Testing in the Lab

Dog Bone Tensile Testing (ASTM D412)

• Silicone sheets cured at 25°C + 2°C and 50% + 5% relative humidity for 7 days before testing.

•Aggressive aging for 14 days in oil and other solvents at 150°C for further testing. Ensure retention rate.

Lap Shear Tensile Testing (ASTM D1002, ASTM D3163, ISO 4587, DIN 53283)

• Silicone is applied onto combinations of bare steel and aluminum to ensure bond strength.

• Gap spacers applied for uniform sample thickness

• Samples are aged based on material specification:

• Standard 7-day aging

• Further aggressive aging in automotive solvents depending on formula.

• Tensile Shear Strength – Maximum Load before break.

Examples of Testing

ACETOXY VS. OXIME

ACETOXY

• Acetoxy based silicones release a fine powder-like substance during the drying or curing process.

• This substance can coat the slots in an oxygen sensor causing drivability problems for the vehicle

• Produces acetic acid byproduct:

• Strong odor

• Can be corrosive

OXIME

•Oxime based silicones are made from low-volatile components which cannot foul oxygen sensors.

• Different cure mechanism produces different byproduct:

• Little to no odor

• Non-corrosive

• Stronger cross-linking