Can you recommend a suitable wear test for testing leather shoes?

Testing the abrasion resistance of leather shoes is an important step in ensuring their quality and durability. For testing the abrasion of leather shoes, the following are a few suitable methods:

1. Martindale method:
The Martindale method is a method commonly used to test the abrasion resistance of leather materials. It simulates the action of friction between leather and other surfaces by abrading the leather by means of a disc head moving back and forth. The results of the test are usually expressed in terms of the number of cycles passed or the abrasion index. This method assesses the abrasion resistance of the external surfaces of leather shoes. 

2. Wyzenbeek method:
The Wyzenbeek method is mainly used to assess the abrasion resistance of fabrics and fabric-covered materials (e.g. synthetic leather), but can also be applied to leather materials. The method uses a flat device to slide a sample of material with a wear head back and forth to simulate the contact of the material with other surfaces in everyday use. The results are usually expressed in terms of a durability rating. 3.

 

3. Taber method:
The Taber method can be used to evaluate the abrasion resistance of hard surface materials (e.g., coatings, plastics, metals, etc.) as well as some leather materials. It uses a Taber abrasion meter, where the sample is fixed on a rotating platform and the abrasion test is carried out by applying the gravitational force of a rotating disk on the surface of the sample. The results of the test are usually expressed in terms of weight or durability rating of the material lost.

4. Crockmeter method:
The Crocker method is mainly used to assess the color fastness and dye migration of leather and fabric materials, and can also be used as an indirect method of abrasion testing. For the test, a standardized rubbing head is placed on the surface of the leather and worn by sliding it back and forth. The color change is then measured using a colorimeter and compared to the standard.

 

Please note that before any abrasion test is carried out, it is important to follow the relevant standards and guidelines for the operation and to ensure that the test equipment is correctly set up and calibrated. It should also be noted that different test methods may exhibit different wear characteristics and results on the material, so it is possible to use a combination of methods to fully assess the wear resistance of leather shoes.