ISO 10590:2005

Overview - ISO 10590:2005 (Sealants, tensile after water immersion)

ISO 10590:2005 specifies a laboratory method to evaluate the influence of water immersion on the adhesion and cohesion properties of joint sealants used in building construction. The standard describes specimen preparation, conditioning cycles, tensile extension and maintained-extension testing, and reporting requirements to determine how exposure to water affects sealant performance under sustained deformation.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and principle
  • Method for determining tensile properties of sealants at maintained extension after immersion in water (adhesion/cohesion failures).
• Specimen preparation
  • Test specimens comprise two substrate pieces (mortar, anodized aluminium or glass as defined) with spacers and an anti-adherent film; sealant is filled into the hollow and finished flush with supports.
• Conditioning
  • Two conditioning routes:
    • Method A: 28 days at (23 ± 2) °C, (50 ± 5) % RH.
    • Method B: Method A followed by three cycles of heat and water: oven at (70 ± 2) °C and distilled water at (23 ± 2) °C (specific day counts provided), then 24 h at (23 ± 2) °C/(50 ± 5) % RH.
  • Note: Method B simulates heat and water exposure but is not an accelerated durability prediction.
• Test procedure
  • After conditioning, remove spacers, immerse specimens in water at (23 ± 2) °C for 4 days, air-store 24 h, then extend in a tensile test machine at (5.5 ± 0.7) mm/min to 60% (19.2 mm) or 100% (24 mm) of original width (or other agreed elongation) and maintain for 24 h.
  • Measure depth and location of any adhesion/cohesion loss with a measuring device readable to 0.5 mm.
• Apparatus and measurements
  • Tensile test machine, spacers, ventilated oven, immersion containers, measuring device (0.5 mm).
• Reporting
  • Test lab, standard reference, sealant type and batch, substrate, primer, conditioning method, elongation used, and measured failure depths/locations.

Applications and users

• Useful for:
  • Sealant manufacturers (product development, quality control).
  • Independent testing laboratories and certification bodies.
  • Architects, façade engineers and specifiers assessing jointing products.
  • Building inspectors and compliance authorities verifying material suitability for wet conditions.
• Practical value:
  • Provides standardized data on how water exposure affects sealant adhesion/cohesion at sustained deformation - important for joints in façades, windows, curtain walls, bathrooms and other wet environments.

Related standards

• ISO 6927 - Sealants vocabulary (terms and definitions referenced).
• ISO 13640 - Specifications for test substrates (substrate materials and dimensions).