Method for testing stress-relaxation properties of sealing materials

摘要

A test method for determining, quantifying, and qualifying the stress-relaxation characteristics of a sealant material compound comprising applying a sealant material layer between a first plate and a second plate, disposing a fastener assembly through the plates, and providing tension preload upon the fastener assembly so as to compress the plates together. The elongation of the fastener assembly is measured and the test assembly is heated and cooled under controlled parameters and the elongation of the fastener assembly is again measured. The stress-relaxation of the sealant material compound is correlated to the corresponding change in fastener assembly elongation for the purposes of measuring, quantifying, and qualifying the sealant material compound.