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The human sense of touch (also called somatosensation) is considerably well developed and utilizes a rather large area of the brain and nervous system. The 'mechanoreceptors' in our fingers consist of tactile, lamellar, and bulbous corpuscles that react to how rough or soft a surface might be along with skin stretch that allows us to sense slippage (or lack of slippage).
Examining a roll of tape visually provides little in the way of feedback about how suitable the tape might be for an application and since tape doesn't talk, our auditory system provides no useful information. Tasting the tape is not recommended and unless you are a trained formulator, smell doesn't help much either.
When you hand a roll of tape to someone, what do they instinctively do? They unwind a bit of it or peel back the release liner to expose the adhesive and they stick their thumb on it. The thumb is able to sense the relative 'stickiness' or tackiness of the tape and usually the 'stickier or tackier' it is, the greater the chance that the person will say''this is really good stuff!'
Despite the thumb's sensitivity, that tactile feedback can be misleading about the ability of the tape do the job. Skin roughness, perspiration, and skin oils also can affect our perception and create a false impression of the tape.
High tack can be critical to some applications but there are many applications where it might be a real disadvantage.
There are many physical properties that can be measured with pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes but the main three properties that are typically reported are tack, peel adhesion, and shear. Shear will not be discussed in this article but we will take a slightly deeper dive into tack and peel.
While tack and peel are often correlated, they are not the same. Here's why'
Tack: How Quickly a Bond is Formed
Tack is the property that controls how quickly a bond is formed when it is brought into contact with a surface with very slight pressure. It is ability of the adhesive to 'wet' the surface that it contacts.
There are applications where tack(specifically high tack) are important. Flying splices on paper or film converting machines and wire management hooks and clips for appliances are two applications where immediate loads will be applied and the tape must hold without delay.
Tack is sensitive to a variety of factors including the properties of the adherend (typically roughness or topography along with surface energy) along with temperature and processing conditions.
There are 4 principle test methods for measuring tack- loop tack, rolling ball tack, probe tack, and quick stick. Without going into too much detail about individual test methods, loop tack is often viewed as the most repeatable and consistent and many tape manufacturers now report it routinely. A loop of tape is formed and brought into contact with a test plate. The loop is then pulled away on a tensile testing machine and the value recorded.(see above photo)
Probe tack was popular for many years since it more or less resembled the 'thumb tack' test but wide variability in the test data has often been observed. In this test, a metal probe is brought into contact with tape surface, allowed to dwell for a specified time, and then pulled away. The force of removal is reported in grams.
Rolling ball tack is a simplistic test where a ball bearing is released down a ramp onto a tape specimen. The adhesive 'arrests' the motion of the ball bearing due to grab and a 'plowing effect' and the distance need to stop the ball is reported. This test is often used as a quick QC test on a production line.
Quick stick also uses a tensile or peel tester as in the loop tack test to pull a tape specimen off at a 90° angle with short or no dwell time. This differs from normal peel adhesion testing since only the weight of the tape itself is used to initiate the bond or a very light 25 gram roller.
Peel: How Much Force Is Required to Remove the Bond
Peel adhesion testing is measuring the force required to remove a tape specimen from a test panel at a controlled angle (usually 180°or 90°), at standard rate, and with a defined dwell time.
The tape is applied using a weighted rubber roller to a stainless steel (or other panel material that is defined) and then allowed to dwell on that panel. The tape can be peeled away immediately but dwell times from 5 minutes up to 72 hours are common.
Some adhesive applications require temporary fixing of the tape to the surface with the intent of removing it in the future without adhesive residue. Think of the surface protection films used on appliances or paint masking tapes. In these applications, lower peel levels(and likely tack) are needed to impart stable removal over time.
In more permanent applications, higher peel forces will likely be needed in order to permanently affix the tape to the substrate or to bond two surfaces together. This does not necessarily mean that the tape must exhibit high tack (whether you test it with your thumb or a loop tack method). Many high tack tape systems depending on how they're formulated might have lower ultimate peel strength versus a tape that seems 'not as tacky' but develops very high peel adhesion to specific surfaces.
One final note- peel testing on a standard stainless steel panel can be useful but it is imperative that peel testing also take place on the surfaces to which it will actually be applied. That peel testing will yield a much richer date set. Those panels can also subjected to various humidity conditions, high or low temperatures and chemical exposures that the tape will actually see. A much deeper understanding of field performance can be realized (and it may or may not have anything to do with tack as we perceive it).
Have questions about the tack and peel properties of adhesive tapes? Give us a call at Tom Brown, Inc. for more information.
When it comes to adhesive testing, finding the right solution is crucial for ensuring product quality and performance. That's where our expertise and extensive range of adhesive test machine solutions come in.
We take pride in offering a diverse selection of products, making us your go-to source for all your adhesive testing needs. From peel strength testers to shear testers, we have more products than anyone else in the market.
Our team of adhesive testing experts is dedicated to helping you find the right solution that meets your specific requirements.
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The purpose of adhesive testing is to determine the suitability of a substance for a specific application. Adhesives are often subjected to various forces and stresses throughout their lifespan, with shear, tension, peel, or a combination of these being the most common.
By testing adhesives, we can determine their strength, which can be summarized by their tensile strength, shear strength, and peel strength. Each of these measures the point at which the adhesive fails under specific forces. During adhesive testing, one of three types of failures may occur. The adhesive may fail in cohesion, where the actual adhesive material is ruptured. Alternatively, it may fail in adhesion, where the adhesive is cleanly separated from the bonded surface. Lastly, it may experience a combination of both adhesion and cohesion failures.
There are many different methods for the testing of adhesives but the most popular involve tensile, shear, and peel forces. The tensile testing of adhesives is generally performed for two different situations: the bonding of two rigid substrates and the bonding of a flexible and rigid substrate.
Tensile testing of two rigid substrates bonded together with an adhesive requires that both substrates be gripped properly and pulled apart at a constant rate until either the adhesive or the substrates fail. For a flexible to rigid bonded assembly, a loop tack test is used for the testing of tensile properties. The rigid substrate is gripped at the bottom while the flexible substrate is formed into a loop with the adhesive facing out and gripped from above. The flexible surface is then adhered to the rigid surface and then pulled straight up so that the two materials are separated cleanly.
Shear testing of adhesives generally involves a single or double lap joint and a universal shear testing machine. The adhesive is applied to the joint between the two materials so that one continuous length is formed. The two ends of the new sample are then placed into their respective grips in the shear tester. The tensile shear tester is then used to apply a load to the joint until it is ruptured in shear.
A peel test is used for the testing of the bond of the adhesive between a flexible substrate and a rigid substrate or two flexible substrates. When a flexible material is bonded to a rigid material either a 90 or 180-degree peel test will be used. These two tests involve the flexible substrate being bent to the required angle and then pulled away from the rigid substrate breaking the adhesive bond between the two. If two flexible substrates are bonded together the common test method is the T peel test in which the sample is loaded into a tensile tester in a manner that causes one substrate to point upwards and the other to point downwards effectively forming a 'T' at the joint. The peel tester then pulls the two substrates away from each other destroying the bond in the process.
Completing your adhesive test system is easy. Simply start by choosing a test machine, choose your accessories, and select your controller software. We are your one-stop shop for all your adhesive testing needs.
Let us help you choose the right machine for your specific application.For more loop tack adhesion testinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
Universal test machines specifically configured for testing adhesives.
The first step to configuring your adhesive test system is to choose a test machine by series. Each series of adhesive test machines is designed to meet specific testing requirements and offer different features and capabilities. To determine the most suitable series for your needs, it's essential to consider the type of adhesive tests you will be conducting and any other materials you will be working with.
By carefully evaluating your requirements, you can select a series that aligns perfectly with your objectives. We recommend that you consult our experienced engineers who can guide you through the process of selecting the ideal series for your unique needs.
200 SERIES
More versatility, higher travel and faster speeds
Ideal for testing both adhesives and non-adhesives. Can be used to test a very broad range of materials in addition to adhesives.
100 SERIES
The lowest cost
Ideal for testing tape, labels, pressure sensitive adhesives. Ideal for tack and peel tests.
300 SERIES
Higher force range and large sample capabilities
Ideal for testing virtually any material or product, regardless of size. Capable of handling all types of adhesives.
From simplified test setups to an intuitive controller software interface and pre-configured methods for industry standards - this innovative technology ensures that your adhesive tests are conducted seamlessly and with precision.
With an intuitive interface, Newton makes it easy for users to navigate through various options and settings, ultimately enhancing the overall user experience. By streamlining complex procedures into user-friendly steps, this software serves both experienced test engineers and beginners alike to conduct tests with confidence and accuracy.
Due to the massive selection of products that we offer, it can be difficult to narrow down what you need. Let us help you select and configure based on your testing application.
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Choose from 100's of standard adhesive test accessories as well as custom solutions. All of our adhesive fixtures will fit any brand of test machine through the use of an adapter.
In addition to our general purpose accessories we have fixtures specifically designed for testing adhesives.
Use the tables below to search for the fixture that matches your sample the best. Can't find what you are looking for? Contact us. We are confident we have what you need.
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There are numerous adhesive testing standards available, with some of the most common ones being ASTM D897, ASTM D, and ASTM D. If you have a specific standard that you will be using, please refer to this table to find and learn more about the products we recommend for that particular standard.
I am a HUGE fan of the test fixtures, clamps, etc. from TestResources. The quality is about the same as our Tinius Olsen, and looks similar to Instron, for a FRACTION of the price. The different brands are largely interchangeable (we use the pin connection for attaching clamps).
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