EPI began experimentation on an accelerated testing procedure for PVC chemical fusion welds in 1991. The motivation for this experiment was the ASTM requirement of forty hours of laboratory acclimation of all samples before uniform testing can proceed.
As with all fabrication processes, in order to control product quality the quality must be built in. This requires measurement and control during the production phase to correct any deviation from control limits. Also, test results must be reported immediately to the fabricating technician in order to continue production or take corrective action.
To assure that all test results are processed and reported utilizing the same techniques, this uniform ASTM 40 hour acclimation procedure is still being used at EPI for confirmation that seam strength exceeds industry standards.
However,
within this forty hour period the processes of fabrication continues. Also,
packaging, shipping, and sometimes even installation could possibly continue
without confirmation of specification conformance. By the time these results
are reported, it may be difficult to take corrective action.
Most accelerated test methods involve elevated temperature or oven aging prior to testing. EPI eliminated from the accelerated test any oven aging or necessary cooling time. A sample is removed from the actual factory fabrication process and, after only five minutes, two specimens are tested for peel strength per ASTM-3083. EPI refers to this procedure as the Wolschon Test, after it's developer Mark Wolschon, EPI Quality Control Manager. The simplicity of the test removed the uncontrolled variables in the oven aging test procedure.