This paper describes the development and application of a new peel protocols for the evaluation of adhesion of a flexible-to-rigid assembly. The developed apparatus allows simulating and predicting the delamination of the polymer coating from the steel substrate. The effect of certain test parameters such as a peel angle and peel speed was discussed. The durability of the retained assembly was equally investigated by considering an accelerated hygrothermal aging. The interfacial damages after conditioning and peel tests were characterized. Using two peeling angles of 90 degrees and 180 degrees, no significant difference was observed in terms of peel responses. The interface behavior seems to be not sensitive to the peel angle. However, an increase in the peel rate induces an increase in the peel strength. The characterization of the interface exhibits two mechanisms: The delamination process of the polymer coating is characterized by cohesive and mixed rupture, respectively, at low and high peel rates. Studying the effects of aging and coating defects on the interface behavior displays a continuous loss of adhesion of the polymer coating especially when it presents physical defects. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 29: 185-196, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/adv.20188