Protective gloves against mechanical risks - 6.1: abrasion resistance
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Testing methods
Our test laboratory carries out tests according to DIN EN 388, Section 6.1, in an accredited procedure for the determination of the abrasion resistance of materials used in protective gloves against mechanical risks. The test forms part of the DIN EN 388 standard series for evaluating the mechanical protective properties of gloves and is used to determine the resistance of a material to repeated abrasive wear. The results provide an essential basis for the performance assessment and classification of protective gloves used in industrial and technical applications.
The test is particularly applied to leather, coated fabrics, textile materials and other flexible materials used in the manufacture of protective gloves. It is relevant for applications in which materials are exposed to repeated abrasion, such as assembly, transportation, metalworking, construction and maintenance work.
Test procedure
For testing, circular specimens are mounted in a Martindale abrasion tester and subjected to abrasion against a standardized abrasive material under a defined contact pressure. The relative movement follows a Lissajous pattern, generating a uniform multidirectional abrasion action. The number of abrasion cycles required until material breakthrough or until the specified end point is reached is determined. The results are subsequently assigned to the performance levels defined in DIN EN 388.
Testing according to DIN EN 388 (Section 6.1) is frequently performed in conjunction with other mechanical tests specified in DIN EN 388, including cut resistance, tear resistance and puncture resistance. In contrast to abrasion tests such as DIN EN ISO 12947-2 for textile fabrics or DIN EN ISO 5470-2 for coated fabrics, the primary focus of this method is the performance evaluation of materials intended for personal protective equipment (PPE).
