A Complete Guide on Peel Strength Testing

Peel Strength Testing 

Trying to figure out how to evaluate adhesion? If so, then you should look into a peel strength test. This adaptable test and inspect solution is an efficient method of characterizing an adhesive bond, and it falls under the broader category of adhesion testing. Read on to learn more about this helpful test and how it operates.  

How do you measure peel strength?

Testing the peel strength of bonded materials is one way to evaluate their adhesiveness. The peel strength is determined by applying a constant shear stress to the materials and calculating the resulting force multiplied by the bond surface width. Testing typically entails separating either two bonded flexible materials or a single bonded flexible material affixed to a stiff substrate. 

Tape, adhesives, and flexible substrates like rubber, films, biomaterials, consumables, medical packaging, and more are often subjected to peel strength tests to describe their bonding strength. Various peel testing methods are available for a variety of materials.  

Methods for evaluating peels 

Peel testing is one of a kind since there are so many different kinds, and yet the vast majority can be evaluated with just a single Universal Testing Machine. The most typical varieties of peel tests are: 

180°-peel

The 180-degree peel test quantifies the force required to peel apart bonded materials at a right angle to the bond. It can be used to examine a binding between a flexible material and a hard substrate. 

90°-peel 

The 90-degree peel test is a method for calculating the unit force required to tear apart bound materials at a 90-degree angle. It can be used to examine a binding between a flexible material and a hard substrate. 

T-peel

This tensile test is performed on a bonded pair of flexible substrates. The substrates are held in place in the “T”-shaped peel test grips with one protruding upwards, the other downwards, and the bonded region protruding horizontally. 

H4 Observing the Peel Effect

The binding between a flexible material and a stiff substrate can be evaluated with this test, which is also known as the ascending drum peel test. It’s not as common as the 180- and 90-degree exams, despite being simple to set up and execute.  

Peel tests with a floating roller 

This technique employs rollers that are typically placed at 90° or 115°, and it is used to evaluate combinations of a stiff or semi-rigid substrate with a flexible material. The materials are fed between rollers and secured to a second grip, both of which are fastened to the tensile tester, which measures the amount of force required to break the bond.  

Tests for Peel Adhesion Properties 

Industrial Physics provides a wide variety of test and inspection solutions, from flexible packaging to plastics and polymers, because we understand how crucial it is for you to have faith in the strength of the bonds between your materials.  

United Testing Systems is one of our specialized testing brands that offers comprehensive testing that adheres to prevalent industry standards. After 50 years in the business, we’ve perfected a variety of test frames and fixtures for peel testing, allowing you to conduct reliable experiments in your research and development or manufacturing facilities. 

Guidelines for measuring peeling resistance 

There are many alternative peel strength testing standards because the approach is so flexible and may be used to evaluate a wide variety of materials and adhesives. Solutions to help you pass the most popular peel tests can be found at Industrial Physics. 

• Both the ASTM-B533 and the ASTM-B571-97 standards outline procedures for assessing the peel strength and qualitative adhesion of metal coatings, respectively. 
• The ASTM D1876 standard specifies a method for evaluating an adhesive’s peel resistance. 
• Autohesive (contact adhesive) multi-modal strength testing according to ASTM-D1995. 
• Climbing drum peel test for adhesives: ASTM standard test method D1781 
• Standard Test Method for Durability Evaluation of Adhesive Joints Subjected to Stresses in Peeling ASTM-D2918 Standard Test Method for Evaluating the Peel Resistance of Floating Roller Adhesives ASTM-D3167 
• The ASTM standard for measuring the peel adhesion of pressure-sensitive tape is D3330-A. 
• Standard test technique for peel adhesion of pressure-sensitive tape; ASTM-D3330-B-E. 
• Standard test procedure for peel adhesion of pressure-sensitive tape (ASTM-D3330). 
• Standard test procedures for rubber properties; adhesion to flexible substrates (ASTM-D413) and rigid substrates (ASTM-D429) 
• Standard Test Method for Penetration Resistance of Hook and Loop Fasteners (‘T’ Method) ASTM-D5170 Standard Test Method for Penetration Resistance of Stretch Wrap Film (‘Peel Cling’ Method) 
• Peel adhesion of pressure-sensitive label stocks at a ninety-degree angle, as measured by the ASTM-D6252 standard test method. 
• When it comes to needle-punched geosynthetic clay liners, ASTM-D6496 is the standard test method for establishing the average bonding peel strength between the top and bottom layers. Meanwhile, ASTM-D6862 is the standard test method for the 90-degree peel resistance of adhesives. 

Standard Test Methods for Rubber Cement (ASTM-D816) 

• Standard Test Method for Adhesive Bond Peel or Stripping Strength (ASTM-D903) 
• Standard Test Method for Tissue Adhesive Strength in T-Peel by Tension Loading (ASTM-F2256) 
• Seal strength of flexible barrier materials: standard test method ASTM-F88 
• Seal strength of flexible barrier materials: standard test method ASTM-F88 
• Identification cards; testing procedures; part 1: ISO-10373-1; introduction; general characteristics 
• T-peel testing of flexible-to-flexible adhesive bonds is specified in ISO 11339. 
• Adhesives—ISO 14676—Performance assessment of aluminum surface treatment methods Floating-roller wet-peel test 
• Protective Footwear Test Methods according to ISO Standard 20344 
• ISO 4578: Adhesives; Floating-roller Method for Determining Peel Resistance of High-Strength Adhesive Bonds 
• Part 1 of the ISO-8510-1 standard for testing adhesives involves performing a 90° peel on a flexible-bonded-to-rigid test specimen assembly. 
• The second part of the ISO-8510-2 standard for adhesives describes the 180-degree peel test for a flexible-bonded-to-rigid test specimen assembly. 
• Adhesives used in the automotive industry for bonding fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) must pass the SAE-J 1553 cross peel test. 
• SAE-J 1907 is the automobile industry standard for testing the peel adherence of glass to elastomeric materials. 

The Industrial Physics and United Testing Systems Testing

Manufacturing facilities, research labs, and assembly lines can all benefit from the high-quality test and inspection tools we stock at Industrial Physics.  

United Testing Systems, a market leader in the production of cutting-edge material testing systems, is just one of our many specialist brands that produces high-quality testing equipment. Learn more about our selection of adhesion testing equipment.