What is it used for?
The peel test is primarily used to assess the bond strength of an adhesive, such as Styccobond F58 rubber flooring adhesive, and to ensure it will bond as expected.
Why is it used?
The test is used to assess the performance of the adhesive with both textile and resilient floor coverings. It is also one of the capability tests undertaken between floor coverings and adhesives which forms part of a recommendation in the Recommended Adhesives Guide (RAG).
How it’s done:
- A sample of the floorcovering is bonded to a piece of plywood measuring 120mm x 50mm.
- This is kept at a constant temperature of 23°C for 28 days, the standard atmospheric conditions recommended for testing, and then 7 – 21 days at 50°C, to simulate a significant increase in temperature.
- The floorcovering is then ‘peeled’ off the plywood using a tensometer.
What’s next?
The results of the peel test are measured in newtons per millimeter (N/mm) as an indication of the bond strength and to check that the floorcovering will release as expected.