Glass Technical Paper FB28-11 (2022)

Assessing the Compatibility of Glazing Materials and Components

Introduction

Assessing the compatibility of materials and components in glazing systems is essential to ensuring the long-term
performance of these systems. However, given the number and diversity of materials and components, it is challenging
to test every possible combination against every conceivable factor. This document is intended to provide a general
overview of factors that may influence compatibility testing of materials. This GTP is intended for glazing professionals
or anyone with an interest in evaluating the compatibility of glazing materials and components. Note that even when
compatibility is confirmed, in applications where adhesion of materials is critical for the performance of the glazing
system, such adhesion must be verified independently.

Materials

The purpose of this section is to provide a potential list of materials between which compatibility may need to be
verified. This list is not meant to be all inclusive.

• Applied films
• Cleaning materials (neutral, acid, basic, solvated)
• Dissimilar metals (oxidation/rust, may need a dielectric isolation)
• Edge blocks (EPDM, PVC, SCR, Silicone)
• Fluids
• Gaskets (EPDM, PVC, SCR, Silicone)
• Glazing sealant, adhesive or mastic
• Glazing tapes
• Inorganic coatings
• Insulating glass sealants
• Insulation
• Interlayers (laminated glass, composite panels)
• Marking materials
• Metallic coatings (mirror, reflective, etc.)
• Organic coatings
• Setting blocks
• Weather sealants

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Factors Influencing Compatibility

Compatibility is a chemical phenomenon. A general discussion about the factors affecting compatibility will hopefully aid
in understanding the interaction potential. Such factors include environmental, structural, or time-related. Combinations
of factors may affect compatibility, even though the same factors applied individually may not. For example, moisture
and sunlight alone may not cause a failure due to incompatibility. But moisture in the presence of sunlight (heat) may
result in incompatibility. It is normally not feasible to test every combination of factors that a glazing component might
experience; therefore, there is some uncertainty in predicting performance. Careful consideration of the following
factors will help to reduce that uncertainty.

Chemical Interaction

This is the factor that most accurately describes “compatibility.” Incompatibility merely means chemical interaction that
produces an adverse effect. Two incompatible compounds will react more vigorously with each other. They might
require a certain amount of heat or light energy to initiate the reaction. The reaction often spreads from the surface to
the body of the material. If the interaction is low or undetectable, the materials are said to be compatible.

Light (UV or other)

Some glazing materials, when exposed to sunlight, may initiate, or accelerate chemical reactions between them.
Sunlight as it reaches the earth’s surface has three components: ultraviolet (UV, 300-400 nm), visible (380-780 nm), and
near infrared (NIR, 750-2500 nm). It consists of both waves and particles which carry inherent energy that can degrade
certain materials over time by attacking chemical bonds. UV light has a higher energy and will more often initiate
adverse reactions. High intensity light, rich in UV light, may be used to test the fading potential of materials or detect
any UV-catalyzed interaction between incompatible materials. Equipment has been developed to simulate weathering
via a light source such as UV, Xenon, or other similar lamps. These test lamps do not necessarily duplicate the spectrum
found on earth, so they may lead to false negative results. Natural weathering in areas of intense sunlight can be found
in Arizona, Florida, Spain and elsewhere.

Temperature

Temperature is a general accelerator of all chemical reactions, including those between incompatible glazing materials.
At ambient temperatures, most chemical reaction rates will double with each 10 ºC (18°F) increase. Temperature change
can cause the following:

• Phase change – Gas to Liquid to Solid

• Mass Diffusion – Increase or decrease the mobility of a molecule
• Thermal Expansion/Contraction – Materials will expand or contract with temperature changes
• Degradation – Temperature may degrade chemical bonds within the material causing irreversible damage

Higher temperatures may also soften materials, facilitating the migration of chemically reactive ingredients to contact
surfaces. Some ingredients will even volatilize, leading to very fast migration and reactions. Temperature can be used as
an accelerant in determining potential for compatibility issues of materials in question but must be kept within the
temperature range of the individual material. The use of “hot boxes” or ovens (e.g. 40 ºC / 104 °F) can be an effective
technique to accelerate test results.

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Atmosphere

The atmosphere is primarily composed of nitrogen and oxygen (with some water vapor and trace carbon dioxide). Of the
two, oxygen is much more reactive. Often oxygen must be present for other factors to initiate an incompatibility reaction.

Fortunately, oxygen is generally present in most test apparatuses, and usually it is not necessary to introduce it.
However, the degree to which oxygen plays a role can be tested by duplicating such a test in an inert (non-oxygen
containing) atmosphere, such as argon, helium, or nitrogen.

Moisture

Water as a liquid or a gas may have a significant effect on the chemical reactions between incompatible materials. Liquid
water can attack chemical bonds within materials and fully or partially dissolve certain compounds that might be used as
ingredients in glazing systems. In vapor form, it carries the necessary material for oxidation or rust to occur in metallic
substrates. Both liquid and gaseous water may act as natural carriers to bring other materials in or out of substrates and
accelerate reactions. In going from liquid to solid form, the density and volume change of water can cause internal
pressure within the material or cavity that may cause rupture of the internal composition of the material. Water itself
can also serve as an ingredient to some reactions that would otherwise not occur, regardless of the presence of other
factors. Because of the importance of moisture in chemical reactions, many accelerated performance tests include
exposing samples to liquid water (hot, cold, sprayed, dipped) or water vapor (high humidity chamber).

Contact

In order for an incompatibility reaction to occur, contact must happen between two reactant molecules. These materials
can transfer or diffuse through the original material into other accepting materials of contact due to the inherent
movement of the molecules, pressure, or preference between the two materials. Migration of molecules can lead to
aesthetic issues of discoloration, interfere with the performance of the material, or cause degradation of the material in
contact. Well-designed test methods should provide large and intimate areas of contact. The more intimate the contact,
the more reactions will take place.

Solvents

Water is the most common solvent (see moisture, above). Other solvents, including acids and alkalis, can act as
dissolving agents, or may take part in a chemical reaction. This activity can affect the performance of the material,
create aesthetic concern or cause degradation of the underlying material. These solvents are commonly found in
cleaning agents, components of application materials, environmental factors (acid rain), or by-products of cured
materials (acetoxy sealants). Tests might include dipping or setting components into solvents at various temperatures
and observing aesthetic differences. Commonly used solutions include acids (acetic, sulfuric, sulfurous, hydrochloric,
citric), alkalis (NaOH/caustic, cleaning solutions), alcohols (ethanol, isopropanol), hydrocarbons (octane, oils), glycols,
and others. Identifying the source and type of solvent is necessary in enabling proper test procedures.

Time

Time is a key factor. The objective in assessing product failure risk is to generate predictive results in an accelerated time
frame that duplicates conditions the materials will experience in the field. While a ten-year test may not be feasible,
accelerated testing may introduce unnaturally high levels of the factors or lead to reaction mechanisms that would
never naturally occur in the real world. Correlation studies between accelerated testing, long term testing, and
performance in the field can validate the robustness of the testing protocols.

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Sample Preparation

• Sample Size – Sample size should be appropriate for the equipment being used and should be representative of
a real world situation.
• Number of Samples – The number of samples must be adequate to support statistically significant results.
• Substrate – Appropriate and consistent substrate, in dimensions of both size and thickness, is necessary to
reduce variability in both sample preparation and testing. The substrates should be representative of the
materials used in the application.
• Method of Preparation – a standardized method for preparing all samples is recommended to ensure uniform
and consistent results.

Test Conditions

To reiterate, the purpose of this document is not to specify or define test conditions, but rather to discuss the sorts of
conditions that might be employed in a well-designed test. It is of importance that the method and mode of testing
compatibility have proper industrial application and robustness. The following list of conditions, while not all
encompassing, bears consideration when designing a test method, as failure to control test parameters may lead to
erroneous results.

Equipment

As real-world testing for compatibility of various components in glazing systems may take a considerable length of time,
accelerated methods of testing are commonly used. Accelerated testing devices are typically utilized to simulate the types
of real-world exposure to which glazing systems would be subjected. The equipment used should adequately
accommodate sample sets that are robust and representative.

Environmental Factors

There are many environmental factors that can influence the compatibility of glazing materials. These include, but are not
limited to, temperature, light exposure, and moisture. Because any of these environmental factors by themselves may not
present a compatibility failure, it is important to control these environmental factors and their combinations so that
potential failures may be recognized.

Time

Real world testing may take a considerable length of time to determine compatibility. The use of accelerated testing
methods is widely accepted in the industry. It is important, however, to ensure that the exposure duration will yield a
relevant result. For example, while 5 years of environmental exposure may be an undesirable length of testing time, 10
minutes in an accelerated weathering chamber may be insignificant. It is necessary to correlate accelerated testing time
to meaningful real-world time.

Controls

While conducting compatibility testing, it is standard practice to maintain a known reference standard. This is necessary
to ensure that equipment and test conditions are yielding reproducible results.

Repeatability & Reproducibility (R&R)

It is recommended to perform gauge R&R studies periodically to ensure that equipment, methods, and operators
consistently provide statistically acceptable, repeatable and reproducible results.

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Precision and Bias

To minimize the impact of any potential discrepancies in precision, which is defined as variability within a site (intra-
site), or bias, which is variability between different sites (inter-site), the following methods are commonly used. A gauge
R&R is typically used to assess Precision (see R&R above). A series of Round Robin tests between 2 or more sites or
equipment locations can be performed to evaluate Bias.

Risks of Prediction

The primary purpose of testing the compatibility of differing materials is to predict their performance in the field. A
further purpose might be to accelerate the appearance of incompatibilities that, in the field, would take a long time to
appear. A number of assumptions are made when using an accelerated laboratory test to predict real world
performance:

1. The test samples may be formed differently from the products eventually installed. The assumption is that the
sample specimens will adequately simulate the actual parts.

2. The acceleration of the test can involve intensifying one or more of the factors. This may lead to mechanisms
that cause incompatibility that would not be found in the actual installation.

3. It may be the case that any single factor tested does not lead to incompatibility, but that a combination of two
or more factors will.

4. Accurate prediction of results requires the assumption that the equipment and method of testing used are
generally accepted as standard within the industry.

5. Accelerated weathering tests should not shift real world focus. Misinterpretation of data by an operator may
lead to false assumptions.

Conclusion

Because there are multiple components to a glazing system, it is important to evaluate how the different materials will
interact in a given environment. Failure to properly evaluate compatibility may have a negative impact on the lifetime or
performance of the glazing system. This document is intended to raise awareness and provide basic guidelines for
assessing the compatibility of glazing materials.

Related Test Methods and Resources

• ASTM C843 Standard Specification for Application of Gypsum Veneer Plaster

• ASTM C1021 Standard Practice for Laboratories Engaged in Testing of Building Sealants
• ASTM C1087 Standard Test Method for Determining Compatibility of Liquid-Applied Sealants with Accessories
Used in Structural Glazing Systems
• ASTM C1193 Standard Guide for Use of Joint Sealants
• ASTM C1242 Standard Guide for Selection, Design, and Installation of Dimension Stone Anchoring Systems
• ASTM C1249 Standard Guide for Secondary Seal for Sealed Insulating Glass Units for Structural Sealant Glazing
Applications
• ASTM C1294 Standard Test Method for Compatibility of Insulating Glass Edge Sealants with Liquid-Applied
Glazing Materials
• ASTM C1520 Standard Guide for Paintability of Latex Sealants

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 • ASTM C1564 Standard Guide for Use of Silicone Sealants for Protective Glazing Systems
• ASTM C1900 Standard Practice for Weathering and Evaluation of Laminated Glass
• ASTM D543 Standard Practices for Evaluating the Resistance of Plastics to Chemical Reagent
• ASTM D3929 Standard Test Method for Evaluating Stress Cracking of Plastics by Adhesives Using the Bent- Beam
Method
• ASTM D5064 Standard Practice for Conducting a Patch Test to Assess Coating Compatibility
• ASTM D6465 Standard Guide for Selecting Aerospace and General Purpose Adhesives and Sealants
• ASTM D6862 Standard Test Method for 90 Degree Peel Resistance of Adhesives
• ASTM E1783 Standard Specification for Preformed Architectural Strip Seals for Buildings and Parking Structures
• ASTM E1825 Standard Guide for Evaluation of Exterior Building Wall Materials, Products, and Systems
• ASTM E2203 Standard Specification for Dense Thermoplastic Elastomers Used for Compression Seals, Gaskets,
Setting Blocks, Spacers and Accessories
• ASTM E2312 Standard Practice for Tests of Cleanroom Materials
• ASTM G90 Standard Practice for Performing Accelerated Outdoor Weathering of Materials Using Concentrated
Natural Sunlight

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This Paper was developed by dedicated member volunteers and subject matter experts. The original version of this document was
approved and published in 2011. This version of the document was updated and published in March 2022.
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