PSA D41 1097 Floor Coverings and Floorings - Resistance to Perforation

The standard “PSA D41 1097 Floor coverings and upholstery - Resistance to perforation”, developed by the French automobile company Renault, describes a test method for assessing all coverings that may be subject to perforation, such as floor coverings, seat backs in a folded position and similar coverings.

This test method consists in principle of placing a sample on a ring-shaped support and measuring the force required to pierce the sample using a cylindrical punch.

The equipment used in these tests includes:

• Compaction machine. Allows a test speed of 30 mm/min plus/min 3 mm/min and a preload of 30 N at 1 mm/min. The scale to be used is selected so that any value of failure falls between 20 percent and 80 percent of the maximum value of the scale used.
• Cylindrical punch for punching. With a diameter of 6 mm plus/minus 0,1 mm, a working length in the region of 50 mm, with sharp edges removed from one end, the other is fixed to one of the plates of the compression machine so that the centerline of the punch is perpendicular to the plane of the test specimen.
• Test sample holder. Consists of a fixing ring A, a base B and a clamping system, in accordance with the figure given in the standard. Inspection holes can be drilled in the fixing ring to check the centring of the sample. It must not have a sharp angle in contact with the test tube. The surfaces in contact with the test tube must guarantee fixation without slipping during the test.
• Instrument for cutting test specimens, e.g. scissors or hollow punch with a diameter of 40 mm plus/minus 5 mm.
• Measuring device. To measure thicknesses with an accuracy of plus/minus 0,02 mm. This equipment is only necessary if working with homogeneous samples (rubber, PVC) whose unit resistance to puncture needs to be evaluated.
• Conditioned room. Temperature of 23 degrees plus/minus 2 degrees and relative humidity of 50 percent plus/minus 5 percent.

Test samples should be representative of the size to be characterized. To ensure this representation, it is necessary to find the basic characteristics of the population under study. Selection criteria for test samples should be stated in the test report in accordance with the PSA A10 0156 standard. In case of doubt about sampling, PSA should be contacted for the rules to be followed.

At the beginning of the test, circular test samples with a diameter of 40 mm plus/minus 2 mm are prepared. The test tubes are preconditioned in the chamber for at least 24 hours. By default, five test tubes are prepared per test. If the evaluated product is equal to or higher than 20 percent of the arithmetic mean, the test is completed with 5 additional test tubes.

When performing the test, a test specimen is placed in the test specimen holder and the alignment is checked. The viewing face should be oriented towards the test stand. Taking care to avoid significant swelling of the test specimen, gradually tighten the ring A onto the base B. The test specimen holder is aligned with the punch, which is brought almost into contact with the test specimen. The force is reset. The movement is started. It is necessary to ensure that there is a preload of 1 N in contact with the test tube. The force scale is reset. The test is continued and the maximum load required to pierce the test specimen is read.

In the case of homogeneous samples where the resistance may depend on the thickness:

• Using the gauge, the thickness of the test samples is measured at the centre.
• Three measurements are taken from each test sample and the average value of these readings is used.
• The drill is then operated as previously described.

The resistance to puncture is the average figure of the puncture loads measured on 5 (or 10) test specimens and is expressed in N. In the case of homogeneous materials, this resistance can be expressed in terms of a thickness unit: for each test specimen, the ratio of the puncture load to the average value of the measured thicknesses is calculated. The resistance to puncture is the average figure of the ratios thus calculated.

Our organization has a strong staff that closely follows the developments in the world in the field of science and technology and constantly improves itself. Among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies provided for businesses in various sectors, there are also test services in accordance with the standard “PSA D41 1097 Floor coverings and floorings - Resistance to perforation (hole formation)”.