ASTM D3690-95a(2001)

Standard Performance Specification for Vinyl-Coated and Urethane-Coated Upholstery Fabrics-Indoor

SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers performance requirements for vinyl-coated and urethane-coated upholstery fabrics produced with woven, knit, or nonwoven substrates which are used in the manufacture of new indoor furniture.  
1.2 This specification is not applicable to fabrics used in porch, deck, or lawn furniture; nor for plain knit fabrics and plain, tufted, or flocked, woven upholstery fabrics.  
1.3 These requirements apply to the length and width directions for those properties where fabric direction is pertinent.
1.4  This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Dec-1995
• ICS: 59.080.40 - Coated fabrics
• Technical Committee: D13 - Textiles
• Drafting Committee: D13.63 - Home Furnishings

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D3690-02 - Standard Performance Specification for Vinyl-Coated and Urethane-Coated Upholstery Fabrics-Indoor
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2002

Standards Content (Sample)

Designation: D 3690 – 95a (Reapproved 2001)
Standard Performance Specification for
Vinyl-Coated and Urethane-Coated Upholstery Fabrics—
Indoor
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3690; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D 5034 Test Method for Breaking Force and Elongation of
Textile Fabrics (Grab Test)
1.1 This specification covers performance requirements for
2.2 AATCC Test Methods:
vinyl-coated and urethane-coated upholstery fabrics produced
8 Colorfastness to Crocking: AATCC Crockmeter Method
with woven, knit, or nonwoven substrates which are used in the
16 Colorfastness to Light
manufacture of new indoor furniture.
116 Colorfastness to Crocking: Rotary Vertical Crockmeter
1.2 This specification is not applicable to fabrics used in
Method
porch, deck, or lawn furniture; nor for plain knit fabrics and
Evaluation Procedure 1 Gray Scale for Color Change
plain, tufted, or flocked, woven upholstery fabrics.
Evaluation Procedure 3 Chromatic Transference Scale
1.3 These requirements apply to the length and width
2.3 Chemical Fabrics and Film Association Standards:
directions for those properties where fabric direction is perti-
CFFA-5 Test for Blocking
nent.
CFFA-20 Test for Tearing Strength, Procedure B—Tongue
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Method
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
NOTE 1—Reference to test methods in this specification give only the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
permanent part of the designation of ASTM, AATCC, or other test
methods. The current editions of each test method cited shall prevail.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3. Terminology
2. Referenced Documents
3.1 Definitions:
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.1 blocking, n—the measurement of the development of
D 123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
surface tack and the thermal softening point of the material.
D 751 Test Methods for Coated Fabrics
3.1.2 hydrolytic stability, n—the ability to withstand the
D 1175 Test Methods for Abrasion Resistance of Textile
environmental effects of high humidity.
Fabrics (Oscillatory Cylinder and Uniform Abrasion
3.1.3 tack tear, n—the measurement of the resistance of a
Method)
coated fabric to tearing under conditions simulating an instal-
D 1203 Test Methods for Volatile Loss from Plastics Using
lation that has been tacked in place.
Activated Carbon Methods
3.1.3.1 Discussion—Tack tear is intended primarily for
D 2097 Methods of Flex Testing of Finish on Upholstery
testing vinyl-coated fabrics for furniture or automotive appli-
Leather
cations.
D 2136 Test Method for Coated Fabrics—Low-
3.2 For definitions of other textile terms used in this
Temperature Bend Test
specification, refer to Terminology D 123 and to the Technical
D 2905 Practice for Statements on Number of Specimens
Manual of the American Association of Textile Chemists and
for Textiles
Colorists.
4. Significance and Use
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D13 on
Textiles and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D13.63 on Home
4.1 This specification covers the performance requirements
Furnishings.
for vinyl-coated and urethane-coated upholstery fabrics used in
Current edition Dec. 10, 1995. Published March 1996. Originally published as
the manufacture of indoor furniture that will be subjected to
D 3690 – 78. Last previous edition D 3690 – 95.
normal, nonabusive consumer usage. There are three class
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 07.01.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 09.02.
Discontinued—Replaced by D 4157 and D 4158, Annual Book of ASTM
Standards, Vol 07.01.
5 9
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01. Available from American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, P.O.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.04. Box 12215, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
7 10
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vols 09.01 and 09.02. Available from Chemical Fabrics and Film Association, 1230 Keith Bldg.,
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 07.02. Cleveland, OH 44115.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 3690
designations for breaking strength, tear strength, and tack-tear method, select the lot sample as agreed upon between the
resistance to identify the varying degrees of durability or purchaser and the supplier.
performance. These classifications are: Class A—heavy duty; 6.3 Unless otherwise agreed upon, as when specified in an
Class B—medium duty; and Class C—light duty. applicable material specification, take the number of specimens
4.2 It is recognized that for purposes of fashion or aesthet- directed in each of the applicable test methods.
ics, the ultimate consumer of articles made from these fabrics 6.3.1 If there has been no prior agreement and the test
may find acceptable some fabrics that do not conform to all of method does not specify the number of specimens, use the
the requirements in Table 1. For example, the fabric could be procedures in Practice D 2905 to determine the number of
dyed in shades that do not meet the requirement in Table 1 for specimens, such that the user may expect at the 95 % prob-
colorfastness to light, yet be acceptable to the ultimate con- ability level that the test result is no more than 5 % of the
sumer because the shade is fashionable. In such cases, one or average above or below the true average (that is, a theoretical
more of the requirements may be modified by mutual agree- average from an infinite number of observations) when using a
ment between the purchaser and the supplier. reliable estimate of variability of individual observations on
4.2.1 If any of the requirements in Table 1 are modified by similar materials in the user’s laboratory under conditions of
mutual agreement between the purchaser and the supplier, any single-operator precision.
reference to the specification shall specify that: “This fabric
7. Test Methods (see Note 1)
meets ASTM Specification D 3690 except for the following
7.1 Breaking Force—Determine the dry breaking force in
characteristic(s).”
the standard atmosphere for testing textiles, as directed in Test
4.3 The uses and significance of particular properties are
Method D 5034, using a constant rate of traverse (CRT) tensile
discussed in the appropriate sections of the specific methods.
testing machine with the speed of the pulling clamp at 300 6
5. Performance Requirements
10 mm (12 6 ⁄2in.)/min.
5.1 The properties of vinyl-coated or urethane-coated up-
NOTE 2—If preferred, the use of a constant-rate-of-extension (CRE)
holstery fabrics shall conform to the specification requirements
tensile testing machine is permitted. The crosshead speed should be as
of one of the three categories in Table 1.
agreed between the purchaser and the supplier. There may be no overall
correlation between the results obtained with the CRT machine and with
6. Sampling
the CRE machine. Consequently, these two breaking load testers cannot be
used interchangeably. In case of controversy, the CRT method shall
6.1 Tests shall be performed on the fabric as it will reach the
prevail.
consumer.
6.2 Select the lot samples as specified in the applicable test 7.2 Tongue Tear Strength—Determine tongue tear strength
methods. In the absence of such instructions in a specific test as directed in Procedure B of CFFA Method 20 using a CRT
TABLE 1 Performance Requirements
Requirements
Property Section
Class A Class B Class C
A
Breaking strength (load) (CRT Method): 7.1
Length 244 N (55 lbf), min 222 N (50 lbf), min 200 N (45 lbf), min
Width 244 N (55 lbf), min 222 N (50 lbf), min 178 N (40 lbf), min
A
Tongue tear strength (CRT Method) 7.2
Length 27 N (6 lbf), min 18 N (4 lbf), min 13 N (3 lbf), min
Width 22 N (5 lbf), min 13 N (3 lbf), min 9 N (2 lbf), min
Tack-tear resistance: 7.3
Length 133 N (30 lbf), min 111 N (25 lbf), min 67 N (15 lbf), min
Width 133 N (30 lbf), min 89 N (20 lbf), min 67 N (15 lbf), min
Adhesion of coating to substrate 525 N/m (3.0 lbf/in.), 525 N/m (3.0 lbf/in.), 525 N/m (3.0 lbf/in.), 7.4
min min min
Surface abrasion no appreciable color change at 200 cycles, Class A, B, and C 7.5
Resistance to flexing no cracking or delamination at 15 000 cycles, Class A, B, and C 7.6
Blocking at elevated temperature rating 2, min, no blocking; coating adheres slightly,Class A, B, and C 7.7
Resistance to cracking at low temperature no cracking at − 106 1°F (−23 6 1°C), Class A, B, and C 7.8
B
Colorfastness to crocking: 7.9.1
C C C
Dry class 4.0 min class 4.0 min class 4.0 min
C C C
Wet class 4.0 min class 4.0 min class 4.0 min
A D D D
Colorfastness to light (xenon) (120 AATCC fading Step 4 min Step 4 min Step 4 min 7.9.2
units)
Loss of plasticizer 10 % max 10 % max 10 % max 7.10
Hydrolytic stability: 7.11
Adhesion must maintain 75 % of original strength, Class A, B, and C 7.11.3.1
Surface abrasion no cracking or delamination at 25 000 cycles, Class A, B, and C 7.11.3.2
Resistance to flexing no breaks in coating at 15 000 cycles, Class A, B, and C 7.11.3.3
Flammability pass pass pass 7.12
A
There is more than one standard test method that can be used to measure breaking strength, tongue tear strength, and lightfastness. These test methods cannot be
used interchangeably since there may be no overall correlation between them (see Notes 2 and 3).
B
Class in b and c is based on a numerical scale of 5 for negligible color transfer or color change to 1
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