Interpreting Results

There are different ways to interpret TABER Rotary Platform Abraser (Abrader) test results. They can range from a visual inspection to a detailed computer analysis using TaberWear™ 1.0. The method of evaluation that you select should reflect the type of material that is being tested. In many cases, if you are following a specification - the method for interpreting test results will be listed.

Test results are typically expressed as a wear factor or numerical abrasion index of the test specimen. The most common methods of evaluating results from the Taber Abraser (Abrader) include:

Visual End Point - Test ends when there is a clearly marked change in specimen appearance or other characteristic. When the abrasion test end-point is described in a material specification, the end-point may consist of pass/fail criteria such as yarn breakage, loss in coating, loss of luster, napping, pilling, color loss, or other changes in appearance. Specimens are typically compared with a known standard of the material tested.

Weight Loss - Usually shown in milligrams, indicates how much material has been removed by abrasion.

Taber Wear Index - Indicates rate of wear, and is calculated by measuring the loss in weight (in milligrams) per thousand cycles. The lower the wear index, the better the abrasion resistance.

Volume Loss - For specimens of different specific gravities. Using a correction factor, you can obtain a true indication of wear resistance.

Depth of Wear - Measure the depth of the wear with an instrument such as an OPTICAL MICROMETER.

Wear Cycles Per Mil - Represents the wear cycles required to break through a coating of a certain thickness.

Residual Breaking Force (textile fabrics) - The effective strength of the fabric, or force required to break a specific width of fabric. To determine the individual breaking force of the abraded specimen use the procedure described in the ASTM D5034 and D5035 Standard Test Method for Breaking Strength and Elongation of Textile Fabrics. To work, you must change the distance between clamps to 25mm and horizontally place the path of abrasion on the abraded specimen midway between the clamps. Report the breaking load to the nearest 0.5kg.

Average Breaking Strength (textile fabrics) - Calculated by averaging the breaking strength of the abraded specimens and the unabraded specimens, as determined by the Residual Breaking Force.

Percentage Loss in Breaking Strength (textile fabrics) - To determine the breaking load of the original fabric and the abraded specimen, use the procedure noted above (ASTM D5034 and D5035). Calculate the percentage loss in breaking strength to the nearest 1% for each lengthwise and widthwise directions.