In industries such as tape, die-cutting, electronics, lithium batteries, and labels, "release force" is the most easily overlooked yet most likely to lead to scrap, rework, or even production stoppages. Whether it's PET release film, cellophane release film, PE release film, or glassine release paper, choosing the wrong release force often has very serious consequences.

 

01. What Is Release Force and Why Does It Matter?

Release force refers to the peeling force required to separate the adhesive from the release film or paper.
Unit: g/25mm or gf/in.

It affects three critical aspects of your process:

Peelability – Too high → Hard to release

Product integrity – Too low → The adhesive may detach during storage or transport

Production efficiency – Automated lines require stable, predictable release force

Based on our factory's quality data, over 90% of complaints in new projects are related to mismatched release force:

Tape telescoping or falling off the roll

Release film lifting the adhesive during die-cutting

Auto-lamination line stoppages

Slitting instability

Lithium battery film breaking during peeling

Choosing the correct release force is not optional-it is essential.

 

02. How Is Release Force Tested? (Important for procurement)

One common issue is that different suppliers use different test methods.
To avoid misunderstandings, procurement teams should know the standard testing conditions:

Testing Machine

Tension tester / peel tester

Speed: 300 mm/min (industry standard)

Temperature: 23 ± 2°C

Humidity: 50 ± 5%

Sample width: 25 mm

Testing Angle

180° – electronics, die-cutting, industrial tapes

90° – medical tapes, protective films

Units

g/25mm (Asia standard)

gf/in (US & EU)

Tip: Always specify the testing conditions in your RFQ or PO.
A "20g release force" from different suppliers can vary significantly if test conditions are not aligned.

 

03. How to Choose the Correct Release Force? (Most useful section)

Different adhesive systems require different release force ranges.
The following recommendations are based on our 12 years of export experience and over 19 industries of customer data.

 

① Hot-Melt Adhesive (HMA)

Recommended: 5–15 g/25mm

Softer adhesive → needs lower release force

Applications: packaging tapes, low-end foam tapes, some labels

 

② Solvent Acrylic Adhesive

Recommended: 20–50 g/25mm

High bonding strength → requires medium release force

Applications: electronics tapes, general die-cutting tapes, automotive tapes

 

③ Water-Based Acrylic Adhesive

Recommended: 10–30 g/25mm

More sensitive to humidity, requires stable release

Applications: protective film, medical tapes

 

④ Silicone Adhesive (High Temperature Tape)

Recommended: 60–150 g/25mm

High-temperature resistance → needs stronger peeling

Applications: PET high-temp tapes, powder coating, PCB processes

 

⑤ Lithium Battery Separator / Electrode Use

Recommended: 30–80 g/25mm (tight tolerance ±10%)

Auto-winding and lamination equipment require highly stable release force

Issues such as "film lifting" and "breaking" are usually release-force related

Conclusion:
There is no "good" or "bad" release force-only a suitable release force for your adhesive type and processing method.

 

04. Stability Is More Important Than the Absolute Value

For emerging markets like Brazil and Argentina, the most common issue is inconsistent release force between batches.

Based on industry research, around 70% of instability comes from:

Uneven coating weight

Insufficient silicone curing

Base film surface tension fluctuations

Our factory uses:

Murata (Japan) online coating thickness sensors

120m/min double-sided coating lines

Fully automatic silicone mixing & dispensing system

Three-stage curing ovens (40 meters long)

These allow us to control release force variation within:

±8% (industry average is ±15–20%)

This number is extremely important for buyers using automated equipment.

 

05. What Happens If Release Force Is Not Selected Properly?

Issue	Likely Cause	Solution
Tape telescoping / loose rolls	Release force too low	Increase by 10–20g
Adhesive is lifted during die-cutting	Release force too high	Reduce release force
Release force spikes after heating	Incomplete silicone curing	Increase curing temperature
Silicone transfer observed	Low-grade silicone oil	Use platinum-catalyzed silicone

 

06. Recommended Release Force Table

Product Type	Recommended Range (g/25mm)	Notes
Labels	5–15	Prevent drop-off
Foam tapes	15–35	Ensures smooth peeling
Electronics die-cutting tapes	20–40	Ideal for auto-lamination
PET protective film	10–30	Prevents premature detachment
Silicone high-temperature tapes	60–150	Requires strong peeling force
Lithium battery materials	30–80	Tolerance ±10%

 

Choosing the correct release force is not guesswork.
It requires understanding your adhesive system, process speed, and application environment.

If you are unsure which release force is suitable for your product, our team can provide:

Adhesive compatibility analysis

Side-by-side comparison samples in 3 release-force levels

Professional release force test reports

Application-based recommendations

Helping you reduce trial-and-error costs and improve your production efficiency.