ABSTRACT
Adhesive strength is one of the main characteristics of pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs), but how long the adhesive joint can provide contact to the substrate over time and under various external conditions (debonding force, temperature, and relative humidity) is also important. Several methods exist to test the adhesive strength of PSAs, including tack, peel, and shear tests (see Chapters 6 through 8 and Applications of Pressure-Sensitive Products, Chapter 8). Th ese are carried out under standard conditions in accordance with ASTM D1876-01 (Method for Peel Resistance of Adhesives (T-Peel Test) and probe tack test (according to ASTM D2979-01) or using other methods. For long-term durability of PSAs, there is only one standard test-the method for determining the durability of adhesive joints stressed in shear loading (ASTM D2919-01 or PSTC-7). In most publications, discussions of durability properties include the analysis of behavior under various environmental conditions [1,2] (see also Applications of Pressure-Sensitive Products, Chapter 8) or fatigue tests in cyclic mode [3].
