PosiTest AT-M
Manual Pull-Off Adhesion Tester

The PosiTest AT Measures adhesion of coatings to metal, wood, concrete and other substrates – Revolutionary self-alignment feature and pull rate indicator brings new meaning to adhesion measurements. A manual hydraulic pump is designed to apply smooth and continuous pressure with a single stroke.

The AT-M features an environmentally sealed enclosure. It is weatherproof, dustproof and shockproof. Meeting or exceeding IP65 rating.

Model Comparison

Order Code	ATM20	ATM50	ATM50T	ATM50C
Dolly size and stand-off*	20 mm	50 mm	50 mm²	50 mm
Typical Applications	Higher bond strength coating on metal	Lower bond strength coatings on wood, concrete and plastic	BS EN 12004-2 Cementitious adhesives for tiles	ASTM C1583 Concrete surfaces and overlays
Range	0.7 – 20 MPa 100 – 3000 psi	0.4 – 3.3 MPa 50 – 480 psi	0.4 – 2.585 MPa 50 – 375 psi	0.4 – 3.3 MPa 50 – 480 psi
Resolution	0.01 MPa (1 psi)
Accuracy	± 1% Full Scale
Included Dollies	⌀20 mm (qty 20) Aluminum	⌀50 mm (qty 8) Aluminum	50 mm² Plate (qty 4) with threaded post Steel	⌀50 mm (qty 4) with ≥ 25 mm thickness Steel
Cutting Tool	20 mm hole saw	50 mm hole saw	–	50 mm diamond grit hole saw with arbor

ATM Self-Alignment Feature

Unequal pulling force during testing caused by uneven adhesive bond lines and coating surfaces can result in random, unexplainable readings. To obtain more repeatable and meaningful adhesion measurements, it is imperative that the pulling force applied to the test dolly is uniformly distributed over the surface being tested.

Both the PosiTest AT-M manual and PosiTest AT-A automatic models compensate for misalignment. The self-aligning, quick-coupling actuator and spherical articulating dolly head enable uniform distribution of the pulling force over the surface being tested, preventing a one-sided pull-off.

Display

Data Output

PosiSoft Destop Software offers customizable reporting tools which allows you to add pictures and screen captures, notes and annotations, add or remove sections (drag and drop), change headings, and more. Save your custom layouts as templates for future use.

Works on PC and Mac computers
Import (download) measurement data via USB (all gages) or WiFi (PosiTector Advanced models only)
Print reports – sample report using default template
Customize reports by adding pictures, logos, screen captures, notes and more.

Complete Kit

The PosiTest AT kits come complete with Manual Adhesion Tester, built-in rechargeable NiMH battery with charger, dollies, abrasive pad, cutting tool, glue with mixing sticks and palettes, cotton swabs, USB cable, PosiSoft Software, instruction booklet and video, shoulder strap, Certificate of Calibration traceable to NIST, two-year warranty, and a sturdy, lightweight carrying case.

	Item	Descrıptıon
	ATM20A	PosiTest Pull-Off Adhesion Tester for 20mm Dollies Complete Kit
	ATM50A	PosiTest Pull-Off Adhesion Tester for 50mm Dollies Complete Kit
	ATM50C	Positector AT Manual Adhesion Tester with 50mm C1583 Kit
	ATM50T	Positector AT Manual Adhesion Tester with 50mm2 Tile Kit
Accessorıes
	ATADHESIVEKIT	Additional Adhesive Kit – AT-ADHESIVE
	TMPLTAS	Drilling Template for 50 mm Dollies – AT-TEMP
	AT-Verify	Adhesion Tester Accuracy Verification Kit – ATVERIFY
Conversıon Kıts
	AT-20-KIT	Includes 20 mm stand-off, holesaw and 20 test dollies – AT20KIT
	AT-50-KIT	Includes 50 mm stand-off, holesaw and 12 test dollies – AT50KIT
	AT50CKIT	50 mm C1583 Conversion Kit – Includes 50 mm C1583 steel dollies (4), 50 mm diamond grit cutting tool with arbor and 50 mm C1583 stand-off
	AT50TKIT	50 mm x 50 mm Tile Conversion Kit – Includes 50 mm x 50 mm steel dollies (4), and 50 mm x 50 mm stand-off
Dollıes
	DOLLY10	10mm Dollies – 10 Pack – AT-10
	DOLLY14	14mm Dollies – 10 Pack – AT-14
	DOLLY20	20mm Dollies – 10 Pack – AT-20
	DOLLY50	50mm Dollies – 4 Pack, Requires Standoff Supplied in AT-50-KIT, old pn AT-50
	DOLLY50C	50 mm C1583 Dollies – 2 Pack, Requires Standoff Supplied in AT50CKIT
	DOLLY50T	50 mm2 Tile Dollies – 4 Pack, Requires Standoff Supplied in AT50TKIT
	PLATE50T	50 mm2 Plate – 4 Pack, Requires Standoff Supplied in AT50TKIT
Dolly Multıpacks
	DOLLY10APK100	10mm Dollies – 100 Pack
	DOLLY14APK100	14mm Dollies – 100 Pack
	DOLLY20APK100	20mm Dollies – 100 Pack
	DOLLY50APK50	50mm Dollies – 50 Pack, Requires 50mm Standoff Supplied in AT-50A-KIT. Not for use with AT-50C-KIT.

FEATURES

Environmentally sealed enclosure – weatherproof, dustproof and shockproof – meets or exceeds IP65
Inexpensive, single-use dollies eliminate cleaning for re-use and can be kept as a permanent record
Self-aligning aluminum dolly enables accurate measurements on smooth or uneven surfaces
Select from four Stand-offs – 20 mm, 50 mm, 50×50 mm Tile and 50 mm C1583
10, 14, 20 or 50 mm dollies maximize capability and measurement resolution across a wide range of bond strengths
Calibrated and certified to ±1% accuracy using a NIST traceable load cell
Conforms to international standards including ASTM C1583/D4541/D7234/D7522, ISO 4642/16276-1, BS EN 12004-2, AS/NZS 1580.408.5 and others
10, 14, 20 or 50 mm dollies maximize capability and measurement resolution across a wide range of bond strengths. Maximum pull-off pressure by dolly size:
- 10 mm: 14000 psi (96 MPa)
- 14 mm: 7000 psi (50 MPa)
- 20 mm: 3500 psi (24 MPa)
- 50 mm: 560 psi (3.8 MPa)
User selectable measurement units: psi (pounds per square inch), MPa (Megapascal), Nmm2 (Newtons per millimeter square) or Newton (force)
Pull Rate Indicator to manually monitor and adjust the rate of pull
Impact and scratch resistant color touch screen with keypad for operation with or without gloves
Manual hydraulic pump designed to apply smooth and continuous pressure with a single stroke
Software Updates via web keep your instrument current

FAQ's

Do your instruments require any formal training for use? Do you offer ‘demo’ models?
No. Our instruments are designed for simple operation, feature easy-to-use menus, both full and quick instruction manuals, and helpful videos. In lieu of demonstration models, we provide unlimited technical support via telephone and/or email, and a limited 30-day money back guarantee.

Is the PosiTest AT calibrated at the factory?
The PosiTest AT arrives fully calibrated and ready to measure. A Long-Form Certificate of Calibration traceable to NIST or PTB is included, which documents actual readings taken by your instrument at our calibration laboratory on standards traceable to a national metrology institute. Beware of ‘Certificates’ or ‘Certificates of Conformance’ offered by competitors. These typically do not include actual instrument readings, and are often insufficient to meet common quality requirements.

Is the PosiTest AT portable, and suitable for use in the field?
Absolutely. With an environmentally-sealed, metal enclosure, heavy-duty hydraulic pump and a high grade industrial pressure sensor, both the Manual and Automatic PosiTest AT are built to last. Weatherproof, dustproof and shockproof, they can be used indoors, outdoors and in all types of weather (meets or exceeds IP 65).
For added utility and convenience, PosiTest AT-A Automatic models also include a handy shoulder strap and rubberized grips.

Does the PosiTest AT include steel loading fixtures (dollies)?
The PosiTest AT is supplied with self-aligning dollies that are precision-manufactured from strong and lightweight aluminum alloy (6061-T6). As a lower-cost alternative to steel loading fixtures, factory aluminum dollies are a single-use/consumable item and ideal for keeping as a permanent visual record of testing.

Do you have a recommended adhesive for my particular application?
The ResinLab EP11HT epoxy adhesive supplied with the PosiTest AT is simple to use and suitable for testing a wide range of coating types. In some instances, specialized coatings will require a more specialized adhesive.

Is the PosiTest AT-A more accurate than the PosiTest AT-M?
The certified accuracy of both PosiTest AT models is identical. However, the fully automatic design of the PosiTest AT-A provides improved measurement consistency by eliminating the potential for operator influence from the test process.

What is the difference between the 20mm and the 50mm loading fixtures?
The 50 mm dolly is commonly recommended for use with concrete, wood and composite substrates, and measures coatings with expected adhesion values between 50 psi and 560 psi (50 – 500 psi for AT-M models). The 20 mm dolly is recommended for testing coatings applied to metals or with expected adhesion values greater than 500 psi.

Can I use the PosiTest AT-A on curved surfaces?
Yes. Feedback from our customers is that the PosiTest AT gages are suitable for testing most internal or external pipe applications greater than 200 mm in diameter. In such cases, the maximum glue gap between the surface of the 20 mm dolly and the coating is 0.5 mm. For smaller pipe diameters, depending on the expected pull-off strength of the coating, it may be possible to use a 10 mm or 14 mm dolly. External diameters can be decreased to as low as 50 mm and 100 mm, for the 10 mm and 14 mm dollies, respectively.
Manufacturers do do not provide or support the use of curved dollies for adhesion testing. In addition to affecting the surface area used in calculating pull-off strengths and the direction of the force lines (creating unwanted shear forces), most adhesion testing standards specifically call for the use of flat dollies.

How many measurements can I take with the PosiTest AT-A on a single battery charge?
The rechargeable battery pack (user replaceable) in the PosiTest AT-A can perform over 200 tests on a single charge. Use the included AC adaptor to continue testing as the battery recharges.

What is the lowest adhesion strength that the PosiTest AT-A can measure?
When utilized with a 50mm dolly, the PosiTest AT is in a priming state until reaching a priming pressure of 50 psi. It is only after the priming pressure is reached that the instrument begins calculating and displaying the pull rate.
While it is possible to obtain readings below this priming pressure with the AT-M model, the AT-A automatic does not allow the operator to build priming pressure very slowly and is therefore not suitable for use below the priming pressure of 50 psi.
Note that all reported adhesion values (including those obtained below the priming pressure) are subject to the PosiTest AT gage’s full-scale accuracy of ± 1% (± 30 psi, AT-M; ± 35 psi, AT-A).

Is there a faster curing adhesive than the epoxy supplied with the PosiTest AT?
The versatile epoxy adhesive supplied with the PosiTest AT reaches full cure within 24 – 48 hours. Operators who require faster cure times should evaluate other adhesives for their compatibility with both the coating being tested and our aluminum test dolly. Cyanoacrylate (‘super glue’) type adhesives are often sufficient for lower pull-off strengths.

Can I use the PosiTest AT on flexible or brittle substrates?
The PosiTest AT is designed for use with rigid, structural substrates. A flexible substrate can adversely impact test accuracy and repeatability. Furthermore, use of the PosiTest AT for measuring the adhesion of coatings applied to a brittle substrate typically results in the destruction of the substrate material, making it challenging to quantify the coating-substrate bond strength.

DOWNLOADS

PosiTest AT-M Brochure

PosiTest AT-M Quick Guide

PosiTest AT-M Manual Pull-Off Adhesion Tester