Defining Abrasion:

Abrasion resistance is the ability of a fabric to resist surface wear caused by

flat rubbing contact with another fabric. There are two different methods
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commonly used to test abrasion, referred to as Wyzenbeek and Martindale,
described in detail further below.
Martindale Test:
The ASTM D4966-98 is a test method of
the American Society of Testing and
Materials. Fabric samples are mounted flat
and rubbed in an enlarging elliptical shape
using a piece of worsted wool cloth as the
abrading. The end point is reached when
two yarn breaks occur or when there is a
change in shade or appearance that is
sufficient to cause a customer to complain.
Shade change is assessed as the AATCC gray scale rating of 3 or lower. The
samples should be checked every 5,000 cycles, and when an end point is
reached because of failure, the rater should back up to the previous 5,000
cycle’s checkpoint as the test result of abrasion resistance. The test results
are therefore to be reported in 5,000 cycles rub increments.
The Martindale method tests flat abrasion resistance of a textile. This test
method does not evaluate edge abrasion or any of the other diverse factors
that would determine the overall durability of upholstery as used in variety
of seating designs.
Purpose:
To assess the abrasion resistance of fabrics to wear.
Test Specimen:
Avoiding fabric within 50mm of the selvedges cut a DIAGONAL piece of
fabric approximately 225mm x 60mm. From this, cut out four circular
specimens each 38mm in diameter so that they do not contain the same
warp or weft threads.

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Staple the fabric from which the circles have been cut onto a white card of
suitable size.
Apparatus:
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• Martindale abrasion tester
• Standard abradant fabric
• Standard felt
• Polyurethane foam backing
• Fabric press cutters
• AATCC Gray Scale for Color Change
Method:

1. Place one test specimen face down in the base of each sample holder.
Cover each specimen with a new piece of polyether from 38mm in
diameter. Place the interior metal specimen support on top of the
foam & assemble the top & base of the specimen holder.

2. Place a 150mm circle of felt on each of the base plates.

3. Place one 150mm square or circle of new worsted repp, face side up,
over each of the circles of felt. Ensure the repp has an even tension by
using the tensioning weight. Secure the repp in position with the
retaining frame. Remove tensioning weight.

4. Secure the four specimen holders to the top plate using the metal
spindles so that the fabric face of each of the specimen is in contact5
with the worsted repp on its respective base plate.

5. Place a weight on each of the spindles which will give a total weight of
595g on each of the specimen holders.

6. Run the abrasion machine to 5,000 revolutions & then make an initial
inspection for breakdown as follows.

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 7. Without damaging the threads of the test specimen, cut away any pills
which are attached to the surface using the curved scissors. Without
removing the test specimen from the specimen holders, examine the
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test specimen for signs of breakdown, using 20-30x magnification.
Breakdown is deemed to have occurred when two or more threads
have completely broken. Remove any specimens which have broken
down. Record the number of revolutions at which this has occurred.

8. If pills formed at 5,000 revs. the machine is then run for a further 5,000
revs. re-inspected as described in point 7 & then run & similarly re-
inspected at 1,000 rev. intervals until breakdown has occurred or the
performance standard has been attained.

9. If no pills have formed on any head at the initial 5,000 revs. inspection,
run the machine to two thirds of the number of revolutions specified
in the appropriate performance standard & then inspect for breakdown
as described in point 7. Thereafter continue to run & re-inspect at
1,000 rev. intervals until the specimen has broken down or the
performance standard has been attained.

Results: For each of the four test specimens,

1. Report the number of revolutions at which breakdown occurred.
In the absence of breakdown on all four test specimens, state
that “no breakdown has occurred up to the specified number of
revolutions”.
2. State the number of revolutions at which fabrics were inspected,
& comment if pills have been removed.
3. Staple the tested specimen into the holes in the original fabrics
from which they were cut. Using the grey scales for change of
shade, compare the abraded specimens with the original &
report the change of shade due to abrasion.

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