All interested parties are invited to join in the ongoing development of ASTM International standard ASTM D3181, Guide for Conducting Wear Tests on Textiles. The standard is now under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee D13.60 on Fabric Test Methods, Specific, part of ASTM International Committee D13 on Textiles.

ASTM D3181 is used to provide data that will help predict the expected wear performance of a wide variety of textiles in end-use conditions. Textiles that can be tested with ASTM D3181 include those used in apparel, upholstered furniture, floor coverings, window treatments, and bed, bath and table linens. The guide can be used by those working in textiles for any of the following purposes:

•  To determine the comparative performance of new or existing products;
•  To determine the suitability of current products in different end uses; and
•  To evaluate and compare the effect of wear on construction details, as well as specific fabrics, fibers, dyeings, finishing and fabrication techniques.

The standard includes statistical methods for test design and analysis of data as well as standard procedures for evaluation of textiles.

Norma Keyes, Keyes Consulting, and a D13 member, notes that experimentation with fibers and chemistries, along with increased consumer awareness, has always fueled the need for wear tests but that it can be expensive for companies to design their own tests and achieve valid results. Use of ASTM D3181 allows companies to simplify the wear test process.

For more news in this sector, visit www.astm.org/sn-consumer or follow us on Twitter @ASTMProductsRec.

ASTM Committee D13 Next Meeting: June 9-12, 2013, June Committee Week, Indianapolis, Ind.
Technical Contact: Norma M. Keyes, Keyes Consulting LLC, Apex, N.C., Phone: 919-362-4044; keyesconsult@att.net
ASTM Staff Contact: Jennifer Rodgers, Phone: 610-832-9694; jrodgers@astm.org
ASTM PR Contact: Barbara Schindler, Phone: 610-832-9603; bschindl@astm.org

Release #9320