What is abrasion resistance testing?

Summary

• ANSI abrasion resistance test method
• EN abrasion resistance test method

Abrasion resistance testing on protective gloves and sleeves is used to determine the abrasiveness of the safety material. The abrasion resistance tests examine the wear resistance of the glove and sleeve material and assign it a safety ranking per a credited certification, such as ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 or EN 388:2016. The ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 standard uses the ASTM D2289-10 and ASTM D3884-09 abrasion testing methods while the EN 388:2016 standard uses the Martindale abrasion machine to measure the abrasiveness of each glove. In each certification, the greater the abrasion resistance rating, the stronger the material can withstand abrasive environments.

Abrasion resistance in protective work gloves shields workers from surface abrasions such as nicks, scrapes, and overall wear on the surface of the skin. A glove with a high abrasion resistance can also make the glove longer-lasting, meaning less frequent glove replacement, saving you money.

The ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 standard is accepted in North America. The EN 388:2016 standard is accepted mainly in Europe but has also expanded to Asia, New Zealand, and South America. Ansell’s gloves are tested by both methods to ensure the utmost safety in your specific region.

ANSI Abrasion Resistance Test Method

ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 abrasion standard measures abrasion resistance on a seven-level scale of 0-to-6. The ASTM D2289-10 and ASTM D3884-09 abrasion testing methods test for abrasion resistance by measuring the number of cycles it takes for an abrasion wheel to wear through the glove material, resulting in a hole.

To test for abrasion resistance, the glove material is mounted and abraded by a spinning abrasive wheel until a hole in the sample material is present. The greater the number of cycles it takes to break down the sample material, the higher the abrasion resistance rating.

For a glove to be a level 0 to level 3 abrasion resistance, the test is performed with a 500-gram load on the abrasion wheel. For a glove to be a level 4 to a level 6 abrasion resistance, the glove material must still be intact after passing level 3 cycle requirements. A new piece of the glove material is then replaced, and the test is repeated with a 1,000-gram load on the abrasion wheel.

EN Abrasion Resistance Test Method

The EN 388:2016 abrasion standard is measured on a four-level scale of 1-to-4. The Martindale abrasion machine conducts the abrasion test by placing a sample piece of the glove’s palm before the wheel covered in abrasive paper.

The machine then abrades the glove material until a hole is present. The process described is performed a total of four times. Of the four trials, the test result with the lowest number of cycles completed before a hole is worn through results in the glove’s abrasion rating. The greater the number of cycles it takes to break down the safety material, the higher the abrasion resistance rating.

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