Fabric Physical Test Methods according to EN14325:2004
ABRASION RESISTANCE EN 530: 2010, METHOD 2
This test uses the Martindale Abrasion tester employed in the inverted mode, i.e. the test specimen is placed on the abradant table and the abradant is mounted in the test-piece holder. Testing is carried out on the outer surface of the test material.
Four specimens are mounted over woven felt base-pads and abraded under a test head pressure of 9kPa, using grade 00 abrasive cloth for a pre-determined number of cycles or until failure occurs.
If it is not possible to assess the performance of the fabric using the pressure pot, as required by EN14325 the end-point is determined using visual assessment as specified in EN 530: 2010.
Specimen breakdown in a coated material is when the coating surface has the first hole resulting from the wear, of a diameter at least equal to 0.5mm (hole does not have to be through material).
The material is classified according to the number of abrasion cycles needed to destruct the barrier layer as follows taking the lowest single result from the 4 measurements.
- Class 1 > 10 cycles
- Class 2 > 100 cycles
- Class 3 > 500 cycles
- Class 4 > 1000 cycles
- Class 5 > 1500 cycles
- Class 6 > 2000 cycles
FLEX CRACKING EN ISO 7854: 1997, METHOD B
Three specimens in each direction ( MD and CD ) are tested for a pre-determined number of cycles or until damage is detected on the outer surface of the test fabric.
If it is not possible to assess the performance of the fabric using the pressure pot, as required by EN14325 the end-point is determined using visual assessment.The end point is considered to be when a crack has formed in the barrier coating extending through to the base layer.
The material is classified according to the number of cycles needed to crack the protective coating layer using the lowest single figure from the 6 test results measured.
- Class 1 > 1000 cycles
- Class 2 > 2500 cycles
- Class 3 > 5000 cycles
- Class 4 > 15000 cycles
- Class 5 > 40000 cycles
- Class 6 > 100000 cycles
TRAPEZOIDAL TEAR RESISTANCE EN ISO 9073-4: 1997.
Five specimens are prepared in each direction (MD and CD) and conditioned as described in the standard. A force is applied, to steadily extend a cut in the test specimen. The mean maximum tear resistance is given in Newtons.
The performance of the material is classified using the mean result for the 5 results in each of the MD and CD of the material.
- Class 1 > 10N
- Class 2 > 20N
- Class 3 > 40N
- Class 4 > 60N
- Class 5 > 100N
- Class 6 > 150N
TENSILE STRENGTH EN ISO 13934-1: 1999
Five specimens are prepared in each direction, each 50mm wide and long enough to enable a gauge length of 200mm to be used. The tests are made on a Testometric C.R.E. machine fitted with flat faced jaws operating at a rate of extension of 100 mm per minute. A pre-tension of 2 Newtons is employed.
The performance of the material is classified using the mean result of the 5 readings measured in each of the MD and CD.
- Class 1 > 30N
- Class 2 > 60N
- Class 3 > 100N
- Class 4 > 250N
- Class 5 > 500N
- Class 6 > 1000N
PUNCTURE RESISTANCE EN 863: 1995
Four material specimens are tested with the outer face of the fabric to the test probe. The maximum force required to push the spike through the specimen is recorded as puncture resistance. The mean value is rounded to the nearest whole number and the performance of the material is classified using the mean result of the 4 measurements, according to the performance levels as below-
- Class 1 > 5N
- Class 2 > 10N
- Class 3 > 50N
- Class 4 > 100N
- Class 5 > 150N
- Class 6 > 250N
