Recent Advances in Abrasion Testing of Textiles

After indicating drawbacks in more elaborate methods of expressing the amount of abrasive treatment a fabric has been given, a visual end-point test is described in which this quantity is expressed in the more common way, that is in a measure proportional to the time of exposure to a described action. A description is given of methods used for surmounting difficulties due to contamination which the abrasive may sustain as a result of rubbing the test specimens. Methods of test involving more objective measures of damage than visual estimation are described; data are given showing the deterioration in strength, bursting strength and air resistance resulting from abrasion. In common with the visual test all these methods employ concentration of the abrasion on a small area of the sample for reasons which are stated. A yarn abrasion test is described and the use of yarn abrasion testing as a supplement to cloth abrasion testing is discussed in the light of data given. Methods used for harsh abrasion are briefly described. It is shown that reversals may arise in the order of ranking fabrics when the conditions of test, notably the type of abrasive, are altered. It is shown that these may persist under controlled conditions in which they cannot be explained by contamination of the abrasive.