What is the martindale rub test?
Posted: 11 June, 2009 Filed under: Product Comments | Tags: interior design, textured upholstery fabric, upholstry fabric, velvet, velvets 36 Comments »Most fabrics undergo the Martindale Test to check their durability and suitability for various uses, i.e, curtains, domestic furniture, contract furniture. The test is also known as the Rub Test and it tests for abrasion. The test gives a score in 1000′s of rubs. Domestic fabrics often have a rating of 20,000 rubs. Generally, the higher the figure the more suitable the fabric for heavy usage. For example some KOTHEA velvets have scores of over 100,000 making them usable for heavy contract scenarios in hotels.
You also might want to look <here> for details on the related Wyzenbeek test. Wyzenbeek is another (but different) kind of abrasion/rub test.
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The technical details of the Martindale test are shown below but this information is not normally required to be known by an interior designer:
A circular specimen, mounted in a specimen holder and subjected to a defined load, is rubbed against an abrasive medium (standard wool fabric) in a translational movement tracing a Lissajous figure, the specimen holder being additionally freely rotatable around its own axis perpendicular to the plane of the specimen. The normal end point of the test is when two threads are broken or in the case of pile fabrics when the pile has completely worn off. The inspection interval is dependent on the end point of the fabric and is usually every 1,000 up to 5,000 rubs, every 2,000 between 5,000 & 20,000 every 5,000 between 20,000 & 40,000 and every 10,000 above 40,000.
For more information on luxury cashmere throws or to request cuttings please visit www.kothea.com. For black faux leather upholstery fabrics try <here> and for mohair velvet and mohair velvet upholstery fabric please follow the links. Upholstery Linen is also one of our specialities as are luxury silk velvet fabrics.
BS7176 BS5852 Crib 5 - A Guide
I am familiar with the term “double rubs”. One of my suppliers is showing me a new fabric that will pass 250,000 Martindale rub test. Is this single or double rubs?
Thank you, Marilyn Benn, Supervisor Decor
It will be single, your supplier would need to confirm this. 250,000 is an extremely high figure. I have never heard of a furnishing fabric which such a high rating.
Dear Sir,
I ask for a Martindale test 18000 rubs for a polyester wool fabrics 55/44 plain weave suiting fabrics, Weight 270 grms liner meters. the test as given result as following 2-3 .I want to know if Martindale test is ok for this type of fabrics.
Regards,
Taj Ali Ghani
Hi Taj
The Martindale is a statement of ‘fact’ about an aspect of one of the fabric’s technical properties ie abrasion resistance. Many technical characteristics of the fabric such as density of weave and the type of yarn used.
18,000 rubs would probably be OK for residential upholstery.
If that has not answered your questions please feel free to clarify further.
Hi Ms.Verity Du Sautoy
Can you please suggest number of rubs OK for 100% Cotton furnishing fabrics?
Thanking you in advance for the measures and for your kind co-operation.With best regards.MKG.Selvarajan
Suitable for what purpose? The material (cotton) is irrelevant if you are concerned about durability/wear. That is what the Martindale tests measures.
would a fabric of 25000rubs besuitable for domestic use
yes
[...] with clothing. KOTHEA moleskin is a premium moleskin specifically designed for upholstery with Martindale Rubs between 20,000 and 30,000. Moleskin is often a blend of cotton and linen; however KOTHEA‘s 100% cotton moleskin is [...]
[...] Abrasion: Martindale 20,000. [...]
[...] upholstery, panelling, cushions and curtains. Our new Crushed Velvet is no exception with a Martindale of over 40,000 for a 145cm wide fabric. (See also Martindale vs. Wyzenbeek for an explanation of the [...]
[...] You should be looking at the Martindale properties of the fabric. is more information on the Martindale rub test. [...]
[...] Velvet – A velvet made from natural Mohair Wool. Typically durable with high Martindale rub test results. Natural fibres give a degree of inherent fire [...]
[...] Wyzenbeek and Martindale are abrasion or rub tests. They are however different tests which test different properties and [...]
[...] I read recently, Levi’s has the best construction, threads per inch, with a high score on the rub test, not as sexy as it sounds sadly. They also make pretty much everyones a#* look awesome! With their [...]
Thanks I was wondering what the test was as I just received some results on a material from our architect.
A measure of abrasion. Search this blog for much more info.
Hi sir,
Some people mention the fabric passes certain standard of “double rubs”. Does it also equivalent to Martindale figure or different to that?
Thanks for clarifying.
Simon
It’s covered in this post: http://blog.kothea.com/2009/06/26/martindale-vs-wyzenbeek-3/
[...] in upholstery textiles is tested via the Martindale rub test. The higher the number of rubs the more suitable it is for say, a sofa. If you have a favorite [...]
Hi, indicates the martindale test also tolerance of ”cat’s violence”? I mean for example heavenly playing inthe chair and hanging with claws in it?
No it won’t help with that. Cat’s claws are like knives. So either get them cut/filed REAL short or get a very thick man-made material…something like floor vinyl. Try to cut the floor vinyl (or other fabric) with a knife. If you can’t easily cut it then it might be ok with your cats. Or go dog.
How many kPa is presure for Martindale test (upholstery fabrics) !?
Sorry no idea.
Hi there,
What does “160,000 cycles” mean for a Martindale test? Would this be ok for a main family room sofa? Thanks!
Should be ok for residential use
Could you please suggest me how many martindale rubs would a 100% polyster upholstery fabric survive ? and according to the international standards are we suppose to use worsted wool piece or a piece of cotton ?
It depends on many things other than just the composition. You have to do the test.
It’s impressive that you are getting ideas from this paragraph as well as from our dialogue made at this time.
Thanks for finally talking about >What is the martindale
rub test? « KOTHEA The Fabric Blog <Liked it!
Can someone suggest how many cycles will be OK to test on Pique 100% Cotton fabric as on Martin-dale test ?
When the test is made on fabric the test company will do 5,000 or 10,000 rubs and stop. Observer and then do 5,000 or 10,000 more until the ‘endpoint’(s) when the (layers of) fabric fail.
Do you know of any chart with recommended martindale cycles per usage?
Ex. Recommended cycles for light residential use, or high residential use, or light contract use, medium contract use, or high contract use?
Does that exist?
I would like to learn more about this. Is there somewhere you could recommend?
Cheers
Try this: http://blog.kothea.com/2011/05/31/wyzenbeek-martindale-abrasion-testing/
Lovely. Many thx for the fast reply.
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