Tear Strength Test – Test Methods, Application & Test Instruments

1. Purpose of Tear Strength Testing

Fabrics can tear easily from a small cut or defect during wearing, washing, or processing. Tear strength testing evaluates the material’s ability to resist further tearing, helping manufacturers select the most suitable materials for their intended application.

This method is a critical parameter for R&D teams to improve product performance from the raw material stage—comparing different materials, fabric constructions, and finishes to choose the optimal solution.

The principle of tear strength testing is to determine the force required to continue a pre-existing tear in a material. It is an essential index to assess the fabric’s resistance to tearing during actual use, laundering, or processing.

2. Common Testing Methods

🔹 Elmendorf Tear Test (Pendulum method)
– Uses the inertia of a pendulum to measure the energy needed to propagate a tear.
– Suitable for woven fabrics, paper, packaging, thin plastic films.
– Standards: ASTM D1424, ISO 1974, BS 4468, etc.

🔹 Tongue Tear / Single Rip Tear Test
– A T-shaped tear is created by cutting and pulling the fabric using a tensile testing machine.
– Suitable for technical textiles, heavy materials, synthetic leather.
– Standards: ASTM D2261, ISO 13937-2, etc.

🔹 Trapezoid Tear Test
– Applies tensile force to a trapezoid-shaped sample to initiate tearing.
– Ideal for coated fabrics, technical textiles, diagonally structured materials.
– Standards: ASTM D5587, ISO 9073-4, etc.

🔹 Wing Tear / Ballistic Tear (Less common)
– Typically used in technical materials, military fabrics, and high-performance composites.

3. Applications of Tear Testing

• Textile industry: To assess fabric durability for garments, curtains, and technical fabrics.

• Packaging industry: To ensure tear resistance of paper and plastic during transport and handling.

• Footwear industry: For evaluating tear strength of linings and coated materials.

• Industrial materials: Such as flame-resistant fabrics, tarpaulins, and coated textiles.

4. Recommended Equipment

🔸 James Heal Elmatear (Elmendorf Tear Tester)
– Purpose-built for Elmendorf method
– Easy to operate, high precision, and excellent repeatability
– Digital display with data connectivity options

🔸 Titan Universal Strength Tester – James Heal
– Suitable for Trapezoid, Tongue, and Wing Tear methods
– Integrated with TestWise software tailored for textile testing
– Customizable test parameters including force, speed, and grips for each test method

Tear Strength Testing Equipment Consultation

As the official representative of James Heal in Vietnam, Thạch Anh Vàng provides expert consultation to help you select the right testing solution for your specific materials and customer standards.

We offer:
✔️ Genuine, high-precision testing equipment
✔️ Full calibration, training, and operation guidance
✔️ Comprehensive solutions—from machine selection to standard compliance and test procedure development