An Improved Multipurpose Abrasion Tester and Its Application for the Evaluation of the Wear Resistance of Textiles

Abstract

On the basis of a systematic consideration of the mechanics of fabric wear and abrasion and extensive experimentation with various test methods and machines an improved multi purpose abrasion tester has been developed under the research program of the Quartermaster Corps. This work was carried out jointly by the Quartermaster Textile Materials Engineering Laboratory and the Textile Section of the National Bureau of Standards. The apparatus is capable of quantitatively measuring resistance to flat-, edge-, and flex-abrasion under carefully controlled conditions, producing macro- and micro-wear patterns which are the same as those obtained in actual wear. Materials tested in the machine are abraded to an endpoint which is quantitatively defined and independent of individual judgment. Deviations in test results due to the machine are insignificant compared to the deviation of the samples themselves. A cor relation has been found to exist between accelerated combat-wear data and results obtained on the new tester.