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Author
Rossiter, W. J., Jr. | Nguyen, T.
Title
Cleaning of Aged EPDM Rubber Roofing Membrane Material for Patching: Analytical Techniques for Surface Characterization.
Coporate
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
Sponsor
Army Construction Engineering Research Lab., Champaign, IL
Report
NISTIR 4525, February 1991, 22 p.
Distribution
Not Available from National Technical Information Service
Keywords
aged EPDM membrane | cleaning methods | contact angle | FT-IR | roofs | patching | roofing | scanning electron microscopy | seams | surface analysis | surface preparation methods | wettability | critical parameters
Abstract
Proper seam formation is a critical parameter associated with the long-term performance of ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) roofing systems. As time passes and the membrane weathers in service, patches and splices to an EPEM surface may be needed. A concern raised regarding the performance of EPDM roofing is whether weathering alters the rubber's surface characteristics such that successful bonding of the aged material becomes more difficult than with unaged rubber. This report describes the results of the preliminary phase of a study to investigate surface analysis techniques for ascertaining whether the surface of aged EPDM rubber is properly cleaned before patches are bonded to it. The intent of the investigations was to develop experimental procedures applicable to EPDM rubber based on existing analytical methods. The surface analytical techniques investigated were: 1) scanning electron microscopy, 2) electron probe microanalysis, 3) Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and 4) contact angle (wettability) measurement. Of the four methods, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and contact angle measurement were found to be useful for general laboratory analysis of EPDM rubber sheets. Experimental procedures were developed for this purpose. In the case of electron probe microanalysis, it was found that the technique offered little information that could not be obtained by SEM analysis, unless it is desired to identify the elemental composition of the surface contaminants. Based on the results of the preliminary-phase investigations, it was recommended that research be continued on the application of the experimental procedures to analyze aged EPDM surfaces and to determine the effectiveness of different cleaning methods for removing surface contamination.