What Is Peel Testing?
A peel test is a basic form of mechanical testing that measures the properties of an adhesive bond. Peel tests involve applying a tensile force to a flexible substrate that is bound by an adhesive to either another flexible substrate (such as tape, thin film, or rubber) or a rigid substrate (such as metal, rigid plastic, or composite). Common results from a peel test are initial peak force, average force over the seal, and peel strength (average force per width of the specimen).
00:04: Peel testing is a basic form of mechanical testing that can be performed on a universal testing machine.
00:11: Adhesives are commonly used to bond two surfaces together.
00:15: They are used everywhere in daily life, from consumer packaging to automotive components, construction applications, and extensively in the healthcare industry.
00:25: To make sure these products perform as expected, peel tests are used to measure the properties of these adhesive bonds.
00:32: A peel test applies tensile force to one of two bonded substrates.
00:37: Depending on the application, the substrates can be made from a variety of different materials.
00:43: The upper substrate must be flexible, such as tape, thin film, or rubber.
00:48: The lower substrate can be either flexible or rigid, such as metal, composite, or rigid plastic.
00:54: The type of peel test being performed will determine the fixturing needed.
00:59: T-peel and 180 degree peel testing is performed using standard tensile grips, while testing at an angle will require either a 90 degree or variable angle peel fixture.
01:11: Adhesive properties can also be affected by specimen conditioning and handling and environmental conditions.
01:18: Some applications may require a chamber for testing at high temperatures.
01:22: Common results from a peel test are initial peak force, average force over the seal, and peel strength.
01:29: For more information about mechanical testing, subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Related Videos
ASTM D903: Peel or Stripping Strength of Adhesive Bonds
ASTM D903 is a common tensile test used to evaluate the peel or stripping characteristics of adhesively bonded materials used in a wide variety of applications in an even wider range of industries. Some examples of materials tested to ASTM D903 are plastic films, adhesive labels, and waterproofing materials.
ASTM D3330: Test Method for Peel Adhesion of Pressure-Sensitive Tape
ASTM D3330 is a major peel testing standard that outlines the requirements for determining the peel adhesion properties of pressure-sensitive tapes such as surgical, electrical, packing, and duct tape. The standard includes 6 different methods (A-F) for measuring peel adhesion with both 90° and 180° peel tests. This guide is designed to introduce you to the basic elements of ASTM D3330 testing, including an overview of the equipment, software, and specimens needed.