Wear Resistance of Fabrics

2018/12/13

For a long time it was considered that the tests of wear resistance i.e. abrasion resistance

of textiles was a procedure providing an assessment of product durability i.e. its suitability for the intended purpose. However, over time, research has shown that it is not always so, but this does not mean the procedure has lost any of its importance. This is confirmed by the development of measuring techniques over the years, aimed to get the truer results, closer to reality. Eventually it has become clear that it is not even theoretically possible to construct a machine for measuring fabric wear generally, and systems should be improved for measuring wear of fibres, yarns and fabrics for specific loadings and for each type of textiles.

Abrasion occurs with textiles (test bodies) running relatively to some means of resistance,

and is caused by friction, resulting in textile material wear. Investigations in real time can only deal with textiles and/or abrading agents, simultaneously or separately. The process of wear i.e. abrasion can proceed for some time with no visible damage. The term "to abrade" is used for this procedure. If the process is carried out to visible damage or failure of the

material, the appearance of holes in the fabrics, then the expression "specimen breakdown"

is used.

Resistance to abrasion is evaluated measuring the following values:

· loss of mass that occurs after a particular procedure of tear,

· the loss of material strength after the tear,

· the increase in air permeability after the tear in the fabric,

· the increase of light bandwidth after the tear in the fabric,

· the reduction of thickness in tear and

· the appearance of the worn surface (number of loops, thickening, lumps, etc.) .

The wear of textiles, abrasion, and hence the results of the tests, are affected by numerous factors related to the textile material, the environment in which the tests are conducted and testing conditions.

Factors concerned with textile material are:

· fibre type,

· fibre properties,

· yarn twist,

· fabric structure and

· surface characteristics (hairiness, smooth, finishing, etc.).

The size of testing area is of key importance together with humidity and temperature,meaning that testing should be performed in the standard atmosphere for testing. The most important factors regarding the procedure of performing tests are:

· abrasion type,

· abradant type,

· pressure,

· speed,

· tension,

· the direction of abrasion,

· test tube tension,

· test tube carrier types,

· the duration of wear and

· the removal of the dust arising from textile materials.

The impact factor of this group of factors is particularly high. It should be noted that the conditions of carrying out tests employing different methods differ significantly. It is therefore impossible to compare test results obtained by different methods, as well as the results obtained in any particular procedure, if the test conditions were not equal. Therefore,the results of testing relative wear are mostly descriptive, although they are of a significant general importance.

In practice, the most precisely tested aspect of fabric abrasion resistance, in assessing product performance in use, is its durability, since in most cases testing deals with clothing exposed to wear during use, or with fabrics designed for bed linen, furniture, technical textiles and others abraded under similar conditions. A range of test procedures and related equipment has been developed, mainly classified according to the method of performing the tests, the manner of staring and wearing the body of the sample, and the method of wear. In practice, most commonly used methods is circular blade wear, whether on a permanent contact throughout the test area, or in contact with certain parts of the surface during the procedure, with no preferential direction of the tear.

Previous: EN 71-2 FLAMMABILITY
N e x t : Textile Abrasion resistance in wet state testing method

Wear Resistance of Fabrics

2018/12/13

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