The peel strength test is used to evaluate the strength of adhesives. It measures how strongly an adhesive keeps bonding the substrates. In this test, substrates are separated by applying the tensile force. The force required to successfully separate the two layers of material is called the peel strength of adhesive.
Adhesives Strength

Adhesive strength and bonding depend on the nature of the adhesive material and the substrates on which it is applied. The design of materials like composites, adhesive joints, and coating performance relies on the strength of the glue or adhesive used.
Types of Adhesives
Adhesives are used to bond things. They are mostly made of polymers or resins and are produced from different substances. Here are the different types of adhesives that are used at the domestic and commercial levels.
Pressure-Sensitive
Pressure-sensitive adhesives consist of acrylic, rubber, latex, or silicone. They don’t need a solvent, water, or heap to stick and can be applied with light pressure, like tape.
Polymer Base
Polymer-base adhesives consist of polyester, polyurethane, acrylic, and epoxies. They’re great for bonding wood, food packaging, and the automotive industry.
Cyanoacrylate
Have you ever fixed something with superglue and then used cyanocrylate?
Dextrin
Dextrin is thin glue made from starch that is used to hold the pages together and your favorite novel.
Polyvinyl Acetate PVA
White glue that is used in school is polyvinyl acetate PVA.
Reactive Adhesives
Reactive and sips are important because they’re used to bond cell phones and computers.
Solvent Base
A solvent is a liquid in which other materials dissolve to form a solution. This kind of adhesive is mixed with polymers and can be found in sticky notes.
What is Peel Testing?
A Peel strength test is basically a type of mechanical testing performed on a peel or universal strength tester. It measures the strength of the adhesive bond and ensures whether it is working as expected or not.
In an adhesion strength test, a tensile force is applied to one of two bonded substrates. These two substrates can be made of various materials. The upper substrate is a thin material like tape, film, rubber, or any flexible material.
The lower substrate is made of hard and rigid materials such as metal, composite, rigid plastic, or any other hard material. The peel test has different testing angles, such as the 180-degree peel test, 90°-degree peel test, T-peel, wheel, and floating roller peel testing.
The specimen conditioning, handling, and environmental conditions can also affect adhesion properties. That is why some applications may require a chamber for testing at high temperatures.
The results of adhesive bond strength testing are the initial peak force, the average force over the seal, and the peel strength.
Types of Peel Testing
Peel strength tests for adhesives measure adhesion strength in various ways. These tests can be performed on a peel strength tester or universal strength testing machine. The following are the kinds of Peel strength testing methods.
180-Degree Peel Test
The 180°-peel test checks how much force is needed to pull apart two stuck materials. In this test, one material is flexible, like a thin sheet of tape, and the other is hard and stiff.
The flexible material is peeled back at a 180-degree angle, which means it is pulled straight backward, away from the hard surface. This test helps measure how strong the adhesive is in holding the materials together.
90-Degree Peel Test
The 90°-peel test checks how much force is needed to pull apart two stuck materials. In this test, one material is flexible, like tape or a thin sheet, and the other is hard and stiff.
The flexible material is peeled away at a 90-degree angle, pulling it straight up, forming an “L” shape with the hard surface. This test helps measure how well the adhesive holds the materials together.
T-Peel
This test checks how strong the bond is between two flexible materials that are stuck together. The two materials are placed in special grips for testing.
One material faces up, the other faces down, while the glued part sticks out sideways. This setup creates a “T” shape. The test then pulls the materials apart to see how much force is needed to break the bond.
Conclusion
The peel strength test evaluates the strength of adhesives. It measures how strongly an adhesive bonds to substrates. In this test, substrates are separated by applying tensile force. The force required to separate the two layers of material successfully is called the peel strength of that adhesive.
The peel test has different testing angles, such as the 180-degree peel test, 90°-degree peel test, T-peel, wheel, and floating roller peel testing. The results of adhesive bond strength testing are the initial peak force, the average force over the seal, and the peel strength.
FAQs
What is the peel strength test?
The Peel strength test is a measure of the bond strength of adhesive material.
How do you perform a peel strength test?
The test is performed so that two substrates, one made of thin material and the second of hard and rigid material, are separated by applying tensile force. The applied force at which the substrates separate successfully is the Peel strength of adhesive.
How many types of Peel strength testing methods are performed?
The peel test has different testing angles, such as the 180-degree peel test, 90°-degree peel, T-peel, wheel, and floating roller peel testing.
How does adhesive strength affect material performance?
Adhesive strength and bonding depend on the nature of the adhesive material and the substrates on which it is applied. The performance of materials like composites, adhesive joints, and coatings rely on the strength of the glue or adhesive used.
What is the purpose of adhesives, and how are they made?
Adhesives are used to stick things together, and the objects being stuck together become known as substrates. They are made from polymers or resins.
