Wear Resistance — ISO 4649 / ASTM D5963 / ISO 5470 · Textile Testing

What Is Abrasion?

Abrasion resistance test is an experiment in which the volume or mass loss is measured by rubbing the sample at a certain distance against a standard abrasive surface under a defined load. Rotary roller (DIN wear) methods are used in rubber, Taber or Martindale methods are used in textiles and coatings.

Purpose of Abrasion

The aim is to comparatively determine the material's resistance to abrasion.

Which Products Is Abrasion Applied To?

Rubber sole and coatings
Belt and hose outer surfaces
Coated surfaces
Textile and flooring materials

In Which Sectors Is Abrasion Used?

TextilesLeatherFootwearRetail

Standards Related to Abrasion

ISO 4649 (rubber, rotary cylinder)
ASTM D5963
ISO 5470-1 (Taber)
ISO 12947 (Martindale)

Abrasion Conditions

Method: Rotary cylinder (DIN), Taber rotary disc or Martindale
Load: Defined in the standard; according to method and material
Abradant: Standard sandpaper or abrasive disc; calibrated with reference material
Distance/cycle: Rubbing distance or number of cycles defined in the standard

Equipment for Abrasion

Rotary roller wear device
Taber and/or Martindale wear device
Analytical balance
Reference rubber and standard abrasive stock

Sample Requirements for Abrasion

Sample dimensions and thickness must comply with the standard
The abrasive surface must be calibrated with reference material
Sample and reference should be tested in the same batch
The number of specimens is defined in the standard

Duration of Abrasion

Typically 2–4 days.

Abrasion Procedure

1The abrasive surface is calibrated with the reference material.
2The sample is weighed or measured.
3Wear is applied at defined load and distance.
4The sample is cleaned and weighed again.
5Volume or mass loss is calculated.
6If necessary, a relative index is given relative to the reference.

Abrasion Acceptance Criteria

The acceptance criterion is the maximum volume loss or minimum wear index given in the specification.

Evaluation of Results

The abrasive surface dulls over time; Results obtained without calibration with reference material cannot be compared between series. The results of different methods (DIN, Taber, Martindale) are not interchangeable.

Abrasion Report

Standard and method applied
Load, distance/cycle
Abrasive calibration and reference result
Volume or mass loss
Relative wear index

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 authorisations

Related Regulations

Material and product specifications

Tekstil Testleri — What Does This Testing Field Cover?

The section below describes the field that the Abrasion 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 Abrasion

According to which standard is Abrasion made?

Abrasion is executed in scope ISO 4649 (rubber, rotary cylinder), ASTM D5963, ISO 5470-1 (Taber) and ISO 12947 (Martindale). The limit values and acceptance criteria to be applied are defined in the product standard; The version valid for your product is confirmed in writing at the offer stage.

Which products does Abrasion apply to?

Mainly applied to Rubber sole and coatings, Belt and hose outer surfaces, Coated surfaces and Textile and flooring materials. Whether your product is included in the scope is determined by examining its technical specifications and intended use.

Under what conditions is Abrasion done?

The determining parameters are: Method — Rotary cylinder (DIN), Taber rotary disc or Martindale, Load — Defined in the standard; according to method and material and Abradant — Standard sandpaper or abrasive disc; calibrated with reference material. The full terms are in the "Test Conditions" section on the page and vary depending on the product standard.

What kind of sample is needed for Abrasion?

Sample dimensions and thickness must comply with the standard, The abrasive surface must be calibrated with reference material and Sample and reference should be tested in the same batch. The number of samples is determined according to the product standard and the scope to be reported.

How long does Abrasion take?

Typically 2–4 days. This duration belongs to the experiment itself; sample preparation, queuing and reporting are also evaluated. A realistic schedule for your product is given in the offer.

What is the Abrasion result called "appropriate"?

The acceptance criterion is the maximum volume loss or minimum wear index given in the specification.