ASTM International has approved a new test method (soon to be published as C1956) to evaluate laminated glass with various interlayers when sealants are in intimate and intentional contact with laminate edges. The new standard was developed by the flat glass subcommittee (C14.08), part of ASTM’s glass and glass products committee (C14).

According to ASTM member Julia Schimmelpenningh, incompatibility with some sealants can cause severe and obvious edge effects. The proposed test method will help ensure that reported results are looking at the effect of sealants on the laminated glass in a consistent manner.

“Think of this standard as a way to test how well the attaching material (sealant) that holds enhanced glass in place gets along with the special layer (interlayer) inside the glass. If they don’t work well together, it can cause visible problems at the edges,” explained Schimmelpenningh, technical engagement manager, architectural, at Eastman Chemical. “This standard is not meant to test the interaction of interlayers or the weathering impact on the sealant itself.”

Schimmelpenningh adds that the proposed standard will benefit a wide range of stakeholders — from architects and specifiers to end users — by providing a clearer understanding of how sealants may affect the visual and aesthetic performance of laminated glass in their projects.

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