ASTM F904-16

Standard Test Method for Comparison of Bond Strength or Ply Adhesion of Similar Laminates Made from Flexible Materials

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Laminates are made by bonding together two or more layers of material or materials. Their performance is often dependent on the ability of the laminate to function as a single unit. If the plies have not been properly bonded together, the performance may be adversely affected. Laminates may maintain adequate bond strength under standard test conditions, but under conditions of use may exhibit an increase or decrease in bond strength. Applying heat, such as in boilable pouch applications, may adversely affect bond strength, as may cold temperatures, such as those encountered in freezer storage of foods. Fats and oils may also influence bond strength as well as the softness or moduli of the plies. This test method can be used to compare bond strength of similar materials and to study changes under these and other conditions of end use, providing caution is used with respect to the effects of the included force to bend the separated plies.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for comparing the bond strength or ply adhesion of similar laminates made from flexible materials such as cellulose, paper, plastic film, and foil. This includes laminates made by various processes: adhesive laminates, extrusion coatings, extrusion laminates, and coextrusion.  
1.2 Because of the impact of the bending force, direct comparisons between different materials or even between the same materials of different thickness cannot be made.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information purposes only.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are given in 7.1.1.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2016
• ICS: 83.140.20 - Laminated sheets
• Technical Committee: F02 - Primary Barrier Packaging
• Drafting Committee: F02.20 - Physical Properties

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: F904 − 16
Standard Test Method for
Comparison of Bond Strength or Ply Adhesion of Similar
1
Laminates Made from Flexible Materials
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationF904;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
It has been widely discussed in the literature that bond strength of flexible multi-ply materials is
impossibletomeasurewithcurrenttechnology.Theaboveisrecognizedandaccepted,sinceallknown
methods of measurement include the force required to bend the separated layers, in addition to that
required to separate them. However, useful information can be obtained when one realizes that the
bendingforceisincludedandthatdirectcomparisonsbetweendifferentmaterials,orevenbetweenthe
same materials of different thicknesses, cannot be made.Also, conditioning that affects the softness or
moduli of the plies will be reflected in the bond strength measurement.
1. Scope D882 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic
Sheeting
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for comparing the
3
D1898 Practice for Sampling of Plastics (Withdrawn 1998)
bond strength or ply adhesion of similar laminates made from
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
flexiblematerialssuchascellulose,paper,plasticfilm,andfoil.
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
This includes laminates made by various processes: adhesive
laminates, extrusion coatings, extrusion laminates, and coex-
3. Terminology
trusion.
3.1 Definitions:
1.2 Because of the impact of the bending force, direct
3.1.1 adhesive failure—failure at the interface of two adja-
comparisons between different materials or even between the
cent layers.
same materials of different thickness cannot be made.
3.1.2 cohesive failure—failure within one of the two adja-
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
cent layers comprising the bonded area under test.
standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for
3.1.3 bond strength—amount of force or energy required to
information purposes only.
separatepliesofmaterialormaterialsplustheforcetobendthe
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
plies.
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1.4 necking—localized reduction in cross section which
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
may occur in a material under tensile stress.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1.5 web—refers to roll stock after it has been unwound
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precau-
from the roll.
tionary statements are given in 7.1.1.
4. Summary of Test Method
2. Referenced Documents
2
4.1 Ply separation is initially started mechanically by the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
application of heat or by using a solvent.The separated plies of
the test specimen are placed into the grips of a tensile testing
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F02 on Flexible
machine.The grips are then separated and the force required to
Barrier Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F02.20 on
further separate the plies is defined as bond strength.
Physical Properties.
Current edition approved April 1, 2016. Published June 2016. Originally Alternatively, the energy may be used.
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as F904 – 98 (2008).
NOTE 1—The force to bend the separated plies is included.
DOI: 10.1520/F0904-16.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. ForAnnual Book ofASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
the ASTM website. www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F904 − 16
5. Significance and Use 9.2 Set full-scale load so that most test specimen scans fall
in the center two thirds of the chart, and draw speed at 28.0
5.1 Laminates are made by bonding together two or more
cm/min 6 10 % (10 or 12 in./min are included). A few trial
layers of material or materials. Their performance is often
runs may be required. Other draw speeds may be used if it can
dependent on the ability of the laminate to function as a single
be shown that they yield the same results as those specified.
unit. If the plies have not been properly bonded together, the
performance may be adversely affected. Laminates may main-
10. Conditi
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F904 − 98 (Reapproved 2008) F904 − 16
Standard Test Method for
Comparison of Bond Strength or Ply Adhesion of Similar
1
Laminates Made from Flexible Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F904; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
It has been widely discussed in the literature that bond strength of flexible multi-ply materials is
impossible to measure with current technology. The above is recognized and accepted, since all known
methods of measurement include the force required to bend the separated layers, in addition to that
required to separate them. However, useful information can be obtained when one realizes that the
bending force is included and that direct comparisons between different materials, or even between the
same materials of different thicknesses, cannot be made. Also, conditioning that affects the softness or
moduli of the plies will be reflected in the bond strength measurement.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for comparing the bond strength or ply adhesion of similar laminates made from flexible
materials such as cellulose, paper, plastic film, and foil. This includes laminates made by various processes: adhesive laminates,
extrusion coatings, extrusion laminates, and coextrusion.
1.2 Because of the impact of the bending force, direct comparisons between different materials or even between the same
materials of different thickness cannot be made.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information
purposes only.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are given in 7.1.1.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D882 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic Sheeting
3
D1898 Practice for Sampling of Plastics (Withdrawn 1998)
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 adhesive failure—failure at the interface of two adjacent layers.
3.1.2 cohesive failure—failure within one of the two adjacent layers comprising the bonded area under test.
3.1.3 bond strength—amount of force or energy required to separate plies of material or materials plus the force to bend the
plies.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F02 on Flexible Barrier Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F02.20 on Physical
Properties.
Current edition approved April 1, 2008April 1, 2016. Published May 2008June 2016. Originally approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 20032008 as
F904 – 98 (2008). (2003). DOI: 10.1520/F0904-98R08.10.1520/F0904-16.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F904 − 16
3.1.4 necking—localized reduction in cross section which may occur in a material under tensile stress.
3.1.5 web—refers to roll stock after it has been unwound from the roll.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 Ply separation is initially started mechanically by the application of heat or by using a solvent. The separated plies of the
test specimen are placed into the grips of a tensile testing machine. The grips are then separated and the force required to further
separate the plies is defined as bond strength. Alternatively, the energy may be used.
NOTE 1—The force to bend the separated plies is included.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 Laminates are made by bonding together two or more layers of material or materials. Their performance is often dependent
on the ability of the laminate to function as a single unit. If the
...