Best Way of Using Peel Strength Tester to Measure Bond Strength

The peel strength test is one of the most effective processes that can be used in the case of determining how well two materials combine. When working in an industry involving packaging, adhesives, electronics, textiles, or poly film and laminates testing, it is important to know how strong a bond can be made to guarantee the reliability of a product. This test step is very important, and that is why, at Test Your Product, we would like to explain how a peel strength tester can be used most easily and efficiently.

What are Peel Strength Testers? 

A peel strength tester is a specially designed machine used to measure the force which is needed to separate 2 bonded materials. The tool firmly but slowly separates the materials at a measured force and notes the force required during a test. This shows an excellent measure of the strength of the adhesive or bond between the two surfaces. This knowledge of the measurement can help a manufacturer to establish whether a given product is going to be suitable under real-life conditions.

Significance of Peel Strength

The importance of peel strength to product quality and safety is important. It assists manufacturers in the testing of whether a seal, glue, or tape will remain intact throughout shipping, handling, and use. As an example, contamination may occur due to a poor seal in food packaging. In pharmaceutical packaging, it could be the difference between sterility and exposure. Poor bonding in the car or electronics industries may cause a failure of components. In this way, the interpretation and quantification of peel strength guarantees an improved product performance and a more satisfied customer.

Types of Peel Test

Peel tests depend on the usage, and different styles exist. Each of the types has its edible products along with testing conditions:

1. 180-degree peel test: It is very common with flexible adhesives and tapes. The bonded sample is torn apart straight and flat to form a 180 angle. The technique is user-friendly, and it yields reliable results.
2. 90-degree peel test: Here, a flat surface is used where one of the surfaces is peeled against a right angle. It is popularly applied on films, foils, or labels attached to rigid surfaces.
3. T-peel test: Suitable for two soft substances that are held to one another face-to-face. The materials split open like a book when they are being diaphragmatically pulled apart. All these tests are invaluable in their contribution to the nature of interaction between different materials when they are bonded together, as well as separated.

Peel Strength Tester Operating Procedure

Before commencing, the sample should be prepared in the right way. Unless your industry or testing procedure requires otherwise, the sample ought to be trimmed to a standard size of about 25 mm in width. It is also important to make sure that there has been a good bonding and that there is no contamination or any other irregularities on the surface of a sample. Reproducibility requires that several replicates of identical samples must be prepared to test.

After the ready-made sample, there are some simple steps on how to perform a peel test:

1. Install the machine: Switch on the tester and find appropriate testing jaws or clamps. Change the settings of the machine, depending on what type is your test (90, 180, or T-peel). Adjust the machine to manual or auto setting, where available.
2. Attach the sample: attach one end of the bonded sample to the fixed clamp and the other end to the movable clamp. Steer clear of situations where a straight and aligned sample could lead to inaccurate results.
3. Test it: Switch on the machine. The sample will be peeled apart at a constant speed (usually about 300 mm per minute, which may be different from standard). The machine takes a record of the force required to break apart the materials.
4. Interpret the results: After you have finished the test, a graph or a read (the peel force as a graph of time or distance) will be displayed to you. The mean of the peel force is often the most significant parameter, and the abrupt variations of the graph can signal the defects of the bonding or the quality of materials.
5. Repeat and record: It is a good principle that it is healthy to test three to five samples to check for consistency. Indicate other conditions such as speed, temperature, and material specifications as well.

Accuracy and Reliability

In order to get the best and unbiased results, it is good to conduct under standard conditions and practice. Use established testing protocols like the ASTM D3330 or the ISO 8510, and make sure that one prepares samples consistently. Use of automatic grips minimises the error on the part of a human hand holding the samples every time; similarly, adhesive testing in a controlled environment eliminates the effects of temperature or humidity on the conformal bonding qualities.

It is also crucial that the peel tester be maintained regularly. Take off the dust in the clamps to prevent slippage, and also recalculate the machine once in a while. New positions within a machine can also affect you a lot.

Common Mistakes to be Avoided

The following are some of the common mistakes which users commit when performing peel strength tests:

• Taking samples that are not even or evenly applied to adhesives.
• The sample is clamped too tightly, which could break the material.
• Failure to calibrate the tester before performing the test.
• Lack of matching the sample within the clamps.

The prevention of such mistakes will guarantee a higher accuracy and repeatability of results, and in turn, higher quality control of products.

How Test Your Product Can Help

In Test Your Product, we have some of the excellently manufactured peel strength testers that not only can you operate, but it is also very accurate in their results. We engineer our machines to fit the user, have a simple interface, as well as good data recording. We also give in-depth set-up instructions, on-site training and support to make sure that our clients obtain the maximum out of their testing equipment.

Our peel strength tester machines are subjected to testing methods that adhere to international standards, and in the case that your machine is ready to be tested, we repair and provide maintenance services to it to ensure it does not malfunction. It doesn't matter whether you are new to product testing or have a lot of experience; we have an expert team that is willing to support you to make the right equipment purchase decisions and deliver reliable results every time.

Conclusion

The correct use of a peel strength tester is crucial in order to establish the strength of bonding materials. It may be viewed as technical initially because it can be done in a step-by-step process; however, technically being able to carry this out in a stepwise manner makes it achievable and even habitual. Manufacturers can achieve quality and durability of products through sufficient sample preparation, proper machine setup, and thorough product analysis.

At Test Your Product, we get behind your products to ensure that you get quality equipment and assistance in testing. Viewed as serious work in terms of the quality of products and customer satisfaction, proper testing of the peel strength is not an option anymore; it is good business. Do not hesitate to contact us in case you want to connect with us regarding which peel strength tester to choose, or require assistance in regard to testing procedures.