FINAT Test Method No. 2 (FTM 2) is used to investigate peel adhesion of laminates through an angle of 90° with a test speed of 300 mm per minute. Predominately used with laminates and packaging materials, it can also be used for coated laminates to investigate adhesion strengths.

FINAT (a abbreviation of the French title: Féderation Internationale des fabricants et transformateurs d'Adhésifs et Thermocollants sur papiers et autres supports) is the European association for the self-adhesive label industry. FTM 2 is commonly used in the packaging industry and to test other laminate materials. Understanding how packaging will hold up under real-world conditions is critical to ensuring that the products they contain reach their end user undamaged.

Materials Testing System

System capacity will depend on the strength of the adhesive; however most tests to this standard will fall in the 1 kN and 5 kN capacity range, making this application perfect for a single column frame such as HST WDW-1E and WDW-5E. This test is performed by using the combination of an upper grip and lower peel fixture. For the upper grip, both pneumatic side action and advanced side action grips are optimal solutions. Both types of grips feature quick-change jaw faces that can be easily changed to accommodate different materials.

90° Peel Fixture

Maintaining exactly 90° from substrate to adherend is critical to properly performing this test. HST's 90° or variable angle peel fixture can maintain precisely 90° by using a low force sliding table that is adjusted throughout the test. The fixture consists of a bearing mounted table, which is linked to the test system via a cable and pulley. As the crosshead is driven in the tensile direction, the cable pulls the table to maintain a constant 90° angle peel, and a dampening coil spring keeps the table from reacting to inertia caused by load peaks and troughs. This fixture is adaptable for both single and dual column frames.