1. Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tapes for Sales and Marketing Professionals
Tape University Basics May 11, 2009
Testing

2. All the Common Test Methods You Will Ever Need!

3. Testing of Pressure Sensitive Adhesives (Tapes)
PURPOSE:
Quality & Process Control
Comparative Testing
Performance Characteristics
Functional Property Testing
Data Sheets

4. Tape Physical Properties
Adhesion Performance
Peel Adhesion, Shear Adhesion, Tack (Wet Grab)
Tape Constructions
Elongation, Tensile Strength, Thickness
Application Special Requirements
Aging Properties
Electrical Properties
Solvent Resistance
Barrier Properties
FDA Requirements
Flammability

5. Achieving The Correct Level of Performance
When designing a product, a change in chemistry to impact any one single performance factor has to be balanced with the other two.
TACK
SHEAR
ADHESION
Cost must also be considered

6. Peel Adhesion
The force per unit width required to break the bond between a pressure sensitive adhesive tape and the surface to which it has been applied when the tape is peeled back at a controlled angle at a standard rate and condition.

7. PSTC 101 Comparison of Current Peel Adhesion Test Methods with Harmonized International TM
Reference: Jensen, T.B., FEICA European Adhesives Conference, 1999.

8. Peel Adhesion - 180o/ 90o
FORCE
FORCE
TEST
SURFACE
ADHESIVE
ADHESIVE
PSTC - 1
PSTC - 101
ASTM D 1000
ASTM 3330 M
TEST SURFACE
180° PEEL ADHESION
90° PEEL ADHESION
Measures the force required to remove the tape from a test surface at a given angle, temperature and peel rate

9. Peel Adhesion Video

10. Types of Release Modes BACKING COHESIVE FAILURE ADHESIVE FAILURE
ADHEREND
BACKING
ADHESIVE
ADHEREND
50% COHESIVE FAILURE
Which mode is missing?
Reference: Petrie, E.M., Handbook of Adhesives and Sealants, pg. 4, 2000.

11. Significance of Peel Adhesion Testing
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!
FORCE
Peel adhesion measures bond breaking not bond formation.
Peel value is a function of test conditions (contact time, application pressure, temperature, peel rate and peel angle).
Surface tension dominates wetting and visco-elastic behavior dominates flow.
TEST
SURFACE
ADHESIVE
180° PEEL ADHESION TEST

12. Tack
The property of a pressure sensitive adhesive that allows it to adhere to a surface under very slight pressure.
It is determined by the ability of the adhesive to quickly wet the surface it contacts.

13. Tack Test Methods Rolling Ball Polyken® Probe Tack Texture Analyzer
Loop Tack

14. Rolling Ball Tack
A Stainless Steel ball is released on to a strip of tape. The distance the ball travels is measured:
In inches or cm
Corresponding quantitative measurement based on the distance it travels
TAPE
DISTANCE TRAVELED
PSTC - 6
ASTM D 3121

15. Rolling Ball Tack Video

16. Probe Tack Test
A tape sample is lowered to a touch probe and withdrawn. The force to pull away is measured
ASTM D 2979
Tack is reported as gm/area and weight of probe for example 500 gm for a 100gm/cm2 probe
TAPE
PROBE

17. Probe Tack Video

18. Loop Tack - PSTC 16 UPPER GRIPS 1 INCH (25 MM) MASKING TAPE
LOWER GRIPS
TEST FIXTURE
ADHESIVE COATED SIDE
IN CONTACT WITH
SUBSTRATE
SUBSTRATE BAR
Reference:Test Methods for Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tapes, 13th Edition, Pg. 68 & 2000.

19. Significance of Tack Level Testing
What You Need To Know!
TAPE
LOOP TACK
ROLLING BALL
TACK
PROBE TACK
Tack is NOT an indicator of adhesion value
Tack is a measurement of the initial “stickiness” of the adhesive when it comes into contact with the intended substrate

20. Shear
Sometimes referred to as holding power and/or creep of the adhesive.
Evaluate adhesive strength (cohesiveness) and resistance to flow under stress.
Adhesive compliance sufficient to conform to surface roughness.

21. Common Shear Tests Static
Shear Adhesion as a Function of Temperature (SAFT)

22. COMPARISON OF SHEAR TEST METHODS
Reference: Muny, R.P., Handbook of Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Technology, Third Edition, Edited by
Satas, D., pg. 144 & 1999.

23. PSTC 107 Comparison of Current Shear Holding Power (Shear Adhesion) Test Methods with Proposed (Third Draft) Harmonized International TM
Reference: Jensen, T. B., FEICA European Adhesives Conference, 1999.

24. Static Shear Test w h L t η
Measures the time required for a pre-determined load (weight) to move the tape a given distance across the test panel.
One square inch area of contact with a 1000 gm load is standard but may be varied.
Results are reported in minutes or hours
TEST
SURFACE
Time to Fall = η w h2
L t

25. Shear Test Video

26. Significance of Shear Testing
STATIC SHEAR TEST
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!
Shear is an indicator of the internal strength (cohesiveness) of the adhesive
Shear value is a function of test conditions (contact time, application pressure and temperature)

27. Resistance to Aging Purpose: Determine shelf life
Determine functional life time.

28. Method
Expose tape on test panel to test conditions and measure attributes as a function of time.

29. Aging Devices
Oven
Cycling Chamber
Weathering Chamber
User Designed

30. Shelf Life Hot dry conditions (120-150ºF) for various times.
Hot-moist conditions (96% RH & 100º F) for various times.
Cycling (hot-cold-hot, dry & moist)

31. Tape Data Sheet Attributes Properties
Physical properties such as peel, shear, tack, tensile, elongation and thickness measured under controlled conditions
Storage conditions
Broad comments on handling, regulatory issues, and application
Peel adhesion, 40 oz/in PSTC-101
Shear, 500 minutes PSTC-107
Tack, 2 mm PSTC-6
Tensile at Break, 20 newtons/10 mm PSTC-131
Elongation at Break, 200% PSTC-131
Thickness, mm PSTC-133
Data sheets do not typically contain information about fitness for use
The end user usually qualifies the adhesive in the end use
Physical properties are determined on controlled and reproducible surfaces such as stainless steel panels
Data sheets typically present nominal data and are used as guidelines
Are data sheets specifications?

32. Testing Considerations
Test method, conditions and operator govern results
Use industry recognized test methods to compare results
The test results are only as good as the test method and operator!