Pull-off Adhesion Testing Services
Professional Coating Bond Strength Verification Using Elcometer Equipment
Why Is Pull-off Adhesion Testing Critical for Floor Coatings?
Coating delamination accounts for 45% of epoxy floor failures within the first 5 years. Pull-off testing reveals actual bond strength before installation and verifies performance after application. Elcometer results provide numerical evidence of coating integrity measured in megapascals. Without adhesion data, coating longevity remains unpredictable.
Substrate conditions determine maximum achievable bond strength. Contaminated concrete limits adhesion to 0.5 MPa regardless of coating quality. Properly prepared surfaces achieve 2.5 MPa or higher. Our testing identifies preparation adequacy before coating application begins. Remediation at this stage costs 10% of post-failure repair work.
Existing coating assessment guides overcoating decisions. Failed inter-coat adhesion causes layered delamination affecting entire systems. Comprehensive floor testing evaluates complete substrate condition including previous coating compatibility. Test results specify surface preparation requirements ensuring new coatings achieve specification adhesion levels.
Professional Adhesion Testing Services
How Do We Perform Pull-off Adhesion Testing?
Elcometer 106 hydraulic testers apply controlled perpendicular force to bonded aluminium dollies. Core cutting through coating to substrate isolates 50mm diameter test zones. Gradual load application at 0.7 MPa per second ensures consistent measurement. Digital readouts record peak force at failure with accuracy to 0.01 MPa.
Three test locations per 100m² establish statistically valid results. High-stress areas like doorways and ramp transitions need additional testing. Failure mode examination determines whether separation occurs at substrate interface, within coating, or between coats. Each failure type indicates specific remediation requirements and guides warranty assessments.
Dolly adhesive selection matches coating chemistry. Epoxy adhesives suit most industrial systems with 24-hour cure at 20°C. Cyanoacrylate provides rapid bonding for site testing with 10-minute set time. Proper concrete preparation ensures substrate strength exceeds coating adhesion, preventing cohesive substrate failure during testing.
What Do MPa Adhesion Results Indicate?
Minimum acceptable adhesion varies by coating specification. Standard epoxy primers require 1.5 MPa to substrate. Heavy-duty systems specify 2.0 MPa minimum. High-build coatings need 1.8 MPa inter-coat adhesion. Results below specification indicate preparation deficiency, contamination, or improper application requiring correction before proceeding.
Failure mode analysis provides diagnostic information. Adhesive failure at substrate indicates inadequate preparation or contamination. Cohesive failure within coating suggests cure problems or incorrect mixing ratios. Substrate failure below coating shows concrete weakness requiring strengthening treatment. Our reports document failure patterns with photographic evidence.
Post-cure testing confirms installation quality for warranty documentation. Testing at 7 days provides indicative results with full cure values at 28 days. Slip resistance testing complements adhesion assessment for complete quality verification. Combined reports demonstrate coating system performance meets specification requirements.
Comprehensive Testing Reports
When Should Adhesion Testing Be Performed?
Pre-installation testing verifies substrate preparation adequacy. Shot-blasted concrete should achieve minimum 1.5 MPa tensile strength. Diamond-ground surfaces need verification of laitance removal. Testing confirms readiness for primer application, preventing costly failures from inadequate preparation discovered only after coating application.
Quality assurance testing during installation tracks system development. Primer adhesion testing at 24 hours confirms substrate bonding. Base coat testing verifies inter-coat adhesion. Final testing at 7 days documents complete system performance. Phased testing enables correction before subsequent coats are applied.
Failure investigation testing determines liability and remediation scope. Delaminated areas show whether failure occurred at specific interfaces. Results distinguish installation defects from substrate problems or product failures. Expert reports support warranty claims and insurance assessments with quantified evidence.
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What Areas Do We Cover?
Our adhesion testing specialists provide professional assessment services across London and the Home Counties. With calibrated Elcometer equipment and experienced technicians, we deliver accurate results throughout the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most epoxy floor specifications require minimum 1.5 MPa adhesion to substrate. Heavy-duty industrial systems specify 2.0 MPa or higher. Inter-coat adhesion typically requires 1.0-1.5 MPa depending on product. We compare results against your specific coating manufacturer requirements and provide clear pass/fail assessment.
Pull-off testing creates small circular test areas approximately 50mm diameter. These zones require repair after testing using matched coating materials. We minimise test locations while ensuring statistically valid results. Repair work is included in our testing service at no additional charge.
Minimum three tests per 100m² provides representative assessment for uniform substrates. Additional tests target high-stress zones, transitions, and areas of concern. Large installations may use statistical sampling approaches. We recommend test density based on floor size, substrate variability, and project criticality.
Initial testing at 24-48 hours indicates early adhesion development. Reliable results require minimum 7-day cure at 20°C. Full cure testing at 28 days provides specification-compliant values. Testing too early underestimates final strength but identifies severe problems before completing installation.
Basic assessments including 3 test locations start from £250. Comprehensive testing with 10+ locations ranges £400-600. Failure investigation with detailed reporting costs £600-900. Testing fees credit against our remediation or installation quotations. All tests include calibration certificates and documented reports.
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