FINAT FTM 13 Low-temperature Adhesion

At our test laboratory, we perform testing according to FINAT FTM 13 to assess the adhesion of self-adhesive materials at low temperatures. The test is used to evaluate the adhesion behaviour of labels and other self-adhesive materials on different surfaces under refrigerated and freezing conditions. It allows an assessment of whether a self-adhesive material maintains sufficient adhesion to the intended substrate even at low application temperatures.

Application of testing according to FTM 13

The test according to FTM 13 provides a practical assessment of the adhesion of self-adhesive materials at low temperatures. It is particularly relevant for labels and other self-adhesive materials that are exposed to low temperatures during storage or use, for example on refrigerated or frozen products.

The test conditions can be adapted to the intended application. In addition to application at room temperature followed by testing at low temperature, the method allows, for example, application and testing at temperatures down to −40 °C as well as testing on wet or iced surfaces. This enables different conditions encountered during the application, storage and use of self-adhesive materials to be represented.

Test procedure and details

For testing according to FTM 13, at least three specimens of the self-adhesive material are applied to each of the selected test substrates. The bonded specimens are then stored in a refrigerator or freezer for a defined dwell time. Typical dwell times are one hour and seven days; other storage periods may be selected depending on the intended application.

After conditioning, the self-adhesive material is peeled from the surface at the specified test temperature, and the adhesion is assessed visually and on the basis of the observed peel behaviour. The assessment is made on a scale from 0 to 5. A rating of 0 indicates that the self-adhesive material has already detached from the test surface, whereas a rating of 5 indicates excellent adhesion, with more than 50% of the self-adhesive material remaining on the test surface. For each test surface, the mean value of the individual ratings is calculated; an overall assessment can additionally be derived from the results obtained on the different surfaces.

When interpreting the results, it should be taken into account that FINAT FTM 13 does not assess the performance of the pressure-sensitive adhesive alone. The result describes the behaviour of the complete self-adhesive material at low temperature. Film-based materials in particular may become brittle at low temperatures and can therefore influence both the peel behaviour and the resulting assessment.

Relation to other tests for labels

Testing according to FINAT FTM 13 complements other methods within the FINAT test programme used to characterise the adhesion properties of self-adhesive materials. While FINAT FTM 1 and FINAT FTM 2 quantitatively determine peel adhesion under defined peel conditions at 180° and 90°, respectively, FINAT FTM 13 specifically evaluates the adhesion of self-adhesive materials at low temperatures and under application-related conditions.

Additional testing according to FINAT FTM 9 enables the initial adhesion to be determined using the loop tack method. Combining these methods allows both initial adhesion and peel adhesion under defined standard conditions, as well as adhesion behaviour at refrigerated and freezing temperatures, to be assessed. This provides a more comprehensive evaluation of labels and other self-adhesive materials for different conditions of use.

Please feel free to request this test or obtain information about our complete FINAT testing programme.