Slash Resistant Test Results for Sark September 2010
Standard to Comply: HOSDB 2006 Level Required: Level 2:
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Test Direction Failure Force on Kevlar Face (N) Force on WF528 Face (N) Test 1 Test 2 Waleswise 71.64 62.44 65.81 Coursewise 293.77 389.41 122.17 30 degrees to Waleswise 109.74 - 61.61 Average Force 158.38 - 83.2
Standard to Comply: BS EN 388 Level Required: Level 5
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Test Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 SARK Abrasion Resistance (Cycles) 100 500 2000 8000 - 50,000* (with no breakthrough)
Blade Cut Resistance (index) 1.2 2.5 5.0 10.0 20.0 No Cut Through Tear Resistance (N) 10 25 50 75 - 185 (Average of Three Sides – 145,219,190) Puncture Resistance (N) 20 60 100 150 - -
*Wool abradent was used instead of glass abradent.
Standard to Comply: BS EN 5438:1989 Level Required: No ignition
The test is carried out by applying a small igniting flame with a horizontal flame length of 21mm to the face of the fabric for a minimum of 10 seconds. 30 seconds is generally used for higher performing fabrics and therefore we have used the same.
| Ignition Test | Kevlar Face | Composite Spectra Face |
| Untreated Fabric | No Ignition | Ignites at 24 Seconds |
| Exposed to 5 years of UV radiation on Kevlar Side | No Ignition
(tested up to 60 seconds) |
- |
| Exposed to 5 years of UV radiation on WF528 Side | - | Ignites at 20 Seconds |
The polyamide (Nylon) present on the cover of the composite yarn retains the heat, melts and ignites the fabric after 20 seconds of exposure to the burning flame. If allowed to continue to burn, it takes over 5 minutes (322 seconds) to completely burn a vertically held 15 x 8.5 cm fabric. Once the fabric is completely burned, the structure of the fabric is held intact by Kevlar and the Glass fibres.