FTM10
quality of silicone coated
scope
This test method describes a simple method of assessing
the suitability of a siliconised (or indeed any other type of
release) backing material for pressure sensitive lamination.
definition
Release force is defined as the force required to separate
a pressure sensitive adhesive coated material from its
backing or protective sheet (or vice versa) under specified
conditions and at a specified angle and speed.
test equipment
A tensile tester or similar machine, capable of peeling a
laminate through an angle of 180° at a jaw separation rate
of 300 mm per minute and with an accuracy of ± 2%.
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Picture 1: Q-TEC ZPE Low Speed Release Peel Tester
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substrates for self-adhesive
laminates: release force
A circulating hot air oven capable of maintaining a
temperature of 70 ± 2°C.
A standard FINAT test roller.
Metal or glass pressure plates loaded to give a pressure of
6.86 kPa (70 g/cm2) on the test pieces.
A standard pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, 25 mm wide
e.g. tesa 7475 PV2 (acrylic) or tesa 7476 (rubber), or a
standard pressure sensitive adhesive coated facing paper
(see Notes).
test pieces
The silicone coated substrate may be tested either against
the standard tape or against a standard pressure sensitive
adhesive coated facing paper, the adhesive chosen being
that which will simulate the end application for which the
release paper is intended.
Take a representative sample of the silicone coated
substrate of minimum dimensions 450 mm x 250 mm.
Apply to this, using light finger pressure, the adhesive tape
in strips along the machine direction. Alternatively apply a
suitable sized sheet of pressure sensitive adhesive coated
facing paper to the sample.
Cut test strips 25 mm wide and 175 mm in the machine
direction. The cuts should be clean and straight. Roll the
strips twice in each direction with the standard FINAT test
roller at a speed of approximately 10 mm per second. At
least six strips should be prepared from each sample if
subsequent adhesion tests are to be carried out. In the
case of samples showing very low release force, the width
(and hence the width of tape) may be 50 mm in order to
obtain a meaningful measurement. However, release force
should still be expressed as release force per 25 mm width.
test conditions
Place the strips under test between two flat metal or
glass plates and keep for 20 hours at 23°C ± 2°C under a
pressure of 6.86 kPa (70 g/cm2) to ensure good contact
between the silicone coated substrate and the adhesive.
After storage in this manner take the strips from between
the plates and keep for not less than 4 hours at the
standard test conditions of 23°C ± 2°C, 50% RH ± 5% RH.
Accelerated ageing may be carried out by placing a similar
set of strips between two flat metal or glass plates and
keeping it for 20 hours in an air circulating oven at
70°C ± 5°C. The strips should then be removed and
conditioned for at least 4 hours as above.
procedure
Fix each strip in the machine so that the tape or facing
material can be stripped away from the silicone coated
substrate at an angle of peel of 180°. Set the machine to
operate at 300 mm per minute jaw separation rate. Carry
out the test taking at least five readings at 10 mm intervals
from the centre section of the test trip. Average the five or
more readings for each strip.

Picture 2: Test strips attached to the back plate

results
Release force is expressed as the average result for
the strips tested in Newton per 25 mm width either
under standard conditions or under accelerated ageing
conditions.

notes
1. The strips should be retained for subsequent adhesion
testing.
2. See FTM 11 for interpretation of results.
3. The adhesive tape or adhesive coated facing paper
used should be as stable to changes in temperature
as possible and of steady and reproducible adhesion
value.
4. Conversion 1 kgf- = 9.81 Newton.
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See also notes for FTM 11.

Issued October, 1985

Revised March 1999
Revised May 2001
Revised January 2013

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