Designation: C633 13

Standard Test Method for

Adhesion or Cohesion Strength of Thermal Spray Coatings1

This standard is issued under the fixed designation C633; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon () indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.

1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the degree
of adhesion (bonding strength) of a coating to a substrate or the
cohesion strength of the coating in a tension normal to the
surface. The test consists of coating one face of a substrate
fixture, bonding this coating to the face of a loading fixture, and
subjecting this assembly of coating and fixtures to a tensile
load normal to the plane of the coating. It is adapted particularly for testing coatings applied by thermal spray, which is
defined to include the combustion flame, plasma arc, two-wire
arc, high-velocity oxygen fuel, and detonation processes for
spraying feedstock, which may be in the form of, wire, rod, or
powder.
NOTE 1Thermal spray coating materials include ceramics, such as
metal oxides or carbides, and metals. In some cases, a coating is formed
of different spray materials, such as an oxide layer sprayed onto a sprayed
metal-bonding layer. The substrate generally is a metal, but may be a
ceramic, such as an oxide or graphite.

1.2 Usually this test method is performed at ambient temperature. Higher temperature testing is restricted by the need
for a suitable adhesive bonding agent. For certain fundamental
investigations, it is suggested that very low (cryogenic) temperature be used.
1.3 This test method is limited to testing thermal spray
coatings that can be applied in thickness greater than 0.015 in.
(0.38 mm). The limitation is imposed because an adhesive
bonding agent is used in the test. Those bonding agents
established so far for this method tend to penetrate thermal
spray coatings and may invalidate results unless the coatings
are thick enough to prevent penetration through the coating.
Further development may establish that thin layers of certain
types of especially dense coatings may be tested satisfactorily.
Alternatively, new adhesive bonding agents that would allow
reduction of the minimum thickness limitation may become
available.

1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on Metallic
and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.12 on
Materials for Porcelain Enamel and Ceramic-Metal Systems.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2013. Published December 2013. Originally
approved in 1969. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as C633 01(2008). DOI:
10.1520/C0633-13.

1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded

as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
and are not considered standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:2
E4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
3. Significance and Use
3.1 This test method is recommended for quality control,
acceptance testing; or it may help to develop or qualify a
thermal spray operators equipment and procedure or to aid in
developing thermal spray coatings with improved adhesion and
integrity.
3.2 This test method is useful for comparing adhesion or
cohesion strengths of coatings of similar types of thermal spray
materials. The test should not be considered to provide an
intrinsic value for direct use in making calculations, such as to
determine if a coating will withstand specific environmental
stresses. Because of residual stresses in thermal spray coatings,
actual strength depends upon the shape of the particular coated
part. Also, in use, a coating may be stressed in a more complex
manner than is practical for a standard test.
4. Apparatus
4.1 A tension testing machine shall conform to the requirements of Practices E4. The loads used in determining the
adhesion or tensile strength shall be within the loading range of
the testing machine, as defined in Practices E4. Permissible
variation shall be less than 1.0 %. It shall be possible to apply
increasing tensile load at a constant rate of cross-head travel
between 0.030 in./min (0.013 mm/s) and 0.050 in./min (0.021
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.

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C633 13
mm/s). The machine shall include a load-indicating device that
registers the maximum load applied before rupture occurs.
4.2 Self-aligning devices, for applying the tensile load to the
assembly of the coating and fixtures, shall not permit eccentric
load or bending moment to the specimen. Self-alignment is
often provided by the manufacturer as an integral part of the
testing machine. An alternative, satisfactory apparatus is shown
in Fig. 1, which also shows methods of connecting the
self-aligning apparatus to an assembled test specimen.
5. Material
5.1 Adhesive Bonding AgentA suitable adhesive bonding
agent shall be agreed between the purchaser and manufacturer
of the coating and shall meet the following requirements.3

3
A list of satisfactory bonding agents is provided in the annex which follows this
standard.

5.1.1 The bonding agent shall be capable of bonding the

coating to the loading fixture with a tensile strength that is at
least as great as the minimum required adhesion and cohesion
strength of the coating.
5.1.2 The bonding agent shall be sufficiently viscous not to
penetrate through a 0.015-in. (0.38-mm) thickness of the
coating. Certain commercial resins that cure or harden at room
temperature by means of a curing agent have been proven
satisfactory. If any other bonding agent is to be used, it shall
first be compared with a proven bonding agent using this test
method with the desired thermal spray coating.
NOTE 2Thermal spray coatings may have an inherent porosity.
Excessive penetration of the adhesive bonding agent into this porosity
may affect the results determined by this test method. Unless proved
satisfactory by comparison testing, any agent requiring elevated temperature for curing should be avoided because viscosity may decrease at high
temperature, allowing penetration.
NOTE 3When liquid epoxy bonding agents are used, there should be

Metric Equivalents
in.
(mm)

(4.8)
3 16

(6.4)
14

(19)
34

1
(25.4)

1 1 8
(29)

1716
(37)

FIG. 1 Self-Aligning Device

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1 1 2
(38)

2 1 2
(64)

C633 13
a procedure in place to ensure relatively consistent thickness on every
sample.

5.1.3 The adhesion strength of the bonding agent shall be

determined each time this test method is performed. This shall
be done by using the bonding agent to attach a loading fixture
to a second loading fixture, in accordance with 6.5, except that
the coated substrate fixture of 6.5 is replaced with the second
loading fixture.
NOTE 4One reason for testing the bonding agent each time is to detect
improper preparation of the agent if it is a two-part mix. Another reason
is that adhesion strength generally decreases with age of the unused agent.
If strength is lower than required, more adhesive bonding agent shall be
prepared and tested, or the agent shall be discarded and replaced.

6. Test Specimens
6.1 Substrate and Loading Fixtures Each test specimen is
an assembly comprising a substrate fixture, to which the
coating is applied, and a loading fixture. The substrate and
loading fixtures shall each be circular, solid cylinders of no less
than 1.5 in. in length, or as agreed upon by the manufacturer
and customer. A suggested detail for either fixture is shown in
Fig. 2. One end of each fixture shall be adapted for attachment

U.S.
Metric
U.S.
Metric

0.003 in.
(0.08 mm)
34 in.
(19 mm)

in.
(0.39 mm)
0.990 in.
(25.15 mm)

1 64

in.
(12.3 mm)
1 in.
(25.4 mm)

31 64

to the self-aligning loading devices of the tension testing

machine. Both ends of each fixture shall have faces parallel to
each other and normal to the loading axis. The facing diameters
shall be not less than 0.9 in. (23 mm), nor more than 1.0 in. (25
mm). The diameters of the two fixtures shall be the same and
shall be measured so that the error is no greater than 0.5 %.
NOTE 5In Appendix X1, an alternative substrate and fixture arrangement is provided that has proved cost effective and simple.

6.1.1 Material for Substrate Fixture The substrate fixture

shall be constructed of metal, preferably metal intended for use
as the substrate for the coating. If no such substrate material is
specified, the substrate fixture shall be SAE 1018 or 1020 steel.
NOTE 6If desired because of cost or ease of fabrication, it may be
suitable to attach or bond a layer of the specified substrate material to a
fixture formed of any convenient metal. Such a layer of substrate material
need not be metal. The layer must be substantially thicker than the
possible depth of effects on the substrate, such as recrystallization or
diffusion zones, that may result from applying the coating. A layer greater
than 0.1 in. (2.5 mm) thick should be sufficient.

6.1.2 Material for Loading FixtureThe loading fixture

shall be constructed of metal, but material is otherwise optional. It is usually convenient to make the loading fixture of

in.
(12.7 mm)
1.000 in.
(25.4 mm)

12

FIG. 2 Substrate and Loading Fixture

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in.
(15.9 mm)
1 ft.
(0.3 m)

58

24 in.
(610 mm)

C633 13
the same material as the substrate fixture; thus, the fixtures may
be interchangeable until a coating is applied to one.
6.2 Coating ApplicationThe front facing of the substrate
fixture shall be prepared in the manner required by the
specification for the coating. (Roughening by grit blasting or
surface grinding may be typical preparations.) The coating
shall be thermal sprayed onto this prepared surface.
6.3 Coating ThicknessThe coating thickness shall be measured with a micrometer by measuring the total length of the
coating fixture before and after the coating is applied. (Care
must be taken to avoid contaminating the prepared surface
before coating.) The final coating thickness shall be more than
0.015 in. (0.38 mm). If the coating is to be ground or machined,
the as-sprayed coating shall be approximately 0.005 in. (0.13
mm) thicker to allow for removal of material. The coating
thickness shall not vary across the surface by more than 0.001
in. (0.025 mm). (This thickness variation, as measured from the
rear face, does not refer to the ordinary surface texture or
roughness typical of thermal spray coatings.) If, upon completion of the thermal spraying, the coating thickness varies in
excess of this limit, this shall be corrected by removing the
coating and respraying or by grinding or machining the coating
surface.

6.6 Number of Test SpecimensThe number of test specimens chosen depends upon the purpose of the particular tests
under consideration. However, if specimens are to be used for
acceptance tests, not less than five specimens of a type shall be
tested.
7. Procedure
7.1 Prepare the chosen number of substrate fixtures, and
apply a thermal spray coating to each. Finish the coating
surface if required.
7.2 Prepare the adhesive bonding agent. Attach cleaned
loading fixtures to all the coated substrate fixtures at essentially
the same time. In addition, prepare one set of uncoated fixtures
for measurement of the adhesion strength of the bonding agent.
7.3 Apply a tensile load to each test specimen at a constant
rate of cross-head travel between 0.030 in./min (0.013 mm/s)
and 0.050 in./min (0.021 mm/s) until rupture occurs. Record
the maximum load applied.
NOTE 7Loading fixtures may be gravity or pressure devices. The
design of the loading fixtures should enable the correct alignment of the
specimen.

8. Calculation

6.4 Grinding or Machining the Coating SurfaceThe surface of the coating may be finished by grinding or machining
when the thickness variation is excessive. If the thickness
variation is not excessive, it shall be optional to finish the
surface of the coating as a useful and convenient aid in holding
the fixtures together parallel and aligned as required for the
next step. No specific grinding or machining procedure can be
recommended, as this depends on the type of coating material.
Usually manufacturers of the coatings have recommendations
published or available. Only a rough grinding or machining
step is needed, to provide a final coating thickness that does not
vary by more than 0.001 in. (0.025 mm). Removal rate shall be
insufficient to damage the coating or bond. A recommended
method is to use a surface grinder with a magnetic chuck,
positioning the rear face of the coated fixture on this magnetic
chuck. No other treatment, such as grit blasting, shall be done
to the surface of the coating.

8.1 Calculate the degree of adhesion or cohesion strength as

follows:

6.5 Attachment of FixturesThe facing of the loading

fixture shall be free of oil, grease, or grinding or cutting fluids.
The facing shall be mechanically cleaned by such means as
machining, grinding, light grit blasting, or rubbing with emory
cloth. This facing shall be attached to the surface of the
coating, using the adhesive bonding agent according to its
manufacturers instructions. Excessive adhesive shall be wiped
from the assembly with soft paper or cloth. The two fixtures
shall be held together parallel and aligned until the bonding
agent is cured or hardened. A suitable holding device such as a
V-block shall be used for the purpose, except such a device
is not necessary if the surface of the coating has been ground
or machined smooth.

9.3 The cohesion strength of the coating is given if rupture

is only within the coating. Failure in the bonding agent may be
a satisfactory result for a quality control assurance test or for a
qualification test, if the strength of the bonding agent is greater
than the minimum required adhesion or cohesion strength of
the coating.

Adhesion or cohesion strength

(1)

5 maximum load/cross 2 sectional area

9. Interpretation of Results
9.1 Any interpretation of results depends on the purpose of
using this test method and on the description of failure. The
adhesion or cohesion strength value measured represents the
weakest part of the system, whether in the coating or at an
interface. A low-power microscope with a magnification range
up to 100 is suggested for determining location of failure
(also termed as the locus of failure).
9.2 The adhesion strength of the coating is given if failure is
entirely at the coating-substrate interface.

9.4 If failure occurs in a combination of these locations in

one specimen, generally no interpretation of the initial cause
can be provided. Fig. 3 diagrams the possible modes of failure.
9.5 For a multicomponent system; for example, a bond coat
with a ceramic overlay, then failure at the interface between
two coatings is described as internal adhesive.

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C633 13

FIG. 3 Nomenclature of Specimen Components and Classification of Failure Locii

10. Report
10.1 The report shall include the following:
10.1.1 Coating material or manufacturers designation technique used to apply the coating, including type of thermal
spray equipment, and spray parameters.
10.1.2 Final coating thickness and statement of whether
surface is finished or as-sprayed.
10.1.3 Substrate material.
10.1.4 Description of surface preparation of substrate.
10.1.5 Name or description of bonding agent and details of
bonding procedure if different from manufacturers instructions.
10.1.6 Number of thermal spray specimens and number of
specimens tested.
10.1.7 The adhesion or cohesion strength of each specimen
tested.
10.1.8 Average adhesion and cohesion strength, and the
maximum and minimum values, in pounds per square inch (or
pascals).
10.1.9 Description of failure, including statement of
whether failure occurred at the coating-substrate interface, in
the coating, in the bonding agent, or a combination of these.
For multilayered coatings, an internal adhesion failure also
must be indicated if it is present. Fig. 3 diagrams the possible
modes of failure.

10.1.10 Adhesion strength of the bonding agent in the test

specimen without a thermal spray coating.
11. Precision and Bias
11.1 No justifiable statements can be made regarding the
precision and bias of this test method because it evaluates
coatings that exhibit brittle fracture, an unpredictable characteristic.
11.2 This test method is applicable to a wide variety of
materials with different characteristics.
11.3 Since design, base metal composition, fabrication, and
processing, as well as thermal spraying the coating, will give
rise to variables in adherence, each application of this test
method should have tolerances and interpretation of adherence
set and agreed upon between the purchaser and the manufacturer.
12. Keywords
12.1 adhesion strength; cohesion strength; fracture locus;
thermal spray coatings

ANNEX
(Mandatory Information)
A1. ADHESIVE BONDING AGENTS FOR ATTACHMENT OF LOADING FIXTURE TO THERMAL SPRAY COATINGS

A1.1 The following adhesive is recommended for attaching

the loading fixture to thermal spray coatings that are primarily
metallic or that have a metal matrix. It is not recommended for
thermal spray oxide or other porous ceramic coatings because
of the possibility of excessive penetration into the coating.

A1.1.1 Cytec FM-1000, available from Cytec Industries

Inc., 5 Garret Mountain Plaza, Woodland Park, NJ 07424
(http://www.cytec.com/engineered-materials/aas_
SOScenter.html). This is a one-part mix that is cured at 375 F
(190 C) for a minimum of 1 h. When the adhesive is new,

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C633 13
typical adherence strength to thermal spray coatings may range
up to approximately 10 000 psi (69 MPa) depending on the
coating material.
A1.2 The following adhesives are recommended for attaching the loading fixture to thermal spray coatings of any type,
ceramic or metallic. These are two-part mixes that should be
cured at room temperature when used for this test method.
When the adhesive is new, typical adherence strength to
thermal spray coatings may range up to approximately 4 000
psi (28 MPa) depending on the coating material.
A1.2.1 Magna-Tac
M666
(http://
www.beaconadhesives.com/
TechSheets/magna-tac_
m666.htm) or M777 (http://www.beaconadhesives.com/

TechSheets/m777.htm), manufactured by Beacon Adhesives

Co., Inc., 125 MacQueslan Parkway South, Mount Vernon, NY
10550. Products were formerly known as Bondmaster M666
and M777. M777 may be easier to use as it may be more
viscous than M666.
A1.2.2 Armstrong A-12 (http://apps.ellsworth.com/library/
Library/TDS/en/TDS16909.pdf), manufactured by Resin Technology Group, LLC, 28 Norfolk Avenue, Easton, MA 02375.
Armstrong Products Co., Argonne Rd., Warsaw, IN 46580.
A1.2.3 3M Scotch Weld Epoxy Adhesive EC-2214, sold by
3M Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division, 3M Center, St.
Paul, MN 55144-100.

APPENDIX
X1. ALTERNATIVE SUBSTRATE AND FIXTURE ARRANGEMENT

X1.1 See Fig. X1.1 for an alternative substrate and fixture

arrangement that has proved cost effective and simple.

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C633 13

FIG. X1.1 Alternative Load Train Geometry for Test Assembly

BIBLIOGRAPHY
(1) F. J. Hermanek, Determining the Adhesive and Cohesive
Strengths of Thin Thermally Sprayed Coatings, Welding J., Vol
57, 1978, pp. 3135.
(2) P. Ostojic and C. C. Berndt, Variability in Strength of Thermally
Sprayed Coatings, J. Surf. Coat. Tech., Vol 34, 1988, pp. 4350.
(3) C. C. Berndt, Tensile Adhesion Testing Methodology for Thermally Sprayed Coatings, ASM J.Mater.Eng. , Vol. 12, No. 2,
1990, pp. 151160.
(4) W. Han, E. F. Rybicki, and J. R. Shadley, An Improved Specimen Geometry for ASTM C63379 to Estimate Bonds Strengths
of Thermal Spray Coatings, J. Thermal Spray Technology, Vol. 2,
No. 2, 1993, pp. 145150.

(5) C. K. Lin and C. C. Berndt, Measurement and Analysis of Adhesion Strength for Thermally Sprayed Coatings, J. Thermal Spray
Technology, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1994, pp. 75104.
(6) D. J. Greving, J. R. Shadley, and E. F. Rybicki, Effects of Coating Thickness and Residual Stresses on the Bond Strength of
ASTM C63379 Thermal Spray Coating Test Specimens, J.
Thermal Spray Technology, Vol. 3, No. 4, 1994, pp. 371378.

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C633 13
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