Pull-Off / Adhesion Testing
Direct Measurement of Surface Bond Strength
Overview
Pull-off testing measures tensile bond strength of coatings, renders, repair patches, and surface layers by applying a direct tensile force to a bonded test dolly until failure. The failure load divided by the dolly area gives the pull-off strength.
The failure mode — adhesive at the interface, cohesive within the substrate, or cohesive within the coating — provides additional diagnostic information about the weakest element in the system.
SiteOps uses pull-off testing in two primary contexts: pre-remediation assessment (determining whether existing surface treatments need removal) and post-remediation verification (confirming new repairs have achieved specified bond strength).
The test is semi-destructive — it creates a small 50mm diameter disc removal. SiteOps repairs test locations after testing.
Applications
Coating Adhesion Assessment
Measuring bond strength of protective coatings and paint systems.
Render Bond Testing
Assessing adhesion of cement, acrylic, and lime renders to substrates.
Repair Bond Verification
Confirming concrete repairs have achieved specified bond strength.
Tile & Cladding Assessment
Testing residual adhesion of facade tiles and cladding for falling hazard risk.
Technical specifications
| Dolly Diameter | 20mm or 50mm |
|---|---|
| Load Capacity | Up to 25 kN |
| Loading Rate | 0.05 MPa/s |
| Typical Threshold | >1.5 MPa for concrete repair (AS 1012.17) |
| Standards | AS 1012.17, ASTM C1583, BS EN 1542 |
Related technologies
Related services
FAQ
Common questions
Is pull-off testing destructive?+
Semi-destructive — creates a 50mm disc removal. SiteOps repairs test locations with compatible materials after testing.
Deploy Pull-Off on your asset
Share drawings, exposure conditions, and programme constraints — we will propose an investigation scope aligned to Australian standards and your risk profile.
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