PeelTest

PeelTest, or peel testing, is a set of standardized procedures used to measure the adhesive strength of interfaces where a flexible adherend is peeled from a substrate. The most common configurations are 90-degree and 180-degree peel tests, but other angles are used for specific products or standards. In a typical test, a specimen consists of a substrate coated with an adhesive layer to which a flexible film or tape is applied. The specimen is mounted on a tensile testing machine, and the adherend is peeled away at a controlled rate while maintaining a specified peel angle. The force required to sustain peeling is recorded as a function of displacement. Peel strength is usually reported as an average force per unit width (for example, N/m or N/mm) or as a peak force, depending on the standard.

Results depend on numerous factors, including adhesive chemistry, substrate surface condition, temperature, humidity, peel rate, and the presence of surface treatments. The test also distinguishes between adhesive failure, where the adhesive bond fails, and cohesive failure, where the material fails within the adhesive or substrate.

PeelTest is widely used in industries such as packaging, automotive, electronics, medical devices, and consumer products to quality-control adhesive performance, compare formulations, and support product development. Standards established by organizations such as ASTM and ISO define specimen preparation, test setup, angles, speeds, and data interpretation to enable consistent comparisons across materials and suppliers.