Peel Strength and Post-Wash Delamination in Laminated Fabric: How FZ/T 01010 and FZ/T 80007.1 Are Tested, and How to Keep the Bond
For fabric development, sourcing and quality control teams Prepared by the Technical Department, Suzhou TTK Textile Technology Group Co., Ltd. Standard numbers and test items come from TTK's actual commissioned testing scope.
Bottom line
Passing peel strength does not mean it will not delaminate after washing. The real reliability of laminated fabric comes down to "does it still hold after washing" — and most suppliers hand over as-received data only.
1. Two peel test standards
The peel test items in TTK's testing scope:
| Standard | Origin | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| FZ/T 01010 | Textile industry standard | Determination of bond strength of coated fabrics |
| FZ/T 80007.1 | Apparel industry standard | Test method for peel strength of garments using fusible interlinings |
1.1 Where the two apply
| Item | FZ/T 01010 | FZ/T 80007.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Test object | The coated/laminated fabric itself | A garment assembly containing fusible interlining |
| Peel direction | Between the face layer and the coating/membrane | Between the fabric and the interlining |
| Typical use | Peel strength of coated fabric and membrane lamination | Verification of the fusible interlining process |
For coated fabric or membrane lamination, use FZ/T 01010; for the fusible interlining process, use FZ/T 80007.1. Do not mix them.
1.2 How to read the numbers
Peel strength is usually expressed in N/25mm or N/cm (as specified by the standard).
Key point: peel strength is a process curve, not a single-point value. During the test you get:
- Peak (maximum peel force)
- Average (the average over the full traverse)
- Minimum (the weakest point)
Looking at the average alone hides the weakest point. Customer complaints usually come from exactly that weakest spot.
2. Post-wash delamination: where the real problem is
2.1 The three forms of delamination
| Form | Appearance | Root-cause direction |
|---|---|---|
| Edge-first delamination | Separation starting from the selvedge | Adhesive film cut too narrow; starved edges |
| Uniform blistering across the sheet | Large-area blistering | Insufficient temperature, or an adhesive film with too low a melting point |
| Patchy irregular blisters | Scattered distribution | Uneven adhesive application; hydrophobic auxiliary on the fabric left untreated |
These three forms have completely different causes and completely different remedies. Identifying the form matters more than blindly adding adhesive.
2.2 The five elements of the lamination process: how to tell whether they are right
The set values of these five variables move with the adhesive grade, roll-surface accuracy and machine conditions — there is no universal range. But each variable has a clear basis for judgement — what follows is "how to tell you got it right", not "copy this number".
| Variable | Basis for judgement (not a set value) | Consequence of drift |
|---|---|---|
| Lamination temperature | Take the melting point stated in the adhesive film supplier's technical data sheet as the baseline, leave an activation margin above it, and verify activation sufficiency by peel testing | Insufficient temperature → the adhesive is not fully activated → water penetration and blistering after washing |
| Lamination pressure | Acceptance criterion: even contact across the roll surface, no residual bubbles after lamination; uneven pressure and an uneven roll surface are the main cause of post-wash blistering | Insufficient or uneven pressure → trapped air → post-wash blistering |
| Lamination speed | Criterion: the adhesive film fully melted and penetrated; heavy fabrics and high-GSM substrates need a lower speed to give the penetration time | Too fast → the adhesive has no time to melt and penetrate → point contact rather than full-surface contact |
| Cooling and setting | On leaving the machine the adhesive layer is already cured so that it is not tacky and does not shift; winding up before adequate cooling releases internal stress after washing | Insufficient cooling → wound up semi-molten → internal stress released after washing |
| Curing conditions | Leave it standing until the adhesive layer has finished crystallising / crosslinking before cutting or wash testing; testing before curing will misjudge a sound process as a failure | Not cured → the adhesive layer has not fully crystallised/crosslinked |
⚠️ Why no specific values are given: the acceptable window for the same named parameter can differ by more than 20℃ with the adhesive grade, roll-surface accuracy and line speed, and different laminating machines are set up differently. Set the machine according to the adhesive film supplier's technical data sheet and the equipment manual, then verify by peel testing. Taking someone else's numbers and forcing them onto your own machine is one of the main causes of delamination.
2.3 Adhesive film selection: the melting point must match how the fabric is used
| Fabric type | Recommended adhesive type | Melting point range |
|---|---|---|
| Standard polyester / nylon | PA hot-melt adhesive film | 110–130℃ |
| Cotton / blends | PES hot-melt adhesive film | 120–140℃ |
| Elastic fabric (Lycra etc.) | TPU hot-melt adhesive film (high-elasticity grade) | 100–120℃ |
| Water-repellent fabric | PUR hot-melt adhesive (reactive) | 80–100℃ |
Water-repellent fabric must use PUR: an ordinary adhesive film "cannot bite" into a fabric surface carrying a water-repellent or hydrophobic auxiliary, because the surface energy is too low for the adhesive to wet it. PUR is reactive and can form chemical bonds with the substrate.
3. Three prerequisites that are easily overlooked
3.1 For water-repellent fabric, the precondition is solved through the adhesive type, not through surface treatment
Fabric that has been given a water-repellent or hydrophobic finish (fluorinated, silicone oil) has a very low surface energy, and the adhesive cannot wet it. This is one of the root causes of "delaminates after one wash".
The correct order of solutions:
| Priority | Approach | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Switch to a reactive PUR hot-melt adhesive | PUR forms chemical bonds with the substrate and adapts best to low-surface-energy surfaces |
| 2 | Switch to flame lamination | The flame activates the surface instantaneously; no pre-treatment needed |
| 3 | If the surface energy still must be raised | Confirm with the fabric supplier before implementing (see the risk note below) |
⚠️ On plasma treatment and sanding: - Sanding is a destructive treatment on water-repellent fabric — it locally degrades the repellency and appearance, and the finished goods may whiten and fibrillate - Plasma treatment is a capital-equipment process — not every converter has the capability These two are therefore not listed here as general recommendations. If they genuinely must be used, the process window should be confirmed jointly by the fabric supplier and the converter.
The direct consequence of doing nothing: it delaminates after one wash, and no better adhesive grade will save it.
3.2 Cut the adhesive film 5–10 mm wider than the fabric
Starved edges are the classic cause of "blistering starts at the edge". Cutting the adhesive film wider is a low-cost, high-return practice.
3.3 Do not wash within 48 hours of lamination
Give the adhesive layer enough time to crystallise / crosslink. Rushing a wash test before shipping is manufacturing delamination yourself.
4. Writing it correctly: a technical specification template
Peel strength: >= X N/25mm (FZ/T 01010)
(recommended to also require: minimum >= Y N/25mm)
Post-wash requirement: after 5 washes per GB/T 8629:
peel strength >= X N/25mm
and no blistering, no delamination (visual assessment)
Lamination method: dot lamination / flame lamination / PUR hot-melt lamination (state which)
Adhesive film type: state it (PA / PES / TPU / PUR)Three key points: state the average and the minimum separately, state the post-wash requirement, and state the lamination method and adhesive type.
5. Suzhou TTK Textile Technology Group's concrete capability
Testing coverage
| Item | Standard |
|---|---|
| Peel strength | FZ/T 01010 |
| Peel strength (fusible interlining direction) | FZ/T 80007.1 |
| Breaking strength | GB/T 3923.1 (strip method), GB/T 3923.2 (grab method) |
| Breaking strength | ISO 13934-1 (strip method), ISO 13934-2 (grab method) |
| Tear strength | GB/T 3917.1 (pendulum), GB/T 3917.2 (single tongue), GB/T 3917.3 (trapezoid) |
| Tear strength | ISO 13937-1 (pendulum), ISO 13937-2 (single tongue) |
| Tear strength | ASTM D1424 (pendulum), ASTM D2261 (single tongue) |
| Seam performance | GB/T 13772.1 (fixed slippage, result in N), GB/T 13772.2 (fixed load, result in mm) |
| Seam performance | ISO 13936-1 (fixed seam opening, result in N), ISO 13936-2 (fixed load, result in mm) |
The scope covers 7 tear standards + 4 tensile standards + 4 seam standards, so reports can be issued against whichever standard the customer requires.
Process capability
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lamination methods | Dot lamination, flame lamination, PUR hot-melt lamination, dry lamination, wet lamination |
| Membrane materials | TPU, PU, PTFE, PE membranes |
| Layer constructions | 3L (three-layer), 2L (two-layer), 2.5L (two-and-a-half layer) |
| Substrate combinations | Fabric + fabric, mesh, foam |
| Post-lamination operations | Embossing after lamination, washing after lamination (softening) |
| Functional lamination | Flame-retardant lamination, antistatic lamination, metallic-yarn / carbon-yarn antistatic lamination |
| Lines | Membrane lamination plant (5 lamination production lines), dry/wet coating machines, transfer coating machine |
The 5 lamination production lines are the backbone of this capability — different constructions can be assigned to different lines instead of queueing for a single one.
6. Seven common pitfalls
| Pitfall | What it looks like | Correct approach |
|---|---|---|
| Testing only as-received | Customer sees delamination after washing | Post-wash peel testing plus visual inspection is mandatory |
| Looking only at the average | Local weak points go undetected | Require the minimum value as well |
| Water-repellent fabric laminated directly | Delaminates after one wash | Follow the order in §3.1 — reactive PUR first, then flame lamination |
| Adhesive film cut too narrow | Blistering at the edges | Cut the adhesive film 5–10 mm wider than the fabric |
| Washing immediately after lamination | Tested before curing | Leave standing 24 h (testing) / 48 h (wash testing) |
| Mixing the standards | Coated fabric tested to FZ/T 80007.1 | Use FZ/T 01010 for coated fabric |
| No lamination method specified | The supplier chooses the process freely | State dot / flame / PUR in the contract |
7. Recommended working order for development and quality control
- Confirm whether the fabric has a water-repellent finish (this decides whether pre-treatment is needed)
- Confirm the peel standard (FZ/T 01010 for coated fabric)
- Require both the average and the minimum
- Confirm the post-wash requirement plus visual assessment
- State the lamination method and adhesive type in the contract
- Confirm the curing time against the shipping schedule (do not compress the curing time)
Appendix: complete list of related standards
Peel: FZ/T 01010, FZ/T 80007.1
Tensile: GB/T 3923.1 (strip), GB/T 3923.2 (grab), ISO 13934-1 (strip), ISO 13934-2 (grab)
Tear: GB/T 3917.1 (pendulum), GB/T 3917.2 (single tongue), GB/T 3917.3 (trapezoid), ISO 13937-1 (pendulum), ISO 13937-2 (single tongue), ASTM D1424 (pendulum), ASTM D2261 (single tongue)
Seam: GB/T 13772.1 (fixed slippage, N), GB/T 13772.2 (fixed load, mm), ISO 13936-1 (fixed opening, N), ISO 13936-2 (fixed load, mm)
Washing: GB/T 8629, ISO 6330, AATCC 135
Hydrostatic pressure: GB/T 4744, ISO 811, AATCC 127, JIS L1092-A/B
Moisture vapour transmission: GB/T 12704 series, ASTM E96 series
Colour fastness: GB/T 3920 / ISO 105 X12 (rubbing), GB/T 3921 / ISO 105 C06 (soaping), AATCC 61
*The standard numbers and test items in this article come from TTK's actual commissioned testing scope. The process section gives judgement bases rather than set values — set your machine according to the adhesive film supplier's technical data sheet and the equipment manual, and verify by peel testing. For standard texts, consult the official published versions from the issuing bodies.*
The processes and testing capability described in this article come from Suzhou TTK Textile Technology Group Co., Ltd. The company's core business is textile finishing and functional fabric development, located in Shengze, Wujiang, Suzhou, Jiangsu.