Martindale and Wyzenbeek Test
When choosing upholstery fabric, we usually pay attention to how the material looks and what its structure is. For a layman, assessing its durability is practically impossible due to the simple fact that everything new has to be nice. However, there are two mysterious tests that allow you to determine the quality and durability of upholstery fabric without having to sit down and get up from the couch all the time for a year… 🙂
The Wyzenbeek and Martindale tests are two methods commonly used to predict susceptibility to wear. Actual performance depends on many factors, such as fiber content, weaves, finishes, furniture design, maintenance, cleaning and use. The durability of upholstery fabric is a complex interaction of a number of performance tests, which, in addition to abrasion, include seam slippage, furnishing, tensile strength and use.
Both Wyzenbeek and Martindale are abrasion/rub tests that test different properties of the fabric. The first one involves rubbing along the warp and weft of the fabric, while the second one is based on a figure-eight rubbing. Success in one test does not necessarily mean achieving a satisfactory result in the other.
What is the Martindale test?
The quality of the fabric is assessed mainly by Martindale cycles, which determine the abrasion resistance of the upholstery. The material is tested with combed wool, which makes figure-eights on the material - in order to best imitate the natural process of upholstery wear. The given value is the number of cycles that the rubbing head made until significant changes in the appearance of the material appear (holes, abrasions, severe pilling). In practice, such a test lasts several hours or even several days - depending on the quality of the tested fabric. The number of cycles determines the degree of abrasion. The higher the result obtained in the test, the better the quality of the fabric.
Guided by the assessment criteria of the German Upholstery Institute (yes, there is such a thing), we determine the possibility of accepting the fabric for use in specific conditions. It should be noted that different values are assumed depending on how hard the foam is applied to the fabric.
Private use:
10,000 (soft foam) and 15,000 (hard foam)
Commercial use (e.g. in offices):
25,000 (soft foam) and 35,000 (hard foam)
Public use:
30,000 (soft foam) and 40,000 (hard foam)
However, it is believed that in reality it is necessary to assume "as a reserve" +10,000 to each value, so when you browse the fabric catalog or sampler again and see the information that a given fabric has abrasion resistance calculated in 40,000 Martindale cycles, you will already know that it is definitely a fabric from the higher price range.
The Martindale is a unit for quantifying the abrasion resistance of textiles, especially those used for upholstery. The Martindale machine also tests for fabric pilling.
In the United States, the Wyzenbeek test is often used instead of the Martindale.
What is the Wyzenbeek test?
The test involves using a special machine that allows a sample of the fabric to be pulled tightly into a frame. Individual test samples cut from the warp and weft directions are then rubbed back and forth using an approved fabric as the abrasive. The number of double rub cycles achieved before two yarn breaks or noticeable wear is observed is recorded as the fabric abrasion rating.
Examples of high-duty end-use installations include: corporate, hotel rooms/apartments; conference rooms and dining rooms.
