Resumo (EN)
Microtensile test, first described by Sano et al.24, in 1994, is an important tool for adhesion studies. This new method seemed to solve problems of traditional bonding tests -shear and tensile- which presented cohesive failures in tested substrates, besides allowing limitation of adhesion areas and decreasing of specimen dimensions. Nevertheless, specimen preparation protocols are very sensitive, and its particularities influence on bond strengths. Many factors must be considered when analyzing results, such as: substrate, specimen shape, method to obtain specimens, bonding area, characteristics of fractured surfaces. There are several protocols for the test, what impairs results comparison. In this context, it is pertinent to perform a critical approach of literature.