Overview
EN ISO 5981:2007 (ISO 5981:2007) specifies laboratory methods for assessing the resistance to combined shear flexing and rubbing of rubber- or plastics-coated fabrics. The standard defines two test procedures: Method A (rubbing forced by a pressure foot) and Method B (rubbing by simple face-to-face contact). Method B is preferred when a pressure foot would cause unwanted abrasion (for example, sticky surfaces or light polyurethane coatings). Tests can be performed on as‑delivered products or after pre‑treatments such as wetting or accelerated ageing. Note: results from Method A and Method B are not comparable.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Test principle: a specimen is subjected to repeated mild abrasive rubs while being flexed by a rubbing machine; damage is assessed visually.
- Apparatus: a rubbing machine with two parallel clamps providing counter‑reciprocating motion and an optional pressure foot. Key machine parameters (specified tolerances):
- Distance between clamps: 12 mm ± 0.3 mm
- Movement amplitude: 40 mm ± 1 mm
- Frequency: 2.4 to 3.0 cycles/s
- Optional foot load: 5 N ± 0.1 N (or 10 N ± 0.2 N by agreement)
- Clamps and foot: polished contact surfaces (Ra = 0.4 μm), rounded edges (radius ~1 mm) to avoid cutting, foot centered and free from clamp contact.
- Test pieces: six specimens per series (three longitudinal, three transverse); typical dimensions 100 mm × 50 mm (110 mm length allowed by agreement for low‑elasticity coatings).
- Pre‑conditioning and timing: minimum 16 hours between manufacture and testing; conditioning and atmosphere rules follow referenced standards.
- Results: damage is evaluated visually and reported; method-specific results cannot be intercompared.
Applications and users
- Who uses it: textile and coated‑fabric manufacturers, quality control laboratories, product development teams, procurement/specification engineers, and certification bodies.
- Practical uses:
- Compare coating formulations or surface treatments for durability
- Validate material performance for applications such as protective clothing, inflatable devices, tarpaulins, upholstery, and technical membranes
- Support supplier quality agreements and acceptance testing
- Guide R&D decisions on coatings (e.g., polyurethane vs thicker rubber coatings)
Related standards
- ISO 2231 - conditioning atmospheres for rubber/plastics-coated fabrics
- ISO 2286-1 - sampling from rolls (roll characteristics)
- ISO 4287 - surface texture (Ra) referenced for polishing
Keywords: EN ISO 5981:2007, ISO 5981:2007, rubber- or plastics-coated fabrics, shear flexing and rubbing, rubbing resistance, pressure foot method, coated textiles testing.