Overview - ISO 17698:2016 (Footwear - Delamination resistance)
ISO 17698:2016 specifies a standardized test method for determining the delamination resistance of footwear uppers, especially those made from coated materials. The procedure measures the force required to peel a coating from its base material (expressed in N/mm) to assess suitability for end use and quality control of uppers used in footwear manufacture.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope: Applies to uppers irrespective of substrate material; evaluates dry, wet (water immersion), and hydrolysed specimens.
- Test principle: Bond the coated surface to resin rubber using a solvent-borne polyurethane adhesive and measure the peeling force on a tensile testing machine as the jaws separate.
- Specimen preparation:
- Typical specimen dimensions: 50 × 70 mm pieces, cut to give peel specimens ~30 × 50 mm. Minimum alternatives when space-limited: 40 × 50 mm.
- Paper tab used for clamping; resin rubber (≈3.5 mm thick, ~95 IRHD) bonded to the coated surface.
- Apparatus & conditions:
- Tensile testing machine jaw speed: (100 ± 10) mm/min; force range suitable to specimen; accuracy per ISO 7500‑1.
- Rapid platen press: (550 ± 50) kPa for (15 ± 1) s on a rubber pad.
- Radiant heater to reactivate adhesive (80–90 °C within 15 s) and means to check temperature (heat‑sensitive crayons or IR gun).
- Conditioning and atmosphere per ISO 18454; water for wet tests per ISO 3696; hydrolysis per ISO 20870.
- Measured results:
- Initial maximum peel strength (N/mm) and average peel strength (N/mm).
- Report arithmetic means per peel direction and note failure mode (adhesive failure, fabric failure, coating separation, etc.).
- Test report: Must include specimen pre‑treatments, peel direction, mean values, material description, date, deviations and reference to the standard.
Practical applications - who uses it and why
- Footwear manufacturers: validate upper material bonding performance and select suitable coated materials for different shoe styles.
- Quality control & test laboratories: routine acceptance testing, supplier verification and batch release based on objective peel strength metrics.
- R&D and material suppliers: evaluate new coatings, adhesives and surface treatments (primers) to improve delamination resistance.
- Regulatory bodies and procurement: reference method for performance claims and specification compliance.
Related standards
- ISO 3696 - Water for analytical laboratory use
- ISO 7500‑1 - Verification of tensile testing machines
- ISO 17709 - Sampling location and conditioning for footwear
- ISO 18454 - Standard atmospheres for conditioning/testing
- ISO 20870 - Ageing / hydrolysis conditioning
Keywords: ISO 17698:2016, delamination resistance, footwear uppers, test method, peel strength, coated material, tensile testing machine, bonded assembly.
