An adhesion tester measures the force required to detach a coating from a substrate. Often called a pull-off adhesion tester or peel tester, an adhesion tester applies a large amount of force to evaluate a coating's bond strength. When measuring peel force or adhesiveness, the nature of the substrate's surface plays a significant role. However, a high-quality adhesion tester features a self-aligning measuring head to compensate for any surface irregularities.
Typically, peel force is indicated on the display of an adhesion tester in megapascals (MPa), kilograms (kg) or pounds per square inch (psi) of force. A peel force measuring result illustrates a coating's level of adhesion to the material substrate. In addition, an adhesion tester is equipped with a pull speed display to ensure the test is conducted in accordance with ISO / ASTM standards. An adhesion tester is used to ensure the quality of incoming and outgoing goods. An adhesion tester also is used during the product research and development process. Most adhesion tester devices are designed to be waterproof, dustproof and protected from vibration.
Whether using a lattice cross cut technique or a hydraulic hand pump test procedure, coating adhesion can be assessed quickly and easily. Digital adhesion testing devices offer advantages such as internal memories, measurement data transferability and data compatibility with popular programs like Microsoft Excel. These added features can come in handy when an adhesion tester is used for serial measurements in manufacturing production facilities.
