What Is Bursting?
Explosion strength test is the measurement of the pressure at the moment the sample bursts by applying increasing pressure to the circularly compressed fabric from below through a diaphragm. The load is applied simultaneously in all directions, not in one direction; Therefore, it is more meaningful than tensile testing for knitted fabrics, non-woven surfaces and materials with uncertain orientation.
Purpose of Bursting
The aim is to determine the strength of fabrics subjected to multiaxial strain and to verify specification compliance. In knitted products, areas such as elbows, knees and shoulders are exposed to this type of strain.
Which Products Is Bursting Applied To?
- Knitted fabrics and knitwear products
- Non-woven surfaces (nonwoven)
- Medical textiles and mask body fabrics
- Socks and underwear
- filter fabrics
In Which Sectors Is Bursting Used?
Standards Related to Bursting
- TS EN ISO 13938-1 (hydraulic method)
- TS EN ISO 13938-2 (pneumatic method)
- ASTM D3786 (diaphragm explosion)
- TS EN ISO 9073-5 (non-woven surfaces)
Bursting Conditions
- Conditioning
- 20 °C ± 2 °C, 65 ± 4% relative humidity (ISO 139)
- test area
- Circular areas defined in the standard; If the area changes, the result changes
- Repeats
- The number of samples stipulated by the standard; The result is given as an average
Equipment for Bursting
- Hydraulic or pneumatic burst strength device
- Interchangeable test field rings
- Diaphragm and compression system
- Conditioning chamber
Sample Requirements for Bursting
- Samples taken from different parts of the fabric
- The sample must be large enough to completely cover the test ring.
- Seams, edges and defective areas should not come to the test area.
- Scrolling should be prevented; sliding sample lowers the result
Duration of Bursting
A single test lasts a short time. Total time is determined by conditioning and number of samples.
Bursting Procedure
- 1Specimens are conditioned.
- 2The sample is placed between the rings without any wrinkles or tension.
- 3Pressure is applied to the diaphragm at the speed specified by the standard.
- 4The pressure at the moment of explosion and the rise, if any, are recorded.
- 5The diaphragm's own pressure is subtracted from the result.
- 6The average burst pressure is calculated.
Bursting Acceptance Criteria
The acceptance criterion is the minimum burst pressure (kPa) in the product standard or customer specification. The test standard does not give a passing value.
Evaluation of Results
The burst pattern is also noted: single-point puncture versus large-area tearing indicate different defects. Results obtained with different test areas cannot be directly compared; The field must be stated in the report.
Bursting Report
- Sample description and fabric structure
- Applied method (hydraulic/pneumatic) and test area
- Single and average burst pressure
- Rise value at the moment of explosion, if any
- Explosion pattern observation
Accreditation
EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.
Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Regulations
- EU 1007/2011 (textile fibre names and labelling)
- EU 1907/2006 REACH Annex XVII (restricted substances in textiles)
- Regulation on the Naming of Textile Products
Tekstil Testleri — What Does This Testing Field Cover?
The section below describes the field that the Bursting test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Textile testing answers two questions separately: does the fabric hold up physically over its service life, and does it carry any substance restricted for human health? These two axes require different laboratory infrastructure and different decision mechanisms.
On the physical side, breaking and tear strength, abrasion resistance, pilling, dimensional change, colour fastness and water and oil repellency are measured. Most of these tests depend on the USE SCENARIO: Martindale abrasion cycles are decisive for an upholstery fabric, while dimensional change in washing and colour fastness come to the fore for a shirting fabric. The same fabric goes through a different test set for a different use.
Colour fastness is a body of work of its own in this field and is not a single test. The fastness of the same fabric to light, washing, rubbing, perspiration, saliva, chlorinated water and ironing is measured separately; each represents a different moment of use. Results are rated from 1 to 5 on the grey scale and the specification gives a separate minimum rating for each agent.
On the chemical side, aromatic amines released from azo dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals, phthalates, short-chain chlorinated paraffins, alkylphenols and PFAS compounds are screened. These items come from REACH restrictions, brand restricted substance lists (RSL) and voluntary schemes such as OEKO-TEX. Brand lists are often stricter than legislation; the target customer is decisive.
There is NO CE marking on consumer textiles. The obligation has three legs: fibre composition and care labelling, compliance with chemical restrictions, and general product safety. Textiles claiming a protective function (workwear, flame-resistant clothing, high-visibility clothing) fall under personal protective equipment legislation, where CE is mandatory — this distinction is commercially critical.
Verifying the label declaration is the most routine work in the field. Quantitative fibre analysis confirms the blend ratio stated on the label; tolerance ranges are defined in legislation. An incorrect fibre declaration both misleads the consumer and affects customs classification.
Sustainability claims have added a new body of work to the field in recent years: verification of recycled content (GRS, RCS), organic content (GOTS), restriction of harmful chemicals and water/energy footprint declarations. These claims now require auditable evidence.
Method groups in this field
Strength and durability
Strip and grab breaking strength, tearing by the Elmendorf and tongue methods, seam strength, bursting strength.
Abrasion and surface
Martindale and rotary platform abrasion, pilling and fuzzing, fabric mass and thread density measurements.
Dimensional stability
Dimensional change in washing and drying, wrinkling behaviour, appearance after ironing.
Colour fastness
Fastness to light (xenon), washing, rubbing, perspiration, saliva, water and chlorinated water; rating on the grey scale.
Functional properties
Water repellency (spray test), oil repellency, waterproofness, air permeability, effectiveness of antibacterial finishes, UV protection factor.
Chemical analyses
Aromatic amines from azo dyes, formaldehyde, pH, heavy metals, phthalates, chlorinated phenols, PFAS and alkylphenols.
Commonly confused in this field
- A brand restricted substance list (RSL) may be stricter than legislation; REACH compliance does not mean compliance with the customer specification.
- Textiles claiming a protective function fall under PPE legislation and require CE; an ordinary textile test report does not satisfy that file.
- Colour fastness is not a single number; a rating cannot be interpreted without stating which agent it relates to.
- A result obtained for a fabric does not cover the whole garment made from it; lining, sewing thread, print and trims are assessed separately.
- Performance claims after washing are valid together with the stated number of wash cycles; the word "permanent" on its own is not verifiable.
Which decisions these results support
- Compliance with the brand restricted substance list (RSL)
- Verification of label declarations: fibre composition and care instructions
- Determining the performance class of upholstery and technical textiles
- Pre-import shipment inspection and lot acceptance
- Supporting sustainability and recycled content claims
Related Tests
Frequently Asked Questions About Bursting
Why isn't tensile testing done on knitted fabric?
When the knitted structure is pulled, the loops are displaced and the uniaxial breaking test gives unrealistically high elongation. Since the burst test applies the load simultaneously in all directions, it is closer to the actual use behavior of the knitted structure.
How much does the test area affect the result?
It affects significantly: the larger the area, the greater the probability of finding a weak spot and the lower the measured pressure. Therefore, the specification and the test area in the report must be the same; otherwise the comparison is invalid.