The Exchange Test Method

A-11: Tear Strength

Issue Date: 30 Apr 1993

Revision Date: 09/30/2011

  1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE:

    To determine the tearing strength of woven fabrics. Tear strength or resistance to tearing is of importance in fabrics such as those used for shirting, blouses, dresses, interlining, etc. Tear strength tests are not suitable for knit fabrics, felt, or non-woven fabrics with the possible exception of machine direction tears in some light-weight non-woven fabrics.
  2. PRINCIPLE:

    Force required to propagate a rip starting from a cut in a woven fabric is measured by grasping fabric with a movable clamp on one side, and by a fixed clamp on the other side, with the fabric split centered between the two clamps. Then as the pendulum is released, the specimen is torn at the split. The tearing force, in grams, is read directly off of the graduated scale on the pendulum.
  3. REFERENCE:

    3.1 ASTM D 1424-09, Standard Test Method for Tearing Strength of Fabrics by Falling-Pendulum Type (Elmendorf-Type) Apparatus.
  4. APPARATUS:

  5. PROCEDURE:

  6. EVALUATION:

  7. REPORT:

    Report the above figure as tearing strength of the sample or item tested.
  8. NOTES:

    The Thwing-Elmendorf Tear Tester can be obtained as Textile Model 60-400 from Thwing- Albert Instrument Co., 10960 Dutton Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154, tel: 215-637-0100, fax: 215-632-8370, e-mail: thwingpa@aol.com