ASTM is an international standards organization based in the United States. It was introduced to establish technical standard agreements for various materials, products, systems, and more. One commonly used ASTM standard in the industry is ASTM D5034.
Description
ASTM D5034 is an international test standard designed to determine the breaking strength and elongation of woven, non-woven, and felted fabrics and textiles. This standard utilizes grab and modified grab testing procedures:
- The grab test procedure applies to woven, nonwoven, and felted fabrics.
- The modified grab test procedure is primarily used for woven fabrics.
This method is not recommended for glass fabrics, knitted fabrics, or other textile fabrics with high stretch (more than 11%). Industries that manufacture fabrics and textiles frequently use this standard. ASTM standards are widely preferred by corporate and government bodies worldwide, including Malaysia, where the Malaysian government has also adopted this standard.
ASTM D5034 provides test results in both inch-pound and SI units:
- Inch-pound units are primarily used in the United States.
- SI units are commonly used internationally, including in Malaysia.
This test is performed using a Universal Testing Machine (UTM), also known as a tensile testing machine. The following properties are measured:
- Breaking Force
- Elongation
- Maximum Load
- Load at Extension Point
Test Specimens
- Woven, Non-Woven, and Felted Fabrics & Textiles
- The specimen width is 100 mm (4.0 in.).
- The specimen is clamped in a tensile testing machine, and force is applied until it breaks.
- The breaking force and elongation are recorded using a computer interface connected to the testing machine.
Recommended Grips
To prevent slippage during testing, we recommend using pneumatic or manual grips with rubber-coated inserts:
- Pneumatic Grips
- These grips generate force using pneumatic cylinders acting on the jaws or via a lever system.
- Ideal for testing various materials and ensuring ease of use, higher productivity, and better repeatability.
- Operated using finger toggles or foot pedals for efficient sample loading.
- Side Action Grips
- Suitable for testing fabric, textile webbing, metal, film, rubber, and plastic.
Recommended UTM Machines
We recommend UTM machines with a capacity of 5kN-20kN, depending on fabric or textile strength. Dual-column machines are ideal for this test.
- VEW 2308
- Designed with mechanical-electrical integration, featuring a force-measuring sensor, transmitter, microprocessor, and load drive mechanism.
- Equipped with a high-precision electronic motor with five-speed settings.
- Supports testing of stretch, compression, bending, shear, peeling, tearing, and crack resistance.
- Applicable for rubber, plastics, leather, metal, nylon wire, fabric, paper, aerospace materials, packaging, construction, petrochemical, and automotive materials.
Test Procedure
- Start the test at a constant rate until the specimen fails/breaks.
- Prepare the specimen as described in the method.
- Cut the fabric into a rectangular shape, ensuring the longer side is parallel to the test direction.
- Draw a guideline along the long segment for easy alignment in the grips.
- Load and secure the specimen into the grips:
- Clamp the top grip first, then the bottom grip.
- Ensure proper alignment of the specimen.
- Zero all testing machines before starting the test.
- Apply a slight preload to align the grips and remove slack.