The venerable Wyzenbeek Abrasion Test has been around for a century and is considered the standard testing method in North America for measuring how a fabric will hold up to abrasion. Though it’s not the only measure of durability for a fabric, it’s a solid indication of how well a textile will hold up to everyday wear… especially for upholstery and other home décor textiles.
The test involves repeatedly “double rubbing” an abrasive material-covered cylinder (wire mesh or cotton duck, depending on the test specification) one direction, then back the other way against the test material. Every 5,000 double rub cycles, the tested material is checked for either two yarn breaks or for noticeable wear. Customers request the limit to which they’d like the fabric tested. If there are two yarn breaks or noticeable wear before the pre-determined limit, the test is stopped. If the double run count reaches 100,000, the test maxes out. Multiple base textiles we carry, including 15 oz. Polyester Glacier and 9 oz. Polyester Sequoia, hit the 100,000 Wyzenbeek cycles mark.
Need to know more about additional textile testing methods? The TVF Resource Center is loaded with learning opportunities, including tensile and tear strength, colorfastness to light, hydrostatic pressure, spray rating, pill and snag, and UPF testing. You can also reach out to our knowledgeable sales and customer support teams to find out more.
