Modeling the Peel Test for Pressure Sensitive Adhesives: A Generalized Cohesive Zone Model

The peel test is a commonly used test method for evaluating the adhesive strength. The test is usually conducted by peeling a pressure sensitive tape away from a substrate and measuring the applied peel force. This book proposes a generalized cohesive zone model of the peel test for pressure sensitive adhesives to predict the peel force and the traction distribution across the substrate surface. The cohesive zone is modeled as a continuous fibrillated region in which the adhesive fails cohesively. The governing equations, which accurately describe the adhesive and backing deformations, are derived. The peel rate, the peel angle, the adhesive properties, the backing stiffness and dimensions, and the substrate surface geometry are found to affect the peel force and the traction distribution across the substrate surface. This book provides a solid framework for modeling the peel test for pressure sensitive adhesives.