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ASTM D4977 granule adhesion tester

Mineral‑Surfaced Roofing Granule Adhesion Test Machine

Model: UT4156G; ASTM D4977. EN 12039

UnitedTest Mineral-Surfaced Roofing Granule Adhesion Test Machine — also searched as ASTM D4977 granule adhesion test machine, roofing granule adhesion tester, mineral surfaced roofing abrasion test apparatus is a professional laboratory instrument engineered for manufacturers, third-party testing laboratories, and R&D centers to quantify the adhesion quality of mineral granules to coating asphalt on asphalt shingles and mineral-surfaced roofing sheets.


Built to the requirements of ASTM D4977 / D4977M-20 (2025) — Standard Test Method for Granule Adhesion to Mineral-Surfaced Roofing by Abrasion — and compatible with the Chinese national standard GB/T 328.17 (commonly referenced as GB/T 238.17 in procurement documents) for "Part 17: Granule Adhesion of Bituminous Waterproof Sheets, Method B", UnitedTest's granule adhesion test apparatus delivers repeatable, standards-compliant results for quality control and product certification.


General Introduction

UnitedTest Mineral‑Surfaced Roofing Granule Adhesion Test Machine is a professional laboratory abrasion‑type testing instrument fully compliant with ASTM D4977/D4977M‑20 Standard Test Method for Granule Adhesion to Mineral‑Surfaced Roofing by Abrasion, and matches Chinese national standard GB/T 238.17. This granule adhesion tester is widely used to evaluate how firmly mineral surface granules bond to asphalt coating of asphalt shingles, mineral‑surfaced bituminous roofing sheets and roofing waterproof rolls, for quality control, product R&D and incoming material inspection in roofing material factories, third‑party testing laboratories and research institutes. 

Conform with standard ASTM D4977 Standard Test Method for Granule Adhesion to Mineral-Surfaced Roofing by Abrasion.

EN 12039 Flexible sheets for waterproofing - Bitumen sheets for roof waterproofing - Determination of adhesion of granules


Main features

  • Key Features
  • Test Principle
  • Applications
  • Test Procedure
  • Why Granule Adhesion Testing Matters
  • Keywords
  • Standard

100 % traceable to ASTM D4977 & GB/T 238.17, test data repeatable for roofing‑material quality‑report output


Precise reciprocating drive system, stable stroke and cycle speed, eliminate manual operation error


Custom‑made standard test brush, spare brush components available for easy replacement


Automatic cycle counting & auto‑stop after finishing preset cycles; simple operation for lab technicians


Robust industrial‑grade mechanical structure, long service life for daily continuous QC testing


UnitedTest provides factory calibration certificate, technical support, after‑sales service and OEM customization service


Following ASTM D4977 test procedure, a standardized tempered‑steel‑wire brush reciprocates horizontally back‑and‑forth on the surface of roofing specimen under fixed static load. 

After completing specified 50 abrasion cycles within 60‑70 seconds, operators weigh mass loss of test sample to calculate granule dropping rate, so as to judge granule‑to‑asphalt‑coating adhesion performance and granule retention capacity of mineral‑surfaced roofing materials.

Quality control for asphalt shingle / bituminous roofing sheet manufacturers

R&D test for new‑formula mineral‑surfaced roofing granules and asphalt coating

Third‑party testing laboratory roofing‑material performance evaluation

Raw‑material incoming inspection for roofing waterproofing products

Conformity verification against ASTM D4977, EN 12039, GB/T 238.17 specification requirements

1. Place the instrument on a stable workbench. 

2. Turn on the power, switch it on, the counter will show 0. Press '〓' once and the digit will flash, press '▲' to increase the value. Press '►' and the next digit will flash, press '▲' to increase the value, and so on. After adjusting for 10 seconds, the flashing stops and the value is stored in the machine. After setting the required number of times, the instrument can operate normally. Press '◎' to reset to zero. 

3. Lift and lock the brush, place the sample under the presser foot and press down, then lower the brush. 

4. Press the start button and the instrument will begin working, the counter will count automatically, and the machine will stop when it reaches the set number. 

5. If you press '◎' to reset while it’s running, you can start the instrument again. 

6. Remove the sample and use the attachments of a vacuum cleaner to move over the sample surface to pick up fallen particles. 

7. Measure the mass of each sample. 

8. Repeat steps 2-6 for the next sample.

The durability, weather resistance, and service life of asphalt shingles and mineral-surfaced roofing membranes depend directly on how firmly the ceramic-coated mineral granules bond to the asphalt coating. Poor granule adhesion leads to premature granule loss, accelerated UV degradation, and shortened roof lifespan.


The ASTM D4977 granule adhesion test simulates abrasive wear through a controlled wire-bristle brushing process, then measures the mass of granules dislodged. This provides an objective, numerical indicator of adhesion quality for:

Roofing manufacturers — incoming QC and production line monitoring

R&D and product development — comparative analysis of new granule formulations

Third-party testing labs — independent verification before market release

Specifiers & regulatory bodies — compliance verification against product specifications

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EN 12039

Flexible sheets for waterproofing - Bitumen sheets for roof waterproofing - Determination of adhesion of granules


ASTM D4977

Standard Test Method for Granule Adhesion to Mineral-Surfaced Roofing by Abrasion


GB/T 328.17

Test methods for building sheets for waterproofing - Part 17: Bitumen sheets for waterproofing-adhesion of granules

Main Technical Specification

Brush component weight2268±7g
Brush Number0–9999
Brush component reciprocating rate50 times/min
Voltage and power220V 200W
Adhesive brush cleaning area(152 32)×20mm²
Dimensions550×410×450mm
Weight28kg


Standard

ASTM D4977 Granule Adhesion Test to Mineral-Surfaced Roofing by Friction

ASTM D4977 Standard Test Method for Granule Adhesion to Mineral-Surfaced Roofing by Abrasion

ASTM D4977 provides a quantitative laboratory method for measuring how firmly the mineral granules are bonded to the coating asphalt in mineral‑surfaced roofing products. Exclusively for factory-fresh (“as manufactured”) unweathered roofing specimens.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the difference between ASTM D4977 and GB/T 328.17?

A: Both standards describe the same abrasion-based granule adhesion principle. ASTM D4977 is the U.S./international standard; GB/T 328.17-2007 "Part 17: Granule Adhesion of Bituminous Waterproof Sheets, Method B" is the Chinese national equivalent. UnitedTest machines satisfy both simultaneously.


Q2: Can the UnitedTest granule adhesion tester handle weathered roofing samples?

A: ASTM D4977 is designed for "as manufactured" materials. For weathered samples, adhesion properties may have already changed; consult UnitedTest engineers for alternative testing approaches.


Q3: How often should the abrasion brush be replaced?

A: A new brush must be pre-conditioned with 150 wear cycles on scrap material. Replace when bristle length falls outside the 14.5–16.5 mm range or when test results show drift beyond reproducibility limits.


Q4: What does this machine test for?

A: It evaluates granule retention and bonding condition between mineral surface granules and asphalt base‑coating of asphalt shingles and mineral‑surfaced bituminous roofing, simulating abrasive granule‑dropping risk of roofing products.


Q5: Is the standard test brush replaceable?

A: Yes, UnitedTest supplies interchangeable ASTM‑compliant spare abrasive brushes for regular wear‑part replacement.


Q6: What extra lab device do I need to complete full test?

A: Analytical balance with minimum 200 g capacity and 0.01 g resolution is required for measuring specimen weight loss before and after abrasion test.

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Beijing United Test Co., Ltd.