AASHTO T 371-17 (2021)

The blister test is used to determine the interfacial fracture energy (IFE) of hot-poured asphalt crack sealant at the application temperature as specified in AASHTO M 338 and PP 85.

The blister test is a fracture test. The objective of the test is to apply tensile forces using hydrostatic pressure to delaminate sealant from a substrate. A thin film of sealant is poured on the top of a substrate (usually aluminum) disk that has a hole at the center. Hydrostatic pressure is applied through this hole at a constant flow rate causing delamination between the sealant film and substrate. Sealant deformation and applied hydrostatic pressure are recorded as a function of time. The amount of energy required to achieve complete delamination is called interfacial fracture energy and can be calculated from the pressure-deformation curve. This energy is considered a measure of bonding potential.

This standard was formerly designated as provisional standard TP 90.