ISO 11644:2022

Overview

ISO 11644:2022 - Leather - Test for adhesion of finish specifies a standardized peel test to measure the adhesion of a finish layer to leather or between adjacent finish layers. The method is intended for finished flexible leathers with a smooth surface and a thick finish coat that can be bonded to an adherent plate without the adhesive penetrating the finish. It supersedes ISO 11644:2009 (third edition, 2022) and excludes unpigmented or discontinuously coated articles such as nubuk, aniline, pull‑up, suede, and perforated leather.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Principle: Bond the finished side of a leather strip to an adherent plate (hard PVC), then peel the leather at ~90° while recording the force required to remove the finish. Results are reported as the adhesion value.
• Specimen size & orientation: Typical specimens are 100 mm × 10 mm (± tolerances); take specimens parallel and perpendicular to backbone per ISO 2418 guidance.
• Apparatus: tensile‑testing machine (peel speed 100 mm/min ±5 mm/min) with force‑distance recording, adherent PVC plate (~70 × 20 × 3 mm), plate holder, hook link or flat clamp, punch for attachment.
• Adhesives: single‑component cyanoacrylate (instant adhesive) or a two‑component polyurethane system (example mix given and limited pot life). Adhesive selection and preliminary trials are required to ensure no penetration of the finish.
• Preparation & conditioning: cleaning solvent, controlled adhesive application, heat activation for two‑component adhesives, weight application during bonding, and standard atmospheric conditioning (ISO 2419). Wet‑adhesion testing uses a vacuum‑desiccator and immersion step.
• Measurements & reporting: force versus distance diagrams, test conditions (conditioning, wet/dry, specimen orientation, adhesive type) and any change in surface colour (ISO 105‑A02) are reported. Precision data and commercial sources are provided in annexes.

Applications - who uses it

• Leather manufacturers and finish formulators for quality control and product development.
• Testing laboratories and certification bodies performing standardized adhesion tests.
• Footwear, automotive, upholstery and leather goods industries specifying finish durability and wet‑adhesion performance.
• R&D teams comparing multi‑layer finishes, troubleshooting delamination, or validating new adhesives and coatings.

Related standards

• ISO 2418 - Leather sampling location
• ISO 2419 - Sample preparation and conditioning
• ISO 3696 - Water for laboratory use
• ISO 105‑A02 - Grey scale for colour change assessment
• EN 15987 - Leather terminology

Keywords: ISO 11644:2022, leather adhesion test, finish adhesion, peel test, leather testing standards, cyanoacrylate adhesive, polyurethane adhesive, wet adhesion.