Sealants aging studies

If the analyst is lucky, it may be possible to physically matdi the fragment to one of the rolls (identifying a common source, or individualization). If not, the tape can be examined microscopically and vrith microspectrophotometry. Careful study of the fiber pattern in the tape, combined with some database searching and phone calls, may narrow the possible manufacturers of tire tape (classification). A trip to the library (a building or an electronic repository) may uncover an article in a forensic, anal)rtical, or industrial journal (e.g., journal of Forensic Sciences, Forensic Science International, Canadian Journal of Forensic Science, Adhesives Age, or Adhesives and Sealants Industry) that describes how others have approached similar problems. Experimentation with tapes unrelated to the case can further refine the approach. 

Wolf, A. T., Review of Modem Analytical Techniques Used in the Study of Aging-induced Changes in Sealants, Durability of Building Sealants, (A. T. Wolf, ed ), Ch. XVII, pp. 323-342, RILEM Publ. S.A.R.L., The Publ. Co. of RILEM (1999)... 

Thermoanalytical techniques can be used to monitor a wide array of material properties including enthalpy, heat capacity, weight loss, thermal stability, thermal expansion coefficient, and glass transition temperature. They have been widely used to study the aging behavior of roofing construction materials such as roofing membranes and sealants. 

Boettger and Boltet l conducted a multi-year durability study on a series of high-performance artificially- and naturally-aged sealant products. The physical and mechanical properties of seven series of sealants (polyurethane, silicone, polysulfide rubber, polychloroprene, and EDPM rubber) were evaluated after 6000 hours exposure to natural and artificial aging. The artificial aging consisted in exposure to UV radiation at four different temperatures and condensation at 50°C. Samples were also... 

Tan, K.T., White, C.C., Benatti, D.J., Hunston, D.L. Effects of ultraviolet radiation, temperature and moisture on ageing of coatings and sealants—a chemical and rheological study. Pol5Tn. Degrad. Stab. 95, 1551-1556 (2010)... 

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