Water Soak Testing
Azdel’s superiority continues through Water Soak Testing
Water Resistance is Crucial. Proving it is Key.
For laminated structures of an RV or trailer to remain intact through its useful life span, it is imperative that each material layer and glue bond stay in good quality, especially after exposure to harsh elements. We have subjected complete walls and wall skins to both the Sunload Test and the Environmental Test. Here we’ll review the process and results of the Water Soak Test, an accelerated and effective simulation to help determine the impact water exposure has on the integrity of laminated walls. Read on to learn why this is so important!
These real images reveal what can happen when water intrusion occurs with wood walls. We have documented extensively the drawbacks to wood in RV walls, but degradation of a laminated structure is not limited to wood. The use of any substrate that doesn’t retain long term quality or doesn’t meet industry standards can cause serious and expensive problems.
In RV wall construction, using a quality product like Azdel Onboard composite, which is proven to withstand long-term water exposure, can ensure the following:
- Protection for RV owners and their families from mold, mildew and formaldehyde
- Protection for their RV investment by avoiding downtime and costly repairs
- Longer lasting walls means longer RV life expectancy
- Better, safer and longer overall RV ownership experience
Water damage puts a damper on your RVing plans
At left, exterior fiberglass is peeled back to show its water-soaked and rotting wood substrate. At right, an entire wall is peeled back to reveal rotting wood studs after long-term water exposure.
Groups of laminated wall samples are submerged in water for durations of one, two and six weeks. After continuous submersion, we test the remaining Flatwise Tensile (FWT) strength to measure the effect water has on the wall layers and bonds. To establish a baseline measurement for each wall type, the FWT test was also conducted on a control group (Ambient) that was never submerged. Our observations and graphed results are found below.
A Brief History of the Early Water Soak Test
Water Soak Test with an Azdel wall and a lauan wall
For years we have used a form of the water soak test in sealed jars to compare the mold resistance of Azdel-laminated walls with those made of lauan. While mold never grew on the Azdel sample, visible growth began on the lauan sample, typically in five to seven days.
The visual of this test was impactful. We now include a miniature version of a water soak test kit in our sample box.
The time-lapse video here offers a glimpse into the mold growth that is common when water intrusion occurs on lauan walls.
Time-lapse video shows visible mold growth on wood, none on Azdel.
Problems arising from wet wood in an RV or trailer are well documented in the industry. Mold, mildew, rotting, warping, swelling, and aiding in delamination are all common. But we wanted to compare with other composites that should not offer the same problems, and take the Water Soak test to the next level, quantifying how water affects overall durability.
Azdel is Superior in Post-Test Observations
After soaking all samples, we conducted the Flatwise Tensile test to measure the force required to initiate wall failure. The EPS foam is known to be the weakest layer in a laminated RV wall. The expectation in a FWT test is that the foam will break before any other layer or glue bond fails. In all Azdel samples shown below, the foam broke first as expected.
The competitor’s samples did not fare as well. After only one week of soaking, this competitor’s composite not only failed before the foam broke, it failed at bond lines on different sides of the wall. And neither the composite, nor its cover material, should rip apart before the foam breaks, yet layers are pulling away in multiple samples.
Foam Breaks First with Azdel as Expected
Competitor’s Composite Displays Failure and Inconsistency
The Azdel Advantage is Again Proven
The animated graph begins with each group’s Average measurement in the FWT test, but shifts to also show the Minimum for each group.
The graph reveals how consistent and virtually unaffected Azdel samples were, even after six weeks of submersion.
The competitor showed significant decline in wall strength after just one week. The minimum failure point in two of their three test groups did not meet industry standards.
The gaps in bond performance are even larger in the Minimum view and show that, even at its weakest, the wall with Azdel composite significantly outperforms that of this competitor after heavy water exposure.
This is another of several tests which empirically prove that the performance of Azdel Onboard® composite is unparalleled.
