Tensile strength is important to the textile & apparel industry. It is relevant to quality & performance.
Tensile strength is relevant to fiber, thread, yarn, fabric, trimming, etc.
Ultimate tensile strength (UTS), often shortened to tensile strength (TS), ultimate strength, or Ftu within equations, is the capacity of a material or structure to withstand loads tending to elongate. Tensile strength resists tension (resists being pulled apart).
Ultimate tensile strength is measured by the maximum stress that a material can withstand while being stretched or pulled before breaking.
The tensile strength is the measure of maximum force fabric can bear or support, elongate before it breaks, The tensile strength of the fabric is the maximum amount of tensile stress and tension that fabric can take before breaking or failure to resist anymore.
Tensile strength is defined as a stress on the fabric which is measured as force per unit area. A test piece of fabric is held in two or more places and extended until it breaks. Results depend on factors such as fiber type, fabric category, fabric structure, etc. Tensile strength tests are more generally used for woven fabric as opposed to knit fabrics. With woven fabric there are defined warp and weft directions in which strength can be measured. Certain knits, nonwovens, and lace do not have such directions where strength is at a maximum.
Learn about fabric testing methods in our apparel industry terminology section.
Here are are few examples of tensile strength testing for textiles from ASTM. Consult with them directly for proper testing methods, standards, etc.
Grab Test: The grab test procedure in this test method for the determination of breaking force and elongation is considered satisfactory for acceptance testing of commercial shipments of most woven or nonwoven textile fabrics, and the modified grab test procedure is considered satisfactory for acceptance testing of commercial shipments of most woven textile fabrics, since the procedures have been used extensively in the trade for acceptance testing. Standard Test Method for Breaking Strength and Elongation of Textile Fabrics (Grab Test)
