(Revised 1 June 1974) C 572

CRD-C 572-74

CORPS OF ENGINEERS SPECIFICATIONS FOR

POLYVINYLCHLORIDE WATERSTOP

1. Scope 4. Samples
1.1 These specifications cover 4.1 A sample not less than 12 in.
polyvinylchloride waterstop. long (30.48 cm) will be cut from each
200 ft (61 m) of finished waterstop.
2. General Requirements The sample or samples representing
a lot of waterstop will include not less
than 4 lineal ft (1.2 m) of finished wa-
2.1 Waterstop.- The waterstop shall ter stop. The sample or samples will
be of the shape and dimensions shown be cut into pieces of convenient size
on the drawings accompanying the and reduced in thickness to between
project specifications. It shall be 1/16 and 1/8 in. (1.6 and 3.2 mm),
produced by an extrusion process such according to the method specified in
that, as supplied for use, it will be CRD-C 515. A total of not less than
dense, homogeneous, and free from five dumbbell-shaped specimens will
holes and other imperfections. The be cut from each sample using die C
cross section of the waterstop shall of CRD-C 573, with the long axis of
be uniform along its length and shall the dumbbell parallel with the direc-
by symmetrical transversely so that tion of extrusion. Additional speci-
the thickness at any given distance mens will be prepared for the other
from either edge of the water stop will tests in accordance with the provisions
be uniform. of the applicable test methods. When
2.2 Material.- The waterstop shall more than 200 ft (61 m) of waterstop
b e e x t r u d e d f r o m a n e l a s t o m e r i c is represented, the tests for tensile
plastic compound, the basic resin strength and elongation will be made
of which shall be polyvinylchloride on samples representing each 200 ft
(PVC). The compound shall contain (61 m), other tests will be made on
any additional resins, plasticizers, specimens taken at random from all
s t a b i l i z e r s , or other materials the samples representing the lot of
needed to insure that, when the mate- waterstop.
rial is compounded, it will meet the
performance requirements given in 5. Test Conditions
this specification.

3. Inspection and Testing 5.1 Tests will be conducted in a

standard laboratory atmosphere of
23 1.6 C (73.4 3 F) and a relative
3.1 All material and all waterstop humidity preferably not less than 50
will be subject to rigid inspection and percent, unless otherwise specified in
testing in order to insure that the the testing methods.
supplied waterstop meets the require-
ments of these specifications. Every 6. Detailed Requirements
facility shall be provided for repre-
sentatives of the Government to per-
form careful sampling and inspection 6.1 Finished Waterstop.- Samples
of the finished waterstop. The sam- taken from the finished waterstop
pling of finished waterstop and all shall meet the requirements listed
testing of finished waterstop, and job- below when tested by the test method
made splices will be done by the and in the number of specimens
Government. shown.
 (Revised 1 June 1974)
2 SPECIFICATIONS FOR POLYVINYLCHLORIDE WATERSTOP (C 572-74)
Number of and the top of the beaker covered with
Method specimens
of Test Tested Requirement a a watch glass. The beaker will then
be placed in a constant temperature
CRD-C 573 5 p e r 200 ft Tensile strength, using die
(61 m) c, not less than: 1750 psi bath and the temperature of the solu-
(12.17 MPa) tion maintained between 60-65.5 C
CRD-C 573 5 per 200 ft Ultimate elongation, using (140-150 F). A 1/4-in. (6.35 mm)
(61 m) die C, not less than: 300% diameter glass tube will be inserted
CRD-C 570 3 p e r lot Low temperature brittle- into the spout of the beaker to within
ness, no sign of failure, 1/2 in. (12.7 mm) of the bottom of the
such as cracking or chip-
ping at -35 F (-37.2 C) beaker. Air will then be gently bubbled
through the solution at the rate of about
CRD-C 571 3 per lot Stiffness in flexure, not
less than: 600 psi (4.13 one bubble per second. The solution
MPa) will be changed every 24 hr, the new
Accelerated Extraction solution being warmed to 65.5 C (150 F)
Par. 7.1 5 per lot Ultimate elongation, using before replacing the old. Once daily,
below die C, not less than: 280% each of the five specimens will be re-
Tensile strength, using die
C, not less than: 1500 psi moved from the beaker (preferably at
(10.3 MPa) the time of renewing the solution) and
Effect of Alkalies rinsed lightly with distilled water.
Par. 7.2 3 per lot Change in weight after 7 Each specimen will then be superfi-
below days, between: -0.10 and
+0:25%
cially dried with a clean cloth. Ten
Change in Shore durometer min after the specimens have been
readings after 7 days, not
more than: 5
thus dried the group of five specimens
will be weighed and the weight re-
a
The average or the median of the results of tests of
the group of 3 or 5 specimens tested will be used to de-
corded. The sequence of testing will
termine compliance with the stated requirements, de- be carried out continuously for a
pending on which value is called for by the method of
test referenced.
period of not less than 14 days; after
which period, provided the specimens
have reached constant weight (Note),
6.2 Job-Made and Factory-Made they will be tested for tensile strength
Splices in Waterstop.- Samples taken and elongation. Tensile strength will
across splices should meet the follow- be calculated from the total load at
ing requirements when tested by the failure, the nominal width, and the
test method shown. thickness as determined prior to ex-
posure to the extraction test. If the
Number of tests for tensile strength and elonga-
Method Specimens
of T e s t Requirement
tion cannot be made within 1 hr after
completion of the weighings that dem-
CRD-C 573 As directed Tensile strength, using die
C, not less than: 1000 psi
onstrated that constant weight has
(6.89 MPa) been achieved, the specimens will be
stored immersed in fresh alkali solu-
tion at room temperature. Prior to
7. Methods of Testing being tested for tensile strength and
elongation, the specimens will be re-
7.1 Accelerated Extraction Test.- moved, rinsed, dried, stored for 10
The five tensile test specimens cut min, a n d w e i g h e d . The tensile
to the shape and dimensions given in strength and elongation will be deter-
CRD-C 573, using die C, will each be mined not more than 72 hr after the
weighed to the nearest 0.001 g. The weighings which demonstrated that
specimens will be placed in a one constant weight had been achieved.
liter tall-form beaker with spout. The
beaker will be filled within 2 in. (5 cm) Note.- Constant weight is assumed to have been
of the top with a solution made by achieved when the weights of the group of specimens on
three successive weighings do not differ from each other
dissolving 5.0 g of chemically pure by more than 0.05 percent of the original weight. If con-
sodium hydroxide and 5.0 g of chemi- stant weight has not been achieved after 90 days, the ex-
posure will be terminated, the specimen tested for tensile
cally pure potassium hydroxide in one strength and elongation, and a note added to the report
liter of distilled water. The speci- indicating the weight losses between the last three suc-
cessive weighings and the fact that constant weight, as
mens will be completely immersed here defined, was not achieved.
 (Revised 1 June 1974) C 572
SPECIFICATIONS FOR POLYVINYLCHLORIDE WATERSTOP (C 572-74) 3
7.2 Effect-of-Alkalies Test.- Three the specimens will be removed, rinsed
specimens, each weighing about 75 g, with distilled water, the surfaces
will be pressed in accordance with wiped with a clean cloth, and allowed
CRD-C 515. The specimens will be to dry in laboratory air for approxi-
washed in tap water, rinsed with dis- mately 1 hr. The weight and durom-
tilled water, wiped with a clean cloth, eter hardness will be measured and
and allowed to dry in laboratory air recorded. Changes in weight and du-
for approximately 1 hr. The weight rometer readings will be recorded as
of each specimen, to the nearest a percentage of the weight and du-
0.001 g, will be recorded. Ten durom- rometer readings of the original sam-
eter readings, using the Shore durom- ples; the averages of these changes for
eter (type A), will be taken on each the three specimens tested shall be
specimen in accordance with CRD-C reported to determine compliance with
569. The specimens will be com- applicable requirements in Par. 6.2.
pletely immersed in a freshly made
solution containing 5.0 g of chemically 8. Rejection
pure sodium hydroxide and 5.0 g of
chemically pure potassium hydroxide 8.1 The waterstop may be rejected
in one liter of distilled water, kept at if it fails to meet any of the require-
21-24 C (70-75 F). At the end of 7 days, ments of these specifications.