ISO 13938-2:2019

Overview

ISO 13938-2:2019 specifies a pneumatic method for measuring the bursting properties of textile fabrics - specifically bursting strength and bursting distension. The method applies to knitted, woven, nonwoven and laminated fabrics (and can be adapted for other fabric types), and is valid for specimens in both the conditioned and wet state. For most general apparel-level performance (pressures up to 800 kPa) pneumatic and hydraulic testers give equivalent results; hydraulic apparatus is recommended only for specialty textiles that require very high bursting pressures.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Test principle: specimen clamped over an elastic diaphragm; increasing air pressure from below distends the diaphragm and fabric until rupture. Record bursting pressure and height (distension) at burst.
• Apparatus:
  • Bursting tester with control valve capable of producing a time-to-burst of (20 ± 5) s (adjustable air delivery).
  • Pressure indication accuracy: ±2% of full-scale range (above first 20%).
  • Height-at-burst indication accuracy: ±1 mm up to 70 mm; zero adjustable for specimen thickness.
  • Specified diaphragm properties (highly expansive, thickness up to 2 mm) and a safety cover for observation.
  • Clamping ring tolerances: inner diameters accurate to ±0.2 mm; design to avoid specimen damage or slippage.
• Test area: nominally 50 cm² (79.8 mm diameter). Alternative areas (100 cm², 10 cm², 7.3 cm²) may be used by agreement.
• Procedure essentials:
  • Condition specimens per ISO 139 (wet tests use ISO 3696 water or water plus a wetting agent).
  • Perform multiple bursts (repeat at least four additional tests = commonly five tests) at different locations.
  • Apply diaphragm correction: subtract diaphragm pressure (measured at the mean height at burst) from mean bursting pressure to obtain bursting strength.
• Result expression:
  • Report mean bursting strength (kPa) and mean height at burst (mm).
  • Rounding rules: bursting strength to three significant figures; height to two significant figures.
  • Optional: coefficient of variation and 95% confidence limits.

Applications and users

ISO 13938-2 is used for:

• Quality control and acceptance testing in textile manufacturing (apparel, home textiles).
• Performance testing of technical and laminated fabrics where pneumatic burst testing is appropriate.
• R&D and material comparison work in textile laboratories.
• Test-equipment manufacturers and calibration/measurement management per ISO 10012.

Typical users: textile test laboratories, manufacturers, product designers, quality assurance teams, and standards/ compliance officers.

Related standards

• ISO 13938-1 - Bursting properties - Hydraulic method (complementary)
• ISO 139 - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
• ISO 3696 - Water for analytical laboratory use (wet tests)
• ISO 10012 - Measurement management systems (apparatus verification)

Keywords: ISO 13938-2, bursting strength, bursting distension, pneumatic method, textile testing, knitted woven nonwoven laminated fabrics, diaphragm pressure, height at burst.