Overview
ISO 5470-2:2021 - "Rubber- or plastics-coated fabrics - Determination of abrasion resistance - Part 2: Martindale abrader" specifies laboratory methods for measuring abrasion resistance of the coated surface(s) of rubber- or plastics-coated fabrics using a Martindale abrader. The standard defines two separate test methods (dry and wet abrasion variants) and is explicitly for coated surfaces; it does not apply to uncoated textile faces (see ISO 12947 series).
Key topics and technical requirements
- Two test methods
- Method 1: Specimens clamped in circular holders and abraded against a stationary abradant.
- Method 2: Specimen placed on the abradant table and abraded by a moving abradant.
- Abrading motion: Relative movement forms a Lissajous figure (approx. 60 mm × 60 mm) producing multidirectional rubbing; tester speed and cycle definition are specified.
- Test pieces and fixtures
- Circular specimen holder exposing a defined flat area (≈ 645 mm²) and an abradant table with a central test area (88 mm side).
- Means to maintain constant contact pressure (nominally 12 kPa) between specimen and abradant.
- Reference abradants
- Wool abradant fabric per ISO 12947-1 or silicon carbide cloth (grade P180). Test results are not comparable across different abradants unless agreed.
- Conditioning and wet testing
- Dry tests require conditioning per ISO 2231. Wet tests require saturation of abradant and/or felt using a water-jet prior to testing.
- Accessories and consumables
- Felt backing, polyurethane foam backing for light-weight samples, flat weightpiece, magnifier for damage assessment.
- Test control and reporting
- Cycles counted in revolutions (16 revs per Lissajous cycle); abradant replacement intervals and inspection points are defined. Test report must identify method, abradant type, conditioning, and observed damage.
Applications and users
ISO 5470-2 is used for quality control, product development, type approval and comparative testing of rubber- or plastics-coated fabrics where surface wear performance is critical. Typical users include:
- Textile and coated fabric manufacturers
- Independent testing laboratories and QA/QC teams
- Product designers and R&D engineers evaluating coating formulations
- Specifiers and procurement professionals requiring abrasion performance data for technical sheets and contracts
Keywords: ISO 5470-2:2021, Martindale abrader, abrasion resistance, coated fabrics, rubber-coated fabrics, plastics-coated fabrics, wet abrasion, dry abrasion.
Related standards
- ISO 12947 series - Martindale abrasion methods for uncoated textiles
- ISO 2231 - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
- ISO 2286-1 - Determination of roll characteristics (usable width, specimen selection)
For implementation, laboratories should follow the detailed apparatus, conditioning and reporting clauses of ISO 5470-2:2021 and coordinate abradant selection by mutual agreement when comparing results.