The Institute for Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic Circuits Number
2215 Sanders Road • Northbrook, IL 60062-6135 [Link]
Subject
Peel Strength of Metallic Clad Laminate at Elevated
Temperature (Hot Air Method)
Date Revision
12/94 A
IPC-TM-650 Originating Task Group
TEST METHODS MANUAL MIL-P-13949 Test Methods Task Group (7-11b)
1.0 Scope This test is designed to determine the peel 4.5 Timer Timing device capable of timing to within 1
strength of the metal cladding to the base laminate while second.
exposed to elevated temperature by means of heated air
chamber; and to evaluate the base laminate material after the 4.6 Measuring device capable of measuring from 0.0000 to
peel strength test is completed for degradation due to the 12.7 mm [0.0000 to 0.50 in] to within 0.0127 mm [0.0005 in].
conditioning.
4.7 Etching system capable of complete removal of metal
2.0 Applicable Documents cladding.
IPC-TM-650 4.8 Etch Resist Materials or Systems
Method [Link], Peel Strength, Keyhole
Method 5.8.3, Peel Strength Test Pattern 4.8.1 Printer’s tape, or equivalent, of the specified width
(see 5.1.4) to act as etch resist for strip formation.
3.0 Test Specimens
4.8.2 Photo resist system (printing, developing, and strip-
3.1 Size and Configuration Specimen size shall be 50.8 x ping).
50.8 mm [2 x 2 in] by the thickness of the laminate. Cladding
test strips shall be as specified (see 5.1.2). 5.0 Procedure
3.2 Quantity and Sampling Unless otherwise specified, 5.1 Specimen Preparation
specimens shall be one lengthwise for each clad side and one
crosswise for each clad side. The outside 25.4 mm [1 in] bor- 5.1.1 Cut the specimens from the laminate sample. Speci-
der of the parent sheet or panel shall be excluded. mens shall be taken no closer than 2.54 mm [1.0 in] from the
edge of the laminate sheet.
4.0 Apparatus or Material
5.1.2 Specimens shall be prepared with suitable etch resist
4.1 Tensile Tester A tensile strength tester equipped with material so that four strips of 3.18 mm [0.125 in] width are
a load cell, capable of measuring to the nearest 0.0045kg etched, and then cleaned and processed using standard
[0.01 lbs.] and a light load wire or chain and clamp at least industry practices and equipment. For qualification and ref-
457 mm [18 in] long (its weight is included in the load cell cal- eree testing, the specimens shall be photo-imaged in accor-
culation). The clamp jaws must cover the entire conductor dance with Method 5.8.3 of IPC-TM-650, except that tab
width of each peel strip tab. Any equipment or apparatus ends are optional.
having the described accuracy, precision, and reproducibility Specimens shall be etched so that the test strips on one
may be used. specimen are in one direction per Figure 2. Double clad lami-
nate shall have each side tested using separate specimens.
4.2 Thermal Chamber An enclosure of the specimen loca- The opposite side cladding shall be either fully removed or left
tion of the tester, capable of maintaining the test temperatures fully clad. Separate samples for both the warp and fill direc-
as specified, to within 3°C [5.4°F]. tions are required for each side. For referee testing, the clad-
ding on the opposite side shall not be removed.
4.3 Specimen Hold-down A suitable hold-down clamping
system equivalent in performance to that defined in IPC-TM- 5.1.3 Thin specimens may be provided with support by
650, Method [Link]. bonding them to a rigid substrate base, or may be tested with
the aid of the keyhole fixture (see Figure 1). For referee testing
4.4 Oven Circulating air oven capable of maintaining 125 ± of single sided laminates less than 0.51 mm [0.020 in], the
2°C [257 ± 3.6°F]. specimens shall be bonded to a rigid substrate or laminate.
Material in this Test Methods Manual was voluntarily established by Technical Committees of the IPC. This material is advisory only
and its use or adaptation is entirely voluntary. IPC disclaims all liability of any kind as to the use, application, or adaptation of this Page 1 of 3
material. Users are also wholly responsible for protecting themselves against all claims or liabilities for patent infringement.
Equipment referenced is for the convenience of the user and does not imply endorsement by the IPC.
IPC-TM-650
Number Subject Date
[Link] Peel Strength of Metallic Clad Laminate at Elevated 12/94
Temperature (Hot Air Method)
Revision
A
minutes for 0.5 mm [0.020 in] thick material or less, and 5
minutes for material thicker than 0.5 mm [0.020 in].
[Link] Start tester and apply force in the vertical direction
at 50.8 mm [2 in] per minute until peel is completed or test
strip breaks or tears (see 6.1).
[Link] Observe and record the minimum load as defined
by Figure 2. Measure and record the actual width of the metal
strip.
[Link] If the full width of the test strip does not peel, the
result may be discarded and another strip tested.
[Link] Perform the procedure as per 5.2.2 through 5.2.4
on a minimum of 2 strips per side per specimen. Any unusual
event or irregularity in the data shall be cause to void the
strip’s results and repeat the sequence on a different strip.
5.2.2 Determination of Degradation Examine the speci-
mens using normal or corrected 20/20 vision. Record the
Figure 1
presence of any base laminate degradation, including loss of
Note: Peel values can be affected by the adhesive used to surface resin, discoloration, resin softening, delamination, blis-
bond the specimen to the rigid substrate. It is imperative that tering, propagation of imperfections, measling, crazing, or
the best adhesive be found for the type of materials being voids.
bonded to least affect the true peel strength value.
5.3 Calculation and Report
5.1.4 Peel the test strip back approximately 12.7 mm [0.5
in] from the tab end (if present). 5.3.1 Calculate peel strength in pounds per inch width using
the formula:
5.1.5 Unless otherwise specified, specimens shall be pre- LM
lbs/in =
conditioned by baking at 125°C [257°F] for 4 ± 0.5 hours. This WS
preconditioning is required regardless of elevated test tem- where:
perature requirements in the applicable specification. LM = Minimum load
WS = Measured width of peel strip
5.2 Measurement
5.3.2 Record and report each individual peel strength value.
5.2.1 Peel Strength Determination Average the individual peel strength values for each side and
each grain direction of the laminate sampling. For example, if
[Link] Preheat the test chamber to the specified tempera- the sampling plan called for one specimen per side and per
ture. grain direction, there will be at least two values to be averaged
from four different specimens.
[Link] Place the specimen inside the test chamber, close
the door and allow the specimen to remain in the heated 5.3.3 Report any presence of laminate degradation as
chamber for 60 + 6, –0 minutes before performing the peel observed in [Link].
test at the applicable elevated temperature.
6.0 Notes
[Link] After attaching the clamp to each peel strip, allow
the specimen to stabilize at the elevated temperature for 2.5 6.1 Test strip breaks may be caused by either superior bond
Page 2 of 3
IPC-TM-650
Number Subject Date
[Link] Peel Strength of Metallic Clad Laminate at Elevated 12/94
Temperature (Hot Air Method)
Revision
A
▼
High Peel Strength
Failure Mode
Low Peel Strength
Load
Failure Mode
Minimum
Average
Load
Peel Distance
▼
IPC-I-002102
Figure 2 Multiple Failure Modes
or brittle foil. Where superior bond is shown (value at break is
above specification), the value at break may be used instead
of the minimum load. The reported average shall indicate that
the value is greater than average.
6.2 For copper foil less than 1 oz/ft2, copper plating or sol-
der coating may be added to avoid breaks and tears.
Page 3 of 3
