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EN 1719 Loop tack measurement for coated pressure-sensitive adhesives

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EN 1719:1999: Adhesives for paper and board, packaging and disposable sanitary products – Tack measurement for pressure-sensitive adhesives – Determination of loop tack. 

EN 1719 specifies test method to quantify the loop tack of coated pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs)—a critical property for adhesives used in applications requiring rapid, low pressure, initial bonding (e.g., labels, tapes, disposable hygiene products). The standard aligns with European Committee for Standardization (CEN) requirements and is intended for quality control, research, and regulatory compliance in the adhesive and packaging industries. 


EN 1719 Test Principle and Test Methods

The core principle is to quantify loop tack as the maximum force (in Newtons, N) required to separate, at a specified speed, a loop of adhesive-coated material (adhesive side outermost) from a defined surface area. The test simulates real-world PSA applications (e.g., applying a label) by:

1), Forming a loop with the adhesive facing outward.

2), Bringing the loop into controlled contact with a flat surface.

3), Separating the loop at a constant speed while recording the peak force.

Per the definition, loop tack reflects the adhesive’s ability to form an immediate, measurable bond—with higher values indicating stronger initial adhesion.


Test methods: 

Loop tack measures the instantaneous bond strength of PSA under minimal contact conditions (no applied pressure, no dwell time):

A PSA loop is lowered onto the rigid substrate at 5 mm/s, making full 25×25 mm contact.

Upon contact, the loop is immediately retracted upward at 5 mm/s.

The maximum force required to fully separate the loop from the substrate is recorded as the loop tack value (units: N/25 mm or N/cm).


Test Device for the EN 1719 Loop tack test

The apparatus consists of four essential components, all calibrated for precision:

Tensile Testing Machine: A constant-rate-of-extension machine with a reversing function. 

Key specs:

    Vertical jaw separation rate: 5 mm/s (±2% accuracy).

    Maximum load capacity: 100 N.

    Load measuring cell accuracy: ±2%.

Flat Rigid Plate: Made of glass or metal, with minimum dimensions 30 mm × 30 mm × 3.0 mm. The surface finish is defined, and plates must be thoroughly cleaned before use.

Jig: Attaches the plate horizontally to the lower jaw of the tensile tester.

Coating Equipment: Ensures a consistent dry adhesive coating weight of (25 ± 2) g/m² (deviations must be reported).


Test Specimen

Specimens are adhesive-coated strips prepared. 

Base Material50 μm thick polyester film
CoatingAdhesive is applied to the film to achieve a dry weight of (25 ± 2) g/m², then covered with release paper.
DimensionsStrips are (25 ± 0.5) mm wide and (175 ± 2) mm long (machine direction). Cuts must be clean and straight.
QuantityMinimum of 5 strips per test.
Conditioning

Strips are stored for (24 ± 4) hours at standard climate (23 ± 2°C, 50 ± 5% relative humidity, RH).

Cleaned plates are conditioned for ≥30 minutes under the same conditions (handled only by edges).


EN 1719 Adhesives Loop Tack Test Procedure: 

The step-by-step process is conducted at standard climate:

Prepare the Loop: Immediately before testing, remove the release paper from a strip. Hold the ends, fold the strip into a loop (adhesive side out), and join the ends.

Clamp the Specimen: Secure the loop’s ends (10 ± 1 mm) into the tensile tester’s upper jaw, leaving a free-hanging loop length of (155 ± 4) mm. Protect the jaw sides from adhesive contamination.

Mount the Plate: Fix the cleaned plate to the lower jaw using the jig.

Contact and Separate: Start the machine—bring the loop into contact with the plate at 5 mm/s. When the contact area reaches ~25 mm × 25 mm, immediately reverse direction and separate the loop at 5 mm/s (see Figure below).

Record Data: Capture the maximum force (N) required to fully separate the loop from the plate. Report the average loop tack value (N) of 5 strips.

Test Report:Includes standard reference, adhesive details (manufacturer, grade, batch), coating method/weight, substrate info, plate surface, results (average, min/max), visual observations (e.g., adhesive transfer), and test date.

EN 1719 Loop tack measurement for coated pressure-sensitive adhesivesEN 1719 Loop tack measurement for coated pressure-sensitive adhesives


Test Application (Industry Fields)

IndustryKey ApplicationsWhy It Matters
Paper & BoardEnvelope adhesives, bookbinding, packaging labelsEnsures secure, instant sealing without manual pressure
PackagingFood packaging seals, shipping labels, tamper-evident tapesPrevents premature opening and ensures product integrity
Disposable Sanitary ProductsDiaper tabs, feminine hygiene product adhesivesCritical for user comfort and secure fit during use
ConvertingAdhesive tapes, labels, and decals for consumer goodsValidates batch consistency for mass production


Related Standards

StandardRelationshipKey Differences
ASTM D6195Global equivalent for loop tackSpeed: 5 mm/s (EN 1719) vs. 300 mm/min (ASTM D6195); substrate flexibility
FINAT FTM 9Label industry standardSimilar loop tack principle; specimen dimensions may vary slightly
PSTC 16Pressure-Sensitive Tape Council standardAligns with EN 1719 for packaging adhesives; industry-specific tweaks
ASTM D3330Peel adhesion testMeasures bond strength after pressure/dwell (vs. instant contact for EN 1719)


Related products and device

EN 1719 Adhesives Loop Tack Universal Testing Machine

WDW Series Computer Control Electronic Universal Testing Machine made by UNITEDTEST range from 100N to 600KN load capacity with various models like single columns, table type, door frame type etc., is used to perform tension, compression, flexure/bending, shearing, peeling etc., test for metal and nonmetal specimens. Matched with UNITEDTEST design and produced various test fixture, like peel, flexure, puncture, tear, pneumatic grip, belt tension etc., this UTM can be used to almost all materials include but not limited to steel rod, rubber, steel wire, plastic, seat belt, textile, wood, panel etc., mechanical performance inspection.

EN 1719 Adhesives Loop Tack Test Fixture

Loop Tack Test Fixture is designed to measure the initial tack (quick stick) of pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) by forming a standard loop with the adhesive surface facing outward, bringing it into controlled contact with a test panel, and measuring the peak force required for separation.

Related Standard

ASTM D6195 Adhesives Loop Tack Strength Test

ASTM D6195 provides procedures to quantify the loop tack property of pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs)—a critical metric for adhesives that form rapid, measurable bonds upon contact (e.g., tapes, labels, stickers). The standard focuses on two test methods (A and B) and is widely used for quality control and research in packaging, labeling, and adhesive manufacturing. It provides a quantitative measure of an adhesive's ability to form an immediate bond upon brief, light contact with a substrate, simulating real-world application conditions where minimal pressure and dwell time are typical.

ASTM D1002 Lap Shear Test of Adhesively Bonded Metal Specimens

ASTM D1002 is the most widely used standard test for measuring the apparent shear strength of metal‑to‑metal adhesive single‑lap joints under tension loading. It provides comparative data for adhesive selection, process control, and quality assurance in structural bonding applications. It is the most common test for evaluating adhesive shear performance.

ASTM D897 Tensile Test of Adhesive Bonds

ASTM D897 prescribed a method for determining the comparative tensile properties of adhesive bonds in a standard specimen when tested under specific conditions. Its primary purpose was to measure the tensile strength of an adhesive bond between two rigid substrates (metal to metal). 

ASTM D1781 Peeling Test for Climbing Drum Method for Adhesives

ASTM D1781: Standard Test Method for Climbing Drum Peel for Adhesives


ASTM D1781 test method covers the determination of the peel resistance of adhesive bonds between: a relatively flexible adherend and a rigid adherend; and the relatively flexible facing of a sandwich structure and its core, when tested under specified conditions.

ASTM D1876 T-Peel Resistance Test of Adhesives

ASTM D1876: Standard Test Method for Peel Resistance of Adhesives (T-Peel Test)


ASTM D1876 test method is primarily intended for determining the relative peel resistance of adhesive bonds between flexible adherends by means of a T-type specimen using a tension testing machine. The bent, unbonded ends of the test specimen shall be clamped in the test grips of the tension testing machine and a load of a constant head speed shall be applied. An autographic recording of the load versus the head movement or load versus distance peeled shall be made. The peel resistance over a specified length of the bond line after the initial peak shall be determined.

ASTM D3167 Peel Resistance Adhesives Test - Floating Roller

ASTM D3167 Peel Resistance Adhesives Test - Floating Roller


ASTM D3167 Floating Roller Peeling test method covers the determination of the relative peel resistance of adhesive bonds between one rigid adherend and one flexible adherend when tested under specified conditions of preparation and testing.


ASTM D5041 Adhesives Splitting Shear Strength Test

ASTM D5041: Standard Test Method for Fracture Strength in Cleavage of Adhesives in Bonded Joints


ASTM D5041 test method covers the determination of fracture strength in cleavage of adhesive bonds when tested on standard reinforced plastic specimens and under specified conditions of preparation and testing.

It describes the fracture strength testing of flat adhesively bonded reinforced plastic specimens. It involves imposing controlled cleavage stresses to split apart the specimen using a movable wedge. 

ISO 11339 T-peel test for Adhesives

ISO 11339 Adhesives — T-peel test for flexible-to-flexible bonded assemblies.


It specifies a T‑peel test for the determination of the peel resistance of an adhesive by measuring the peeling force of a T‑shaped bonded assembly of two flexible adherends.  The ISO 11339 test method is suitable for self-adhesive tapes that are prepared under the relevant guidelines within this test standard. For a T-peel test for a flexible-to-flexible assembly, the force is applied to the unbonded ends of the specimen . The angle between the bond line and the direction of the applied force is not fixed. 

ISO 8510-2 Adhesives 180 degree peel test for flexible-bonded-to-rigid test specimen assembly

ISO 8510-2: Adhesives — Peel test for a flexible-bonded-to-rigid test specimen assembly Part 2: 180° peel.


ISO 8510-2 specifies the 180-degree peel adhesion test for evaluating the adhesive peel strength of bonded materials. This standard is essential in industries such as packaging, medical devices, electronics, and adhesives, where strong and reliable adhesion is crucial. The test provides critical insights into the performance and durability of adhesives by measuring the force required to separate a flexible adherend from a rigid adherend under controlled conditions.


Testing Procedure: 

The rigid adherend is clamped into the machine’s fixed grip.

The flexible adherend is clamped into a self-aligning grip.

The machine applies force parallel to the bonded plane, pulling the flexible adherend at a 180-degree angle.

FAQs about EN 1719 Loop Tack Test for Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives (PSAs)

Q1: Why is the EN 1719 test important?

A: The EN 1719 test is important because it is a standardized method (British Standard BS EN 1719:1999, aligned with European Standard EN 1719:1998) for quantifying the loop tack of coated pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs). This property is critical for adhesives used in applications requiring rapid initial bonding—such as labels, tapes, and disposable hygiene products. The test supports quality control, research, and regulatory compliance in the adhesive and packaging industries, ensuring consistent and comparable results across manufacturers and users.


Q2: What is the definition of "loop tack" in EN 1719?

A: For the purposes of EN 1719, loop tack is defined as: "the maximum force required to separate at a specified speed, a loop of adhesive coated material (adhesive outermost) which has been brought into contact with a specified area of a defined surface".


Q3: How are results expressed in EN 1719?

A: The loop tack value is expressed as the average in Newtons (N) of five strips tested.


Q4: What must be included in an EN 1719 test report?

A: The test report must include:

a) A reference to this European Standard (EN 1719);

b) Adhesive details (manufacturer’s name, grade, batch number, or other unique identifier);

c) Method of adhesive coating preparation;

d) Coating weight (if other than 25 ± 2 g/m²);

e) Specifications of the polyester film and release paper used;

f) Description of the flat rigid plate’s surface;

g) Loop tack value (in N);

h) Lowest and highest test results (in N);

i) Visual comments (e.g., adhesive transfer, lifting from the substrate);

j) Date of the test.


Q5: Is there dwell time in the test?

A: No dwell time — contact and immediate separation.


Q5: What are the main differences between EN 1719 and other loop tack test standards like ASTM D6195?

A: 

ItemEN 1719ASTM D6195
Substrate & CoatingA 50 μm polyester film base with a consistent dry adhesive coating weight of (25 ± 2) g/m²

Allows unsupported adhesives (laminated to 2 mil PET film);

uses a 1 in² (25×25 mm) ASTM A666 stainless steel surface.

Specimen Dimensionsstrips 25 ± 0.5 mm wide × 175 ± 2 mm long

Method A (1×7 in./25×175 mm)

Method B (1×5 in./25×125 mm)

Test Speed5 mm/s contact/separation speed (300 mm/min)5 mm/s (300 mm/min)
Equipmentsingle tensile testing machineTwo methods (tensile tester or dedicated loop tack tester)
Result Expressionreports the average of 5 stripsat least 3 replicates per method


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