Presenters Name: Eric Scardigno
Employment Title: General Manager
Company: Xtec Gen Pty Ltd
Biography: Eric Scardigno is a coatings and construction materials professional with a strong focus on adhesion performance, testing methodologies, and standards‑based evaluation of waterproofing and protective coating systems. He works closely with manufacturers, contractors, and specifiers to assess product performance through laboratory testing, with particular emphasis on interpreting results in a practical, fit‑for‑purpose context. Eric has experience across a wide range of adhesion and durability test methods and is actively involved in advancing testing capability within NATA‑accredited laboratory environments, including waterproofing systems and tile adhesives. He regularly engages with industry bodies and technical audiences to challenge common misconceptions around compliance‑driven testing and to promote a deeper understanding of failure modes, material behaviour, and appropriate test selection. Through his work and presentations, Eric aims to bridge the gap between laboratory testing, standards interpretation, and real‑world performance.
Presentation Title: Peel vs Pull-Off Adhesion: Testing Flexible and Rigid Coating Systems Correctly
Presentation Abstract: Assessing adhesion performance is fundamental to the design, specification, and validation of coating and adhesive systems. However, there remains a widespread misconception within the industry regarding which adhesion tests provide meaningful, valid, and fit‑for‑purpose information. Too often, test selection is driven by convenience or compliance with a minimum numerical requirement, rather than an understanding of what the test is actually measuring.
A common industry argument is that “if it meets the minimum requirement, it is acceptable.” While this may satisfy a specification, it can mask critical issues where true failure is neither achieved nor visually assessed. When a test does not take a system to failure—or fails to reveal the mode of failure—it becomes difficult to justify its validity as a measure of adhesion performance. This challenge is increasingly evident in on‑site testing, where laboratory principles of failure analysis and visual assessment are frequently compromised by the inappropriate use of test methods.
This presentation explores the fundamental differences between peel and pull‑off adhesion testing, with a focus on their underlying mechanics and suitability for different coating and adhesive systems. Particular attention is given to the role of material flexibility, elongation, and system rigidity, and why peel adhesion testing is often more appropriate for flexible products than the commonly used pull‑off method. By clarifying when and why each test should be used, this session aims to move the industry closer to meaningful, defensible adhesion assessment rather than simple compliance.
