Overview
EN ISO 12947-2:2016 - Textiles: Determination of the abrasion resistance of fabrics by the Martindale method - Part 2: Determination of specimen breakdown describes the standardized procedure to identify the end-point (specimen breakdown) for textile abrasion tests using the Martindale method. It applies to most textile fabrics including nonwovens, and defines how to inspect specimens at fixed intervals to determine when breakdown criteria (thread breakage or worn‑off area) are met. The standard is not applicable to coated or laminated fabrics; for coated surfaces see the various parts of ISO 5470.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and applicability: Covers all textile fabrics and nonwovens except those explicitly specified as having a low abrasion life and coated fabrics.
- Principle of test: Circular specimens mounted in holders are rubbed against a standard abradant in a translational Lissajous motion while the specimen holder may freely rotate. Breakdown is determined by inspection at fixed intervals.
- Specimen mounting: Use of foam backing for most fabrics; specimens with mass per unit area ≥ 500 g/m² are mounted without foam. Specific preparatory treatments are defined for pile fabrics tested without foam.
- End-point criteria: Breakdown is reached when specified criteria based on thread breakage or worn‑off area (partial or fully worn off) are met. A fully worn‑off area is defined as denudation of pile exposing ground fabric over more than three quarters of the exposed surface.
- Test conditions and apparatus: References to ISO 12947-1 (Martindale apparatus), conditioning atmospheres (ISO 139), and inspection aids (e.g. grey scale ISO 105-A02) are integral to consistent results.
- Sampling, specimen dimensions and timing: Requirements for laboratory sampling, specimen dimensions, auxiliary materials, inspection intervals, and reporting of results.
Applications and users
- Product development and quality control: Textile manufacturers, fabric technologists and R&D teams use EN ISO 12947-2:2016 to quantify abrasion durability and determine failure points for upholstery, apparel, technical textiles and nonwovens.
- Lab testing and certification: Third‑party testing laboratories and textile test houses apply this part of the Martindale series to produce reproducible breakdown/end‑point data for specifications and compliance.
- Material selection and specification: Designers, specifiers and procurement professionals rely on breakdown data when selecting fabrics for high‑wear applications (furniture, automotive interiors, workwear).
Related standards
- ISO 12947-1 - Martindale abrasion testing apparatus (required for equipment specification)
- ISO 5470 - Methods for testing abrasion of coated fabrics (use for coated surfaces)
- ISO 139 - Conditioning and testing atmospheres
- ISO 105-A02 - Grey scale for assessing colour change (used when evaluating appearance changes)
Keywords: EN ISO 12947-2:2016, Martindale method, abrasion resistance, specimen breakdown, textile fabrics, nonwovens, abrasion testing, ISO 12947.