Overview
EN ISO 6450:2021 - "Rubber- or plastics-coated fabrics - Determination of resistance to liquids" specifies laboratory procedures to evaluate how rubber- or plastics-coated textiles respond to exposure to liquids. The standard defines two immersion test methods (total immersion and one-sided surface immersion), the test principle (measurement of selected properties before and after immersion), recommended immersion periods, conditioning and testing atmospheres, and safety/recording requirements. The 2021 edition adds Method B (one surface side immersion) and updates reporting requirements.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and principle: Measure selected physical properties of coated fabrics before and after exposure to selected liquids; express resistance as percentage change or absolute differences.
- Test methods:
- Method A - Total immersion in the test liquid.
- Method B - One-surface (one-sided) immersion in the test liquid (added in the 2021 edition).
- Test liquids: Prefer standard, well-defined chemical compounds (Annex A); if commercial liquids are used, report origin, composition, properties and batch number.
- Immersion conditions:
- Maintain immersion temperature at (T ± 2) °C (use temperature representative of intended use; preferred temperatures referenced in Annex B).
- Recommended immersion periods: 22 h, 46 h, 72 h, 168 h, or multiples of 7 days; choose periods sufficient to reach equilibrium.
- Tests conducted in the absence of direct light.
- Atmosphere and conditioning: Conditioning and testing atmospheres referenced (ISO 2231); roll characteristics referenced (ISO 2286-1).
- Safety and equipment: Follow laboratory safety for toxic, corrosive or flammable liquids; beware of corrosive damage to test equipment.
- Reporting: Include detailed information about test liquids and procedures; updated to request CAS registry numbers when available.
Applications and who uses it
EN ISO 6450:2021 is used by:
- Manufacturers of rubber- or plastics-coated fabrics to validate product durability and chemical compatibility.
- Independent test laboratories and quality control departments for compliance testing and batch verification.
- R&D teams during material development and selection for applications exposed to oils, solvents, cleaning agents or other liquids.
- Procurement, specification writers and certification bodies assessing product suitability for industrial, protective clothing, outdoor, marine or technical textile applications.
Practical benefits include objective comparison of materials, establishment of service limits, and documentation of chemical resistance for product datasheets and safety assessments.
Related standards
- ISO 2231 - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing (referenced).
- ISO 2286-1 - Determination of roll characteristics (referenced).
- Use in combination with relevant property test methods (tensile, elongation, adhesion, etc.) as required by the specific application.