Abrasion resistance

Abrasion resistance is the resistance of sewing and embroidery threads against abrasion and is assessed on the basis of visible changes in the appearance of the sewing thread, up to and including complete destruction of the thread. The abrasion resistance of sewing threads is measured in abrasion cycles required for destruction.

Resistance to abrasion is one of the most important properties for assessing the performance of sewing threads in seams. This becomes particularly clear when considering, for example, the abrasion stress on decorative seams in upholstery or topstitch seams on shoes. 
Embroidery, such as on workwear or children's shoes, can also be exposed to extreme abrasion. At the same time, abrasion resistance is important for the sewing performance of sewing threads. The friction generated during the manufacturing process must not impair the sewing thread or embroidery thread in order to ensure seam strength.

There is no DIN or ISO standard for the abrasion testing of sewing threads and embroidery threads. Internationally recognised abrasion tests only exist for textile surfaces. AMANN has therefore developed its own testing procedure, which optimally reflects the abrasion stresses encountered during subsequent use.
 

In accordance with DIN EN ISO 12947-2, the Martindale abrasion testing device is used to rub the sewing threads in the seam. The result is visually assessed at intervals using a microscope. The stress intervals are based on the expected number of abrasion cycles until destruction. Unlike testing the strength or elongation of sewing threads, abrasion resistance is not part of standard quality control. Rather, the abrasion tests serve to obtain detailed information about this quality characteristic, which is necessary for competent application advice. Depending on the raw material and construction, sewing threads can have very different abrasion resistance. 

A comparison of different types of sewing thread of the same strength using the AMANN test specification shows the following results:

The abrasion resistance of sewing threads is primarily determined by the raw material and can be classified into different quality grades. The results confirm the superiority of polyamide over polyester and the advantages of synthetic sewing threads over cotton threads. In addition, the sewing thread construction has a significant influence on abrasion resistance. The clear difference between core spun threads and spun threads is interesting here.

A thicker sewing thread does not necessarily result in better abrasion resistance, as – depending on the nature of the material being sewn – it may lie on the surface and therefore be exposed to greater abrasion than a finer sewing thread.

The sewing parameters and the sewing material (the fabric of the abrasion test sample) also have a particular influence on the abrasion resistance of sewing threads in the seam. The sewing parameters – selection of stitch type, stitch density, thread tension – determine the stitch formation and thus the degree of stress. The sewing material used also determines the position of the sewing thread on the sewing material. When processing voluminous, fluffy fabrics, the sewing thread penetrates the fabric and is thus protected against abrasion stress. With hard, dense materials, deep stitch formation is prevented; the sewing thread lies exposed on the fabric and is subjected to high abrasion stress.