Performance Standard
Testing standards for polymer-coated fabrics establish standard procedures for determining the resistance of artificial leather to flex cracking. The din 53359 testing method employs a specialized flexometer to fold and unfold a textile specimen repeatedly under tension. This procedure evaluates how well a coated fabric maintains its structural integrity and surface appearance after thousands of bending cycles.
Testing Procedure
Specimens of coated fabric are clamped into the moving jaws of the flexometer to undergo continuous compression and extension. Inspectors examine the samples at pre-determined intervals to check for the first signs of micro-cracking, delamination, or base fabric exposure. Because the test can run for tens of thousands of cycles, it simulates years of mechanical wear in garments, upholstery, or footwear.
Quality Assessment
Visual scale ratings are assigned to the tested specimens based on the severity of the damage observed under magnification. A higher number of cycles without cracking indicates a durable polymer formulation and strong adhesion between the polyurethane coating and the knitted base fabric. This metric is a key requirement for military apparel, protective workwear, and high-performance outerwear where material failure leads directly to water penetration.
When a fabric meets the requirements of din 53359, the manufacturer can guarantee that the material will not crack or peel at high-stress areas like elbows and knees.
Methodological Boundary
Results from this test are specific to dry, ambient laboratory conditions unless the chamber temperature is manually altered. For arctic clothing or industrial garments, the din 53359 procedure must be performed at sub-zero temperatures to capture the embrittlement of the polymer. The visual rating system is also partially subjective, meaning that different technicians might assign slightly different grades to the same specimen.