How To Check The Quality of LVT/SPC Flooring--Martindale Abrasion Tester

Overview

The Martindale abrasion test refers to testing products based on the Martindale method to evaluate their abrasion resistance. The Martindale abrasion tester is specifically designed to determine the wear resistance and durability of materials.

Principle

During the Martindale test, specimens of the same material are subjected to repeated rubbing under a specified pressure, following a Lissajous curve (figure-eight motion). After reaching the required number of cycles, the degree of wear or damage on the specimen is evaluated.

Test Procedure

1. Sampling

• Cut specimens from the flooring material

• Common sizes: 130 × 130 mm or 150 × 150 mm

Requirements:

Select a representative area without scratches

Avoid edges or defective areas

2. Conditioning

• Place the specimens in a standard environment:  Temperature: 23 ± 2°C , Humidity: 50 ± 5% RH

• Conditioning time: at least 24 hours----this ensures stable and reliable test results.

3. Mounting the Specimen

• Fix the flooring specimen onto the sample holder

• Ensure:

The surface is flat

No warping or curling

Test surface facing upward

4. Installing the Abrasion Head

• Attach the abrasion fabric to the rubbing head

Materials used:

• Standard abrasive fabric (typically wool felt or standard textile)

• Depending on the test standard, additional materials may include: Sandpaper (to increase abrasion severity) or Foam backing

5. Parameter Settings

Typical settings include:

• Load (Pressure): 6 N

• Motion Pattern: Automatic Lissajous (figure-eight) movement

6. Testing

• Start the machine

• The abrasion head continuously rubs against the flooring surface

• The test stops automatically once the preset number of cycles is reached

Result Evaluation

Method 1: Visual Assessment

Evaluate whether the surface shows:

• Loss of gloss

• Pattern fading or disappearance

• Exposure of the underlying layer

Method 2: Failure Point Recording

Record the number of cycles at which visible wear first occurs

Example:

• 8,000 cycles → Pattern disappears

• 12,000 cycles → Wear-through

Additional Features

To improve efficiency, the instrument is equipped with multiple test stations, allowing up to 4 specimens to be tested simultaneously.