New ASTM Standard Will Test Durability of Adhesives in Wood-to-Wood Bonds

A new ASTM test method will test the strength and durability of wood-to-wood adhesives when put under pressures of weight, temperature and humidity. This ‘creep resistance’ standard will soon be available for purchase as ASTM D7966, Test Method for Resistance to Creep of Adhesives in Static Shear by Compression Loading (Wood-to-Wood).

Wood-to-wood adhesives are an increasingly essential part of products used in many types of construction, including single-family homes, apartment buildings, churches, schools, bridges and docks. "Adhesives allow wood manufacturers to create stronger products while also eliminating waste by allowing the entire tree to be used,” says Edwin Luckman, ASTM’s task group leader for this new standard.

Throughout the lifespan of a wood product, adhesives must resist creep under heavy loads, extreme temperatures and varying levels of humidity. This standard will be used to test an adhesive’s ability to resist this creep, ensuring that the product will perform as expected.

Primary users of D7966 will include structural adhesive manufacturers, wood-product makers, third-party testing labs and building code product certification and listing agencies.

ASTM D7966 was developed by Subcommittee D14.30 on Wood Adhesives, part of ASTM Committee D14 on Adhesives. All interested parties are welcome to participate in the ongoing standards development activities of D14.30.

Now that ASTM D7966 has been approved, the subcommittee will establish correlation with the current methods used to measure creep: ASTM D3535, Test Method for Resistance to Creep Under Static Loading for Structural Wood Laminating Adhesives Used Under Exterior Exposure Conditions, and Canadian standard CSA O112.9, Evaluation of Adhesives for Structural Wood Products (Exterior Exposure).

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