ISO 5473:1997

Overview

ISO 5473:1997 specifies a laboratory test method for determining the crush resistance of rubber- or plastics-coated fabrics. The method is particularly suited to diaphragm material cut from coated fabrics and measures the force required to compress (crush) the coated surface and textile support under a controlled load and area. The standard defines test specimen dimensions, apparatus (base plate and button/pressing plate), test speed and recording accuracy, conditioning, and reporting requirements.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Test principle: Apply a controlled compressive load through a defined button area until the coating or textile support is crushed; record the force at failure.
• Specimens: Cut from the useful width (per ISO 2286-1); minimum dimensions 50 mm wide × 200 mm long; at least three test values per sample.
• Apparatus:
  • Base plate and button (pressing) plate with dimensions shown in the standard figures.
  • Compression machine with a compression speed ≈ 0.08 mm/s.
  • Compression capacity of the machine must be at least 5 400 N.
  • Force recording device with a calibrated dial or recorder; measurement error ≤ 2% for forces ≤200 N and ≤ 1% for forces >200 N.
• Test procedure:
  • Place specimen on base plate; if faces differ, face with thicker coating upwards.
  • Locate pressing button so its hollowed face contacts the specimen; button edge must be ≥ 12 mm from specimen edges and from other test positions.
  • Apply load at the specified speed until shear yield or maximum dial deviation is reached; repeat at least twice on other locations of the specimen.
  • Crush detection can be verified by manual stretching-damaged areas show reduced tensile resistance.
• Conditioning and aging:
  • Minimum time between manufacture and test: 16 hours.
  • For manufactured articles, perform tests within 3 months where possible; for customer-received items, preferably within 2 months.
  • Condition specimens in atmospheres A, B or C as defined in ISO 2231.
• Test report must include reference to ISO 5473, sample IDs and manufacturing dates (if known), conditioning atmosphere, number of specimens, and the crush force for each test.

Applications

• Quality control and acceptance testing for rubber- or plastics-coated fabrics, especially materials used as diaphragms or membranes.
• Material selection and comparative testing during product development and manufacturing of coated textiles.
• Specification verification for suppliers and purchasers of coated fabrics where resistance to mechanical compression is critical.

Who uses this standard

• Textile and coated-fabric manufacturers
• Materials testing laboratories and QA/QC departments
• Product engineers and R&D teams working on membranes, diaphragms and coated textile components
• Procurement specialists specifying performance requirements

Related standards

• ISO 2231:1989 - conditioning atmospheres for coated textiles
• ISO 2286-1 - determination of roll dimensions and useful width (referenced for specimen width)