig. 4. See also Clause 7.
Both shear strength and peel off strength are to be measured Tensile test machine with self-aligning grips.
before and after the accelerated migration of plasticiser from
covering into the adhesive has taken place. Climate room with temperature 296 K ± 2 K and 50 ± 5 % RH.

Published by NORDTEST Tekniikantie 12 FIN-02150 ESPOO FINLAND Phone+35894554600 Fax+35894554272

ISSN 0283-7153 Proj. 136-78 Internet: www.nordtest.org
NORDTEST METHOD NT BUILD 146 2

Aluminium angle Glass board

Pieces of hard wood

i .

/ .- \
L ,.. .- -T-\
/ \
7’- . ..- .; I 220 A
\
\ _,_ / / \ / Fig. 3. Template for bonding.

r---------------500 1

L -
-A- 8
6

/ -\ / .
:; .‘. - /t ,L -. ._ \! -
.., / \ /I

l--I ,/ --
\ /
Inner angle
\ loose /
External angle, fastened
with adhesive Fig. 4. Press.
Fig. 1. Template for preparation of test specimen.

-84 1

Detail X

Fig. 2. Applicator for applying adhesive. Fig. 5. 8 baseplates ready for application of adhesive.
NORDTEST METHOD NT BUILD 146 3

6.2.2 90º peel off strength

Template for application of adhesive to 6 baseplates. The
template shall cover the plates so that 7 mm x 50 mm on one
end and 22 mm x 50 mm on the other end of each plate will
remain unglued. The template in Fig. 6 is suitable. See also
Clause 7.
Applicator for adhesive, see Fig. 7 and Clause 7.

Pressing device which gives a load of 375 ± 10 N to the 50 mm

x 150 mm area of the baseplate. Such a device can be the one
shown in Fig. 8. See also Clause 7. To obtain an even distri-
Detail X i
bution of the load, the upper press plate may be made of steel I iI
covered with polyether foam.
Tensile test machine with one device as in Fig. 9 (see also
Clause 7) and one clamp for the 50 mm strip of covering.

Climate room with temperature 296 K ± 2 K and 50 ± 5 % RH

for the conditioning and the measuring of peel off strength.

_ Aluminium angle Fig. 7. Applicator for applying adhesive.

Felt knob ' --'@JO L

Wood board

External angle, fastened

with adhesive
1 i- 60
Fig. 6. Template for preparation of test specimen. Fig. 8. Press.
NORDTEST METHOD NT BUILD 146 4

6.3.2 90º peel off strength

The base material must be in pieces (baseplates) of 50 ± 1 mm
x 150 ± 1 mm with a difference in thickness not extending 0.5
mm. 18 baseplates are necessary for each test.

The covering must be cut into strips of 50 ± 1 mm x 250 ± 5

mm, with the long side in the machine direction of the covering.
Wall covering made of flexible foam material should not be cut
until 72 h after the manufacturing process is completed. If
because of inner stresses the covering is not flat, the strips
must be depressed by a temperature of 323 K - 333 K for 1-3
/ ,I
Ball bearing -020 - h. The pressure should not be removed until the strips have
been cooled to under 303 K. 15 pieces of covering are necess-
ary for each test.

The covering and the baseplates must be conditioned in the

climate room for 48 h or more before bonding. For the adhesive
24 h at 296 K ± 2 K is sufficient.

6.4 Procedure

6.4.1 Shear strength

6.4.1 .1 Bonding

4 pairs of baseplates are placed in the template for application

of adhesive. The baseplates of each pair are placed with the
short sides touching and covered halfways, so that 50 mm x

I, a/
26
30 mm of each baseplate is free (see Fig. 5). Now the free
parts of the baseplates will just give room for the applicator.
Fig. 9. Device for tearing off floor covering. Adhesive for all test specimens is placed on the first pair of
baseplates and the applicator is drawn over all of them. The
first pair is not used for the test.

The open time, which should lie within the interval rec-
6.3 Preparation of test samples ommended by the supplier, has to be recorded in the test report
6.3.1 Shear strength - both the lowest and the highest open time used should be
recorded. The baseplates and adhesive shall lie in the climate
The base material must be in pieces (baseplates) of 50 ± 1 mm
room during the open time.
x 60 ± 1 mm with a difference in thickness not extending 0.5
mm. 18-22 baseplates are necessary for each test. After the open time, on trip of covering is placed upon each
baseplate by means of the template for bonding so that the
The covering must be cut into strips of 50 ± 1 mm x 60 ± 1 mm,
overlap joint is 50 ± 1 mm x 20 ± 1 mm.
with the longest side in the machine direction of the covering.
Wall covering made of flexible foam material should not be cut Immediately after bonding, the test specimen is pressed for
until 72 h after the manufacturing process is completed. If 10 ± 2 s in the pressing device.
because of inner stresses the covering is not flat, the strips
must be depressed by a temperature of 323 K - 333 K for 1-3
h. The pressure should not be removed until the strips have 6.4.1.2 Storing
been cooled to under 303 K. 15 pieces of covering are necess-
ary for each test. The test specimens are conditioned for 7 days at 296 K ± 2 K
and 50 ± 5 % RH. 5 of the test specimens are stored for further
The covering and the baseplates must be conditioned in the 7 days in the same climate before loaded in the tensile test
climate room for 48 h or more before bonding. For the adhesive machine. 5 are stored for 7 days at 343 K, 3 h at 296 K ± 2 K
24 h at 296 K ± 2 K is sufficient. and 50 ± 5 % RH and then loaded. The last 5 ones are stored
for 28 days at 343 K and 3 h at 296 K ± 2 K and 50 ± 5 % RH
before loaded in the tensile test machine.
 F,

NORDTEST METHOD NT BUILD 146 5

6.4.1.3 Measurement ened in the clamp. The distance from the clamp to the base-
plate is 50-100 mm.
The test is carried out in the climate room.
The tensile test machine is run with a speed of 100 ± 2 mm/min
The test specimen is fastened in the grips of the tensile test
until the whole strip of covering is peeled off. If there is still
machine with a distance of 45 ± 5 mm between the grips, and
sticky adhesive on the baseplate, adhesion to the second roller
with the overlap halfway between them.
can be avoided by a strip of paper.
The tensile test machine is run with aspeed of 100 ± 2 mm/min
The maximum force during the operation is read directly on the
until the joint is broken.
instrument.
The fracture is then inspected in order to discover if the
The fracture is inspected in order to observe if the adhesive
adhesive has slipped from the covering or from the baseplate,
has slipped from the covering or from the baseplate or if the
or if the adhesive itself has been torn apart.
adhesive itself has been torn apart.

6.4.2 90º peel off strength

6.5 Expression of results
6.4.2.1 Bonding
6.5.1 Shear strength
6 baseplates are placed side by side in the template and
covered at the ends so that 120 mm x 50 mm of each baseplate The maximum force in N for each test specimen is divided by
is open to the adhesive applicator (see Subclause 6.2.2 and the area of 1000 mm² to get the shear strength in N/mm², with
Fig. 6). Adhesive enough for all the baseplates is placed on one decimal.
the first one. Then the adhesive is drawn over all the base- The highest and the lowest result of the five parallels are
plates in one operation with the applicator. The first baseplate omitted and the mean of the remaining three values is calcu-
is not used in the test. lated.
The open time, which should lie within the interval rec-
ommended by the supplier, has to be recorded in the test
report. The baseplates with adhesive shall lie in the climate 6.5.2 90º peel off strength
room during the open time.
The maximum force in N for each test specimen is divided by
After the open time, one strip of covering i s placed upon each the width of 50 mm to get the 90º peel off strength in N/mm,
baseplate. with two decimals.

The end of the baseplate where there is a space of 7 mm left The highest and the lowest result of the five parallels are
to the adhesive (left end in Fig. 6) is placed just under one end omitted, and the mean of the remaining three values is calcu-
of the covering. lated.

Immediately after bonding the test specimen is pressed for

10 ± 2 s in the pressing device.
6.6 Accuracy

6.4.2.2 Storing 6.6.1 Shear strength

The test specimens are conditioned for 7 d a y s at 2 9 6 K ± 2 K It is important for the result that the space between the over-
and 50 ± 5 % RH. 5 of the test specimens are stored for further lapping adherents is completely filled with adhesive. Air holes
7 days in the same climate before loaded in the tensile test easily form before the adhesive has hardened, if the floor
machine. 5 are stored for 7 days at temperature 343 K, 3 h at covering pieces are not quite flat before bonding. Then only a
296 K ± 2 K and 50 ± 5 % RH and then loaded. The last 5 ones fraction of the 1000 mm² will be effective in the bonding. Long
are stored for 28 days at 343 K and 3 h at 296 K ± 2 K and 50 open time can also result in reduced bonding area. Small air
± 5 % RH before loaded in the tensile test machine. bubbles, however, will occur in the adhesive in practice as well
as in the test, and do not reduce the validity of the result.

6.4.2.3 Measurement

The test is carried out in the climate room at temperature 296 6.6.2 90º peel off strength
K ± 2 K and 50 ± 5% RH.
The highest result of the five parallels sometimes amounts to
The test specimen is fastened to the tensile test machine with twice the lowest one, due to inhomogeneities in the surface
the baseplate resting on the rollers shown in Fig. 9, and the and the adhesive layer. This will also occur in practical use of
free end of the covering drawn between the rollers and fast- the adhesives.
NORDTEST METHOD NT BUILD 146 6

6.7 Test report n) Any deviations from the test method

The test report shall include the following information, if rel- o) Test results (use SI units)
evant:
p) Inaccuracy or uncertainty of the test results
a) Name and address of the testing laboratory
q) Date and signature.
b) Identification number of the test report

c) Name and address of the organisation or person who

ordered the test
7 ANNEX
d) Purpose of the test
7.1 Other norms
e) Method of sampling and other circumstances (date and
person responsible for the sampling) The shear strength and the 90º peel off strength after 14 days
conditioning at 296 K and 50 % RH are identical with NT BUILD
f) Name and address of manufacturer or supplier of the 142 and NT BUILD 143 respectively, which in turn are similar
tested object to DIN 53277, Teil 2 and DIN 53278. The DIN norms prescribe,
Name or other identification marks of the tested object however, standard materials for baseplate and covering so
g)
that only the adhesive is subject to variation.
h) Description of the tested object

i) Date of supply of the tested object

j) Date of the test 7.2 Test equipment

k) Test method Templated, applicators, presses and tearing device like those
in Fig. 1-4 and 6-9 can be supplied from lnstitut fur
l) Conditioning of the test specimens, environmental data
Fussboden-Technik, Postfach 1909, D-5400 KOBLENZ 1,
during the test (temperature, pressure, RH, etc.)
Germany. The institute also sells the standard floor covering
m) Identification of the test equipment and instruments used and baseplates of DIN 53277 and 53278.