Adhesive Testing

Evaluate adhesive strength/peel for reliable bond.

What Is It?

Adhesive Testing is the scientific measurement of the strength and sticking power (adhesion) of glues, tapes, seals, and coatings. Its goal is to quantify the force required to pull two bonded materials apart. This ensures that a product’s assembly or packaging will remain intact under stress, temperature changes, and normal use.

Bond Strength: Measures the maximum force an adhesive joint can withstand before the bond breaks.
Failure Mode: Identifies where the failure occurs (in the adhesive, on the surface, or in the material itself).
Tack and Quick Stick: Assesses the initial stickiness of an adhesive upon immediate contact, crucial for tapes and labels.

Who Needs This Testing?

Any industry that relies on bonding materials rather than using traditional fasteners (like screws or welding) needs adhesive testing. This applies to high-stress structural joints and simple, everyday applications like packaging. Failure in an adhesive bond can lead to serious consequences.

Packaging: Essential for seals on food wrappers, boxes, and medical blister packs to ensure product freshness and security.
Automotive & Aerospace: Critical for structural bonding of lightweight materials, ensuring safety, and replacing heavier mechanical fasteners.
Paint and Coating: Required to check how strongly a protective layer (paint or coating) adheres to a surface to prevent flaking and corrosion.

How Is It Done?

Adhesive testing is performed using versatile, motorized machines that apply measurable force to a bonded sample until it fails. These methods are categorized by the type of stress applied to the joint: tension (pulling straight apart), shear (sliding apart), or peel (rolling or lifting apart). Test samples are carefully prepared according to specific industry standards to ensure that the results are accurate and repeatable.

Peel Testing: Measures the force needed to separate a flexible material (like tape) from a surface by peeling it back at a set angle.
Shear Testing: Measures the sliding strength of the bond by pulling two overlapping materials in opposite directions, parallel to the joint.
Tack Measurement: Assesses the initial stickiness of an adhesive by measuring the resistance when a probe or ball is removed after very brief contact.

Overview

Featured Products

Precision for Peel and Release Testing

This machine is engineered for reliability and simplicity, allowing you to accurately perform all major PSTC, ASTM, TLMI, and FINAT testing procedures. Its robust, compact design makes it ideal for R&D or Quality Control laboratories needing consistent, precise force measurement on tape and label materials.

Universal Compliance: Capable of performing tests to meet global industry standards.
Versatile Angle Control: Test angles are selectable between 90° and 180°.
Wide Speed Range: Digital control offers speeds from 1 to 1200 ipm.
Integrated Operation: Features a 5.7 in. touch screen for stand-alone control and data display.

Lab & Production Laminating Powerhouse

Achieve reproducible product samples with this durable, precise thermal laminating system. Compact enough for the laboratory bench but rugged enough for small-scale production, it handles papers, films, foils, and other materials with ease. Its highly flexible design allows for extensive customization

High-Range Temperature Control: Maintains temperatures up to 400°F (204°C) with ±2°F tolerance.
Continuous Substrate Capability: Produces laminated samples of virtually unlimited length.
Precise Speed Adjustments: Variable speed motor controls offer lamination rates from 2 to 300 inches per minute.
Configurable Heating: Choose configurations for top roll, bottom roll, or dual heating for thick materials.