🧵 Determination of specimen breakdown (end point of the test) in abrasion of textile fabrics, including nonwovens, on the Martindale tester — circular specimen of at least 38 mm diameter in a holder with foam (without foam from 500 g/m²), Lissajous movement against a standard abrasive fabric, load (795 ± 7) g for workwear, upholstery, bed linen and technical fabrics or (595 ± 7) g for apparel and household textiles, inspection at fixed intervals with a lens and a 2,5 mm template until thread breakage or wear of the pile, at least three specimens, PN-EN ISO 12947-2

Materials and NDT PN-EN ISO 12947-2

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN catalogue card of PN-EN ISO 12947-2:2017-02 (English version; scope in Polish on the card), in full (our translation of the Polish card text): “This document describes the procedure for determining specimen breakdown (end point of the test) by inspection at fixed intervals, which applies to all textile fabrics including nonwovens, with the exception of fabrics whose end condition according to the specifier indicates a low abrasion wear life. This document does not apply to coated fabrics (including laminated fabrics). If the abrasion behaviour of the coated surface of a coated fabric is to be determined, the methods described in the various parts of ISO 5470 are to be used.” We read the text of the standard in the preview of ISO 12947-2:2016 from the cover to clause 7.5.2 (page 7); we do not have Clause 8 (breakdown criteria), the test procedure, inspection intervals or the test report.

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF ISO 12947-2:2016 (foreword, Clauses 1–7.5.2). The standard was prepared by ISO/TC 38/SC 24 (conditioning atmospheres and physical tests for textile fabrics). The second edition replaces the first (1998) with corrigendum Cor 1:2002. Scope (Clause 1, as on the card). References: ISO 105-A02 (grey scale), ISO 139 (atmospheres), ISO 12947-1:1998 (Martindale tester). Definitions (Clause 3): thread, woven fabric, knitted fabric, cut pile and uncut pile fabric, raised fabric, flocked fabric, chenille yarn, nonwoven; specimen breakdown — the point at which criteria based on thread breakage or worn-off area are met; worn-off area — denuded of pile or flock so that the ground fabric is exposed; fully worn-off — more than three quarters of the exposed surface; partially — visible loss of pile in discrete locations (through the template no pile is visible, the ground is visible). Principle (Clause 4): a circular specimen in a holder, under a defined load, is rubbed against an abrasive medium (standard fabric) in a translational movement tracing a Lissajous figure, the holder being freely rotatable about its own axis; the abrasion resistance is evaluated from the inspection interval to breakdown of the specimens; specimens are mounted with a foam backing, specimens with a mass per unit area of at least 500 g/m² — without foam; pile fabrics tested without foam undergo a preparatory treatment (7.5.2); two loads (total mass of the holder assembly with the loading piece): a) (795 ± 7) g for fabrics for workwear, upholstery, bed linen and technical use (nominal 12 kPa); b) (595 ± 7) g for fabrics for apparel and household textiles except upholstery and bed linen (nominal 9 kPa); abrasion continues up to breakdown; the number of rubs at which breakdown is not yet observed is recorded — it is the upper limit of the time before breakdown and at the same time the lower limit of the interval in which breakdown occurs. Apparatus (Clause 5): tester and auxiliary materials according to ISO 12947-1; template — a mask of rigid transparent material with a hole of (2,5 ± 0,1) mm (area about 4,9 mm²); magnifying device (usually 8× or 10×) to recognize completely broken threads, including threads forming loops; mounting device for stretch fabrics with a table mount of (45,0 ± 0,1) mm × (45,0 ± 0,1) mm (Figure 1: table mount, clamp, weight, lowering console). Atmosphere (Clause 6): standard according to ISO 139 (other atmospheres of ISO 139 permitted but to be stated in the report); only results obtained in the same atmosphere are comparable. Sampling (Clause 7): sample representative of the structure and pattern, with minimum tension; laboratory sample preferably across the full width, with at least two full pattern repeats, with the face side indicated; conditioning for at least 18 h (longer, e.g. for a wet sample — to be stated in the report); at least three specimens, for patterned fabrics at least two for each pattern area; at least 100 mm from the edge of the laboratory sample or 150 mm from the selvedge if the full width was supplied; woven fabrics — specimens with different warp and weft threads, knitted — with different wales and courses; patterned fabrics — the most characteristic parts of the pattern, especially weak spots (e.g. floating threads), with more than four patterns — places where patterns meet (up to three in a specimen, up to nine patterns at once). Dimensions (7.4): specimen at least 38 mm in diameter, without wrinkles in the holder nut (no excessive diameter); abradant and woven wool felt beneath it — at least 140 mm; foam — at least 38 mm. Stretch fabrics (7.5.1): squares 60 mm × 60 mm on the table mount face down, four 30 mm clips with weights of (100 ± 2,5) g each (total (400 ± 10) g), lowering and raising the console three times, renewed loading and fixing a film of about 50 mm × 50 mm with double-sided tape and a 30 mm hole, stamping a 38 mm specimen (film ring 4 mm wide) and immediate mounting in the holder; note: PVC film about 0,2 mm thick has proved successful. Pile fabrics above 500 g/m² (7.5.2): tested without foam; preparatory treatment of the reverse — a piece of at least 140 mm face up on the felt with the reverse upwards, in the holder (with foam) a new abradant of at least 38 mm; 1000 rubs at 595 g for apparel and other fabrics of 4 b) or 4000 rubs at 795 g for fabrics of 4 a); a) no pile removal — specimens are taken from this piece and tested normally; b) visible pile removal — the parties agree whether to continue (and record the change) or not to test and report that the fabric is unsuitable for this method; this is where the part we read ends.

STATUS (cards as of 02.10.2026). The card of PN-EN ISO 12947-2:2017-02 (English version, published 01-02-2017, 26 pages, price group M) has no “Withdrawn” header: Consumer Products Sector, KT 26 Textile Products, ICS 59.080.30, “Introduces: EN ISO 12947-2:2016 [IDT], ISO 12947-2:2016 [IDT]”, “Replaces: PN-EN ISO 12947-2:2000 – Polish version, PN-EN ISO 12947-2:2000/AC:2006 – Polish version”. PN-EN ISO 12947-2:2000 (Polish version, published 29-12-2000, 16 pages; introduced EN ISO 12947-2:1998 and ISO 12947-2:1998, replaced PN-P-04621:1993) — “Withdrawal date: 01-02-2017”, replaced by PN-EN ISO 12947-2:2017-02.

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, data up to 17.09.2026, read on 02.10.2026). The number 12947-2 appears in 10 records at 7 laboratories: AB 154, AB 164, AB 198, AB 225, AB 1417, AB 1421, AB 1864. In the current scopes on the PCA website (read on 02.10.2026, issues from 29.12.2025 to 08.07.2026) all 7 give “PN-EN ISO 12947-2:2017-02”; AB 198 with the note “excluding clause 7.5.1” (preparation of stretch fabrics), AB 164 in four places of the scope (textile fabrics and furniture in two locations). No row is set in bold italics. The “Laboratories” tab searches for entries BEGINNING WITH “PN-EN ISO 12947-2” and shows all 7 laboratories — checked with a query of the tab on the production server labcoda.pl on 02.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (items in the PCA scopes). Textile fabrics (woven, knitted), clothing and furniture — “abrasion resistance, specimen breakdown method — Martindale tester” (AB 164, AB 1421), “determination of specimen breakdown” (AB 1864), “Martindale method” (AB 198, AB 225); for furniture together with PN-EN 14465 Annex A (AB 164, AB 225, AB 1864); AB 154 next to PN-EN ISO 12947-3 (mass loss), AB 1417 describes the property as “method of assessing change in appearance — Martindale tester”. In the same groups usually pilling by the Martindale method (PN-EN ISO 12945-2).

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. Load: 795 g for workwear, upholstery, bed linen and technical fabrics, 595 g for apparel and household textiles — a result at another load is not comparable. Result: the number of rubs at which breakdown has NOT YET been observed is given, not the number at which it was noticed. Thread breakage: breaks are recognized with a lens (8–10×), including threads forming loops; pile fabrics are assessed with the 2,5 mm template. Backing: from 500 g/m² without foam; a pile fabric above 500 g/m² first undergoes a preparatory treatment of the reverse, which checks whether the pile cannot be removed from the back. Stretch fabrics: mounting according to 7.5.1 is used when the specimen could deform (bag, fold) during abrasion — AB 198 excludes this clause. Part of the standard: Part 2 ends at specimen breakdown; mass loss is PN-EN ISO 12947-3 (next to it at AB 154), and AB 1417 calls the property a “method of assessing change in appearance”, although it cites Part 2. Atmosphere: results are comparable only from the same ISO 139 atmosphere. Scope: coated and laminated fabrics — ISO 5470.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We do not have Clause 8 (test procedure and determination of specimen breakdown — including inspection intervals depending on the number of rubs and detailed criteria for kinds of fabric), Clause 9 (results), Clause 10 (test report) or the informative Annex A — so we do not give the number of broken threads at which a specimen is broken down, nor the table of inspection intervals.

Method principle

A circular specimen in a holder under a load of 795 g or 595 g is rubbed against a standard abrasive fabric along a Lissajous figure on the Martindale tester and inspected at fixed intervals; the result is the number of rubs at which breakdown (thread breakage or worn-off pile) has not yet been observed.

Applications

• Woven and knitted apparel fabrics and clothing — 7 laboratories in the PCA scopes
• Upholstery fabrics and furniture (together with PN-EN 14465, Annex A)
• Workwear, bed linen and technical fabrics (load 795 g)

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN ISO 12947-2:2017-02 (wersja angielska; EN ISO 12947-2:2016 IDT, ISO 12947-2:2016 IDT)

Title (PL)

Tekstylia — Wyznaczanie odporności płaskich wyrobów na ścieranie metodą Martindale'a — Część 2: Wyznaczanie zniszczenia próbki roboczej

Title (EN)

Textiles — Determination of the abrasion resistance of fabrics by the Martindale method — Part 2: Determination of specimen breakdown

Step-by-step procedure

1. Specimens

   Across the full width, ≥ 100 mm from the edge (≥ 150 mm from the selvedge), at least three, conditioned ≥ 18 h according to ISO 139. PN-EN ISO 12947-2:2017-02 current (cards as of 02.10.2026).

2. Special preparation

   Stretch fabrics — mounting with weights and film (7.5.1); pile fabrics > 500 g/m² — preparatory treatment of the reverse (7.5.2).

3. Mounting

   Specimen ≥ 38 mm in a holder with foam (without foam from 500 g/m²), abrasive fabric on felt on the table; load 795 g or 595 g.

4. Abrasion and inspection

   Abrasion along a Lissajous figure; inspection at fixed intervals with a lens and template.

5. Result

   Number of rubs at which breakdown (thread breakage, worn-off pile) has not yet been observed; atmosphere other than standard — stated in the report.

Required equipment and apparatus

Reagents, media and consumables

Health and safety (OHS)

• The part of the standard we read contains no safety warnings; moving holders of the tester — do not reach in during operation; specimen cutters — care
• TECHNICAL NOTE: the result is the number of rubs without observed breakdown, at the load appropriate to the end use of the fabric; mass loss is Part 3 of the standard

Frequently asked questions