Chapter 3

Tex-601-J, Sampling and Testing Elastomeric Materials

Contents:
Section 1 — Overview.......................................................................................................... 3-2
Section 2 — Definitions ....................................................................................................... 3-3
Section 3 — Part I, Sampling ............................................................................................... 3-4
Section 4 — Part II, Testing ................................................................................................. 3-6

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Chapter 3 — Tex-601-J, Sampling and Testing
Elastomeric Materials Section 1 — Overview

Section 1
Overview
Effective date: August 1999 – January 2005.

This test method covers the procedure for sampling elastomeric materials by authorized
representatives of TxDOT. It also covers sampling of the finished product at the
manufacturer's plant or on the job site and does not include sampling procedures for pre-
qualification tests. Samples for pre-qualification tests will be submitted as directed in special
instructions issued by CST/M&P.

Units of Measurement

The values given in parentheses (if provided) are not standard and may not be exact
mathematical conversions. Use each system of units separately. Combining values from the
two systems may result in nonconformance with the standard.

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Chapter 3 — Tex-601-J, Sampling and Testing
Elastomeric Materials Section 2 — Definitions

Section 2
Definitions
The following terms and definitions are referenced in this test method:
♦ Elastomeric material - Elastomeric material is a material, usually synthetic, having
elastic properties similar to those of rubber. Examples are: bearing pads made from
compounds containing virgin neoprene and water stops made from natural rubber,
synthetic rubber, or polyvinyl chloride compounds (PVC).
♦ Batch - A batch is the quantity of finished material produced from each separate
mixture of ingredients.
♦ Lot - A lot is the quantity of identical, finished material presented for inspection at one
time. A lot may be composed of one or more batches or may be designated by a
specific number of elements according to specific governing rules or specifications.
♦ Shipment - A shipment is the quantity of finished material shipped to a project at one
time. May include one or more lots.
♦ Plain elastomeric bridge bearings - Plain elastomeric bridge bearings consist of
elastomer only.
♦ Laminated elastomeric bridge bearings - Laminated elastomeric bridge bearings consist
of layers of elastomer interspersed with non-elastic (steel) laminates.
♦ Sliding elastomeric bridge bearings - Sliding elastomeric bridge bearings consist of
steel plates faced with stainless steel and a preformed fabric pad faced with
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). These bearings are specifically designed to permit
sliding action of bridge girders.

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Chapter 3 — Tex-601-J, Sampling and Testing
Elastomeric Materials Section 3 — Part I, Sampling

Section 3
Part I, Sampling
The following details the requirements and procedures for sampling elastomeric materials.

Sampling Procedure

The following detail the sampling procedure for each type of material.
♦ Plain Elastomeric Bridge Bearings
• A minimum of one plain bearing will be taken for each project except when one
batch or lot is used for more than one project.
• Then one sample of the batch or lot will represent all projects involved.
• Manufacturer's certificate showing the physical properties of the elastomer will be
required.
♦ Laminated Elastomeric Bridge Bearings
• When required by the plans and/or specifications, all laminated bearings must be
subjected to a compressive load test by the manufacturer witnessed by an
authorized representative of CST/M&P.
• Laminated bearings revealing laminate separation during or after this test should be
rejected and replaced by the manufacturer with bearings that meet all requirements
of the plans and specifications.
• If the quality of plant production becomes questionable, one or more samples of
laminated bearing may be taken for test by the CST/M&P Laboratory.
• Manufacturer's certificate showing the quality of the non-elastic laminates will be
required.
♦ Sliding Elastomeric Bearings
• Unless otherwise required by the plans and/or specifications, a sample of a lower
unit of a bearing will be selected for each project for tests by the CST/M&P
Laboratory.
• Manufacturer's certificate reflecting the quality of the materials used in the
manufacture of bearings will be required.
♦ Disc/Pot Bearings
• Test disc/pot bearings at the place of manufacture according to the plans and
specifications.
• Materials used in the manufacture of disc/pot bearings will not require sampling
unless the quality is questionable.
• Certification or mill test reports will be required for all materials incorporated into
the bearings.
♦ Elastomeric Bridge Railing Pads

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Chapter 3 — Tex-601-J, Sampling and Testing
Elastomeric Materials Section 3 — Part I, Sampling

• Elastomeric bridge railing pads will be accepted on the basis of manufacturer's

certification and visual inspection by the project engineer.
♦ Rubber Water Stops
• Rubber water stops will be accepted by the project engineer on the basis of
manufacturer's certification and visual inspection.

Failure of Samples

Any sample which fails to meet specification will be rejected and the batch, lot or shipment
represented by that sample shall also be rejected.

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Chapter 3 — Tex-601-J, Sampling and Testing
Elastomeric Materials Section 4 — Part II, Testing

Section 4
Part II, Testing
This group of tests describes procedures used to investigate elastomeric materials to
determine conformity with specifications.

Test Determination

Use the test methods listed below to determine the properties of elastomeric materials.
♦ Hardness (to be performed for quality control purposes only)
• ASTM D 2240
♦ Tensile Strength & Ultimate Elongation
• ASTM D 412
♦ Compression Set (to be performed for quality control purposes only)
• ASTM D 395
♦ Ozone Cracking
• ASTM D 1149
♦ Brittleness of Plastics
• ASTM D 746
♦ Test on Rubber After Oven Aging (to be performed for quality control purposes only)
• ASTM D 573
♦ Adhesion Test
• The purpose of this test is to insure that an adequate bond has been achieved
between the elastomer and the reinforcing material, such as metal or fabric in a
specified assembly.
• When a force applied at a rate, direction, magnitude, frequency, etc., necessary to
cause separation within the assembly is applied to the assembly, any separation
which occurs between the various parts will occur within the elastomer rather than
at the interface between the elastomer and the reinforcing material.
• Separation at the bond or interface will be defined as an "unsatisfactory separation"
and will constitute failure to pass the 'Adhesion Test.'
• All tests are conducted at a temperature between 21 and 32 °C (70 and 90 °F).
• The methods used to induce separation will vary with the type of reinforcement and
with the physical dimensions and type of the specified assembly, but, in each case,
the governing criterion will be:
• All bond failures will occur within the elastomer itself, rather than at an interface.
♦ Presence of Chlorinated Compounds (to be performed for quality control purposes only)

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Chapter 3 — Tex-601-J, Sampling and Testing
Elastomeric Materials Section 4 — Part II, Testing

• This method is used for determining the presence of chlorinated compounds in

rubber products.
• Chlorinated compounds (Neoprene) must be present in all samples, unless
otherwise noted.

Apparatus

The following apparatus is required for the chlorinated compound test:

♦ copper wire, 18 to 20 gauge
♦ bunsen burner.

Procedure

The following test procedure describes the chlorinated compound test.

Chlorinated Compound Test
Step Action
1 Heat the copper wire in a small Bunsen burner until red hot.
2 Touch the rubber product with the red-hot wire.
3 Immediately heat the wire again. If the flame from the wire glows green, the material contains
chlorinated compounds.

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