DIN 53357 Testing of Plastic Sheets - Adhesion Test

The standard “DIN 53357 Testing of plastic sheets - Adhesion test”, published by the German Institute for Standardization (DIN), describes methods for determining the adhesion (or bond strength) between layers in multilayer plastic sheets, films, laminates, or coated materials. These methods are primarily used to assess how well different plastic layers adhere to each other, or how well a coating adheres to a substrate, by measuring the force required to separate (peel) them.

The DIN 53357 standard is no longer in effect. However, many laboratories and companies still refer to this standard for legacy tests or in certain sectors. Nevertheless, it is recommended to use replacement or successor standards (such as ISO 4578, ISO 11339, ASTM D903, or ASTM D3330).

The DIN 53357 standard is important for quality control and material development in the following areas:

Flexible plastic films and sheets (e.g., multilayer laminates for packaging)
Coated fabrics or tarpaulins
Laminated or bonded plastic materials
In some contexts, pressure-sensitive adhesive products
Barrier films, agricultural/horticultural films, or technical textiles.

This standard helps manufacturers verify that bonded layers will not separate during use, handling, or end application (e.g., food packaging, labels, protective films, or industrial composites).

The DIN 53357 standard offers two main methods:

Method A (DIN 53357-A): A conventional peel test (180-degree or T-peel configuration) to measure the force required to separate layers of plastic sheets or films. This is a simple pull/peel setup performed using a universal testing machine.

This method focuses on a standard peel/separation test to measure the adhesion strength (bond strength or separation force) between layers in multilayer plastic films, sheets, laminates, or coated materials. It is a simple pull-based peel configuration, typically a 180-degree peel or similar direct peel setup, requiring no specialized roller/wheel apparatus.

This method determines the force required to separate/delaminate layers in flexible plastic materials. It evaluates interlayer adhesion in laminates, coextruded films, coated sheets, or bonded plastics.

Method B (DIN 53357-B): Known as the German wheel peel test or roller peel test. This is a special 90-degree peel configuration that uses a rotating wheel/roller (typically 90 mm in diameter) to support the sample and maintain a constant peeling angle. The tool keeps the peeling angle under control as the cross head pulls a layer. It is particularly useful for flexible materials, laminates on paper/cardboard, or where standard 180-degree peeling might result in creasing or inconsistent results.

This method is designed to maintain a constant 90-degree peeling angle throughout the test. This provides more consistent and repeatable results compared to traditional peeling methods, especially with flexible materials, laminates on substrates (such as paper or cardboard), or in situations where angle variation could affect the results.

This method measures the force required to separate/delaminate layers in multilayer plastic films, sheets, coated materials, adhesive foils, laminated release coatings, tapes, or plastic/paper composites. It is particularly useful for materials where a constant angle reduces wrinkling, bending effects, or inconsistent stress distribution.

The typical test procedure follows these steps:

Samples are conditioned under standard laboratory conditions.
Samples are usually prepared in strips of a defined width, for example 25 mm or 50 mm.
The layers are partially separated at one end to form two protrusions.
The sample is secured to the test setup (standard holders for Method A, wheel/roller assembly for Method B).
It is peeled at a constant speed (common speeds are 50-300 mm/min, depending on the material).
The force required to separate the layers is continuously measured.
The peeling force (N) is recorded, and the peeling strength is usually calculated (e.g., N/5 cm or N/25 mm).
Failure modes are evaluated: adhesion failure, cohesion failure, substrate failure, etc.

Multiple samples are usually tested to obtain reliable results. The resulting value represents the average force required to separate the layers. Adhesion strength is determined by calculating the average peel force over a specified test distance.

Observations during the test may also include the following:

Adhesion failure (failure occurring within the material layer)
Adhesion failure (malfunction occurring at the connection interface)
Surface tearing

These failure modes provide valuable information about adhesion quality and material compatibility.

In short, the main purpose of the DIN 53357 standard is to measure the force required to separate bonded layers in plastic sheeting or laminate. Adhesion performance is critical because poor adhesion can lead to:

Separating the layers
Deterioration of surface coating
Reduced mechanical strength
Premature failure of the product during use

By using a standardized testing method, manufacturers and laboratories can compare adhesion performance between materials and production batches.

The DIN 53357 standard adhesion test is typically performed using the peel method. The test usually requires the following:

Universal tensile testing machine
Peeling test apparatus or holders
Cutting tools for sample preparation.
Thickness measuring device

The testing machine must be able to maintain a constant crosshead speed and accurately record the peeling force.

The DIN 53357 standard is commonly used for testing the following:

Artificial leather and coated fabrics
Laminated plastic films
Plastic-coated textiles
Multilayer automotive interior materials
Protective plastic coatings

Industries such as automotive, furniture, packaging, and technical textiles rely on this test to ensure long-term adhesion performance.

The DIN 53357 standard helps manufacturers in the following areas:

To maintain consistent product quality.
Verifying the adhesive strength of laminates.
Comparing different adhesives or coating processes
Ensuring materials meet customer or industry specifications.

In applications where layered plastics are subjected to bending, temperature changes, or mechanical stress, reliable adhesion is essential to maintain structural integrity and appearance.

For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced staff, has been understanding the needs of its clients, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting them in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide testing services in accordance with the DIN 53357 standard.