DSS-R.01.02 — Butyl / PIB / IG Sealant Smear

Butyl/PIB/IG sealant smear is an appearance change on glass from polyisobutylene (PIB) primary seal or butyl-based edge sealants transferred during IGU handling, glazing, or service. It presents as dark, tacky smears/bands, often edge-parallel, with possible stringing and particulate catch. Classification is appearance-only per VIS (method-agnostic). Inspect after Non-Invasive Reveal under VIS lighting/geometry; record surface numbering and worked-surface status on Forms: Treat tacky residues per site safety.

• Edge-parallel bands or finger/hand prints near spacer lines, setting blocks, and corner keys.
• Dark, tarry look in specular; tacky to the touch (do not touch-document visually).
• May show fine grit embedded along wipe trails; stringers from contact and pull-away.

Surface-catch class (MSRT)

• Typically SC-0 (film only) on the clean substrate once residue is truly lifted.
• Avoid MSRT across active tacky smear; if a small test patch is safely cleaned without abrasion, confirm substrate SC-0 there.
• Use polymer stylus if a functional coating is suspected on the worked face. MSRT supports classification only.

Visual signature

• Dark, continuous smear with drag edges, stringers, and particulate catch; geometry tracks the IGU edge/spacer line or handling grip points.
• No chip-flank sparkle (not mechanical scoring); no discrete fused nodules/pits (not hot-particle).

Viewing / lighting

• Evaluate clean & dry at 12 / 36 / 72 in, normal incidence and oblique sweep (~60°-120°). Raking highlights drag edges, stringing, and embedded grit. Record distances/angles in-frame.

Location / access

• Record pane ID and surface numbering (#1-#4; laminate-internal). If smear is observed inside the cavity (by parallax on #2/#3), classify CAT-5 by location (out of in-place scope) and refer.

Mechanism cue (context)

• Fresh glazing/IGU install, setting/adjustment near edges, sealant squeeze-out, shop handling; proximity to spacer joints and PIB rolls on-site.

Assign CAT by visibility impact at acceptance geometry after a controlled reveal test confirms substrate SC-0 on a small patch. Depth values are indicative-field measurement not required.

• CAT-1 (Benign / non-relief): Optical/tarry smear only; once properly lifted, substrate SC-0; visibility mainly at angle/raking. Indicative relief: 0-10 μm (optical).
• CAT-2 (Light): Persistent thin tar veil that resists simple reveal; localized soil catch increases visibility at standard view; substrate SC-0 at a clean test patch. Indicative relief: ~10-40 μm (film).
• CAT-3 (Moderate): Broad edge bands/prints legible at standard distance due to thicker smear + soil loading; SC-0 on substrate where truly cleaned. Indicative relief: ~40-120 μm (film stack).
• Reclassify when: Any modeled micro-texture or SC-class > 0 remains on substrate after true residue removal → evaluate under chemical etch families (Ch.04/.05) or mechanical if present.
• CAT-5 (by condition/location): Between-pane/inaccessible by parallax, integrity indicators (active cracks, pane movement), or confirmed functional-coating loss on the surface to be worked → CAT-5.

CAT is appearance-based; acceptance is separate under VIS-A at 12/36/72 in. Do not abrade to “force” removal during classification.

• vs. Silicone smear (R.01.01): PIB/butyl is darker, tar-like, tacky, often strings; silicone is oily/iridescent, lighter, with corduroy tool lines.
• vs. Silane/siloxane migration (Ch.06.01): Migration halos align with masonry treatment geometry; PIB/butyl smears align with IGU edges/spacers and handling points.
• vs. Mineral staining (Ch.03.02): Mineral veils are lighter and non-tacky; PIB/butyl is dark/tacky, captures particulates.
• vs. Coating anomalies (Co-family): Factory coating issues reside on #2/#3 and present as sheen/color shifts without tack; PIB/butyl shows tarry smear on the exposed face unless inside the cavity (then CAT-5).
• vs. Asphalt/tar transfer (R.01.04): Asphalt/bitumen is darker-brown/black, often odoriferous, linked to roofing or paving; PIB/butyl is commonly edge-parallel at IGU zones.

• Photo set (VIS): 12 / 36 / 72 in, normal + oblique; include raking macros resolving drag edges, stringers, and particulate catch; add context frames (IGU spacer line, setting blocks, handling points). Record distance/angle in-frame.
• MSRT result (substrate only): After lifting a small test patch without abrasion, perform one light, non-marring pass on the clean substrate; record SC-class (expect SC-0). Avoid stylus over active tack.
• Forms: Pane ID; product family & surface numbering; worked surface Y/N; functional coating present on worked surface? (Y/N/Unknown); reveal status; lighting/time; geometry checklist; photos attached.
• Acceptance split: Post-restoration acceptance per VIS-A §6; classification ≠ acceptance. Coated-face appearance rules apply per VIS §6.2.e when the worked surface is a factory functional coating.

• R.01.02 Butyl/PIB/IG Sealant Smear - Edge-parallel dark/tacky smear with stringers/particulate catch on surface #___; post-reveal test patch shows substrate SC-0; visible at [12/36/72 in] under VIS geometry. Morphology: tarry drag, edge tracking, embedded grit; no chip-flank sparkle, no discrete pepper. Classification: CAT-[1/2/3] by visibility (film-only). CAT-5 if between-pane by parallax, or coating-side loss on the surface to be worked. Forms + photo set attached; acceptance per VIS-A §6.