Smartindale

The Martindale Tester has dual servo driver motors and precision slide rails, replacing the traditional mechanical analog drive, to generate a perfect Lissajous curve; We also have done strict sample tests: with rubber analog specimens, and double pressure weight, more than 10 million times (equal to three years of non-stop) of ultra-high-strength friction life test, the Lissajous curve is still accurate and perfect, and the operation is extremely stable. So the testing accuracy and stability of this Martindale Tester is higher.

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The Martindale Abrasion and Pilling Tester is designed to test the abrasion and pilling properties of textiles and is suitable for the following types of materials
Textiles: especially knitted and woven fabrics, such as apparel fabrics (cotton, wool, synthetics, etc.), to assess their susceptibility to pilling and abrasion during daily wear.
Woollen textiles: Woollen products are prone to pilling and the Martindale tester is used to test the abrasion resistance and pilling of woollen materials in use.
Home textiles: such as sofas, bedsheets, and curtains are tested for abrasion resistance and pilling in daily use.
Knitwear and sweaters: these materials are more prone to pilling and can be tested to assess their service life and appearance retention properties.
Synthetic fibers and blended fabrics: Synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon, and blended fabrics such as cotton-polyester blends are tested for abrasion and pilling in use.
Functional fabrics: including outdoor sportswear, professional protective clothing, etc., tested for durability and appearance retention.
Automotive interior and furniture fabrics: including automotive seat fabrics, interior furniture fabrics, etc., testing their abrasion and pilling performance under frequent use.

The results of the Martindale Abrasion Pilling Test are usually expressed in terms of abrasion counts and pilling ratings. The criteria for passing or excelling in these two metrics for scores will vary depending on the test criteria, the type of product, and its use scenario. The following are common determination criteria:

1. Abrasion count
The abrasion resistance test evaluates by recording the degree to which a material is worn under a specified friction pressure and number of times. Usually a higher number of abrasion counts indicates a better durability of the fabric. The following are some common reference values:
General textiles (e.g. everyday clothing)
Pass standard: 10,000 times or more
Excellent standard: 20,000 cycles or more
High-demand textiles (e.g. furniture fabrics, car interiors, outdoor equipment)
Qualifying criteria: more than 15,000 times
Standard of Excellence: 30,000 cycles or more
Some products with high durability requirements, such as furniture fabrics used in public places, can even reach 50,000 to 100,000 times of abrasion, which is considered to be an excellent performance of abrasion resistance.

2. Pilling grade
Pilling grade is usually based on visual evaluation and is classified from 1 to 5:
Grade 1: Very severe pilling
Grade 2: Significant pilling
Grade 3: Moderate pilling, still acceptable
Grade 4: Slight pilling, almost negligible
Grade 5: No visible pilling
Generally, a pilling level of 3 is considered acceptable, while a level of 4 or above is considered excellent.
Standards for different industries
Everyday clothing: Pilling level 3 or above is considered acceptable, level 4 or above is considered excellent.
Home textiles and furnishing fabrics: usually more demanding, with a level 4 or above of pilling to pass strict quality control.
Outdoor and Functional Fabrics: Due to the more demanding environments, they are usually required to have an abrasion resistance of 30,000 times or more, and a pilling level of 4 or higher to be considered excellent.
Different products and industries have specific requirements, so it is recommended to refer to the corresponding industry standards and customer requirements, such as ISO 12945, ASTM D4970 and so on.

There are a variety of commonly used textile abrasion pilling test equipment, which are mainly selected according to different test methods and standards. The following are a few common types of equipment and their characteristics:

Martindale Abrasion Pilling Tester
Usage: The Martindale tester is the most common textile abrasion and pilling test equipment and is widely used for flat abrasion and pilling tests on fabrics.
Principle: Friction is applied to the sample through a defined pressure and movement path (usually circular) to simulate the abrasion and pilling of the fabric during actual wear.
Applicable materials: For knitted fabrics, woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics and other textiles.
Standards: Conforms to international standards such as ISO 12945-2 and ASTM D4970.
Advantages: Reliable test results, widely used, applicable to a wide range of textile types.
Suggestion for selection: Martindale is a good choice if you need a test that meets international standards and handles a wide range of fabrics.

ICI Pilling Box Tester
Purpose: Mainly used for textile pilling test, especially suitable for woollen fabrics and knitted fabrics.
Principle: By putting the textile sample into the pilling box, it simulates the friction of the clothing when wearing in the rotating process, so as to observe its pilling property.
Applicable materials: Knitted fabrics, woollen fabrics and other fabrics that are prone to pilling.
Standard: Comply with ISO 12945-1, BS 5811 and other standards.
Advantages: Particularly suitable for woollen fabrics and materials with high risk of pilling, and the testing conditions are closer to the actual use environment.
Suggestion: If you mainly test woollen fabrics or knitted fabrics, choose ICI pilling box to simulate the real wearing environment better.

Taber Abrasion Tester
Usage: Used to test the abrasion resistance of textiles, not the pilling test. It is suitable for harder materials, such as industrial fabrics, leather, synthetic materials, etc.
Principle: By rotating two abrasive wheels on the surface of the sample, it simulates a strong abrasive action and measures the abrasion of textiles under specific conditions.
Applicable materials: industrial textiles, carpets, leather and other materials with high abrasion resistance requirements.
Standards: Conforms to ASTM D3884 and other standards.
Advantages: Suitable for abrasion resistance testing, especially for industrial use textiles.
Suggestion: If you need to test the abrasion resistance of textiles, especially for industrial use textiles, Taber abrasion tester is the right choice.

Random Tumble Pilling Tester
Purpose: To simulate the pilling of textiles due to friction during washing and wearing.
Principle: Simulates the pilling of textiles in use by placing the sample in a rolling device and utilising the friction created by the cork and the friction device.
Standard: ASTM D3512.
Advantages: The simulated environment is more realistic and is particularly suitable for assessing the pilling of textiles during washing.
Selection advice: If you are concerned about pilling during the washing process, this device may be ideal.

Selection advice:
Choose according to your testing needs:
The Martindale tester is the most common and versatile choice when a wide range of fabrics need to be tested for pilling and abrasion resistance.
For pilling of woollen or knitted fabrics, the ICI Pilling Box Tester is more suitable.
If you are testing technical textiles or need to pay special attention to abrasion resistance, the Taber abrasion tester is more suitable.
Choose according to the test standard:
You need to make sure that the equipment complies with the test standard you are using, such as ISO 12945, ASTM D4970, etc. If you are testing textiles for export or international markets, special attention needs to be paid to matching standards.