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Failure of Adhesives
Several factors can contribute to the failure of an adhesive, including:

Failure of an adhesive often results in fracturing and eventual separation of the adhesive from the substrate.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/AdhesiveFractures.svg

Cohesive Fracture
  • Cracks propagate into the adhesive, resulting in remnants of adhesive remaining on the substrate.

Interfacial Fracture

  • The adhesive separates from the substrate.

Alternating Crack Path

  • Cracks jump from one interface to the other.
  • Often results from internal stresses in the adhesive.

Fracture in the Substrate/Adherent

  • Typically occurs when the adhesive is tougher than the substrate.
  • The adhesive remains intact, still bonded to fragments of the substrate.
  • Peeling off a paper label is an example of a fracturing substrate.