BRITISH STANDARD BS EN ISO

3378:2002
Licensed Copy: Gilbert Athens, University of Birmingham, 10/06/2008 08:59, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

Incorporating
Corrigendum No. 1

Leather — Physical and

mechanical tests —
Determination of
resistance to grain
cracking and grain
crack index

The European Standard EN ISO 3378:2002 has the status of a

British Standard

ICS 59.140.30

12&23<,1*:,7+287%6,3(50,66,21(;&(37$63(50,77('%<&23<5,*+7/$:
 BS EN ISO 3378:2002
Licensed Copy: Gilbert Athens, University of Birmingham, 10/06/2008 08:59, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI
This British Standard, having
been prepared under the
direction of the Materials and
Chemicals Sector Policy and
Strategy Committee, was
published under the authority
of the Standards Policy and
Strategy Committee on
16 January 2003
© BSI 17 September 2003
ISBN 0 580 41092 7
National foreword
This British Standard is the official English language version of
EN ISO 3378:2002. It is identical with ISO 3378:2002. It supersedes method 7
of BS 3144:1968, which is deleted by amendment.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee
TCI/69, Footwear and leather, which has the responsibility to:
— aid enquirers to understand the text;
— present to the responsible international/European committee any
enquiries on the interpretation, or proposals for change, and keep the
UK interests informed;
— monitor related international and European developments and
promulgate them in the UK.
A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on
request to its secretary.
Cross-references
The British Standards which implement international or European
publications referred to in this document may be found in the BSI Catalogue
under the section entitled “International Standards Correspondence Index”, or
by using the “Search” facility of the BSI Electronic Catalogue or of
British Standards Online.
This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.
Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, the EN ISO title
page, the EN ISO foreword page, the ISO title page, pages ii to iv, pages 1 to 6,
the Annex ZA page and a back cover.
The BSI copyright notice displayed in this document indicates when the
document was last issued.
Amendments issued since publication
Amd. No. Date Comments
14712 17 September 2003 Correction to the EN ISO foreword page
Corrigendum No. 1 and incorporating the Annex ZA page
 EUROPEAN STANDARD EN ISO 3378
Licensed Copy: Gilbert Athens, University of Birmingham, 10/06/2008 08:59, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM December 2002

ICS 59.140.30

English version

Leather - Physical and mechanical tests - Determination of

resistance to grain cracking and grain crack index (ISO
3378:2002)

Cuir - Essais physiques et mécaniques - Détermination de Leder - Physikalische und mechanische Prüfungen -
la résistance à la gerçure de la fleur et indice de gerçure Bestimmung der Widerstandes gegen Narbenplatzen und
(ISO 3378:2002) des Narbenbruchindex (ISO 3378:2002)

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 9 September 2002.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the Management Centre or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the Management Centre has the same status as the official
versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION

COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36 B-1050 Brussels

© 2002 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 3378:2002 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
 EN ISO 3378:2002
Licensed Copy: Gilbert Athens, University of Birmingham, 10/06/2008 08:59, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

CORRECTED 2003-08-27

Foreword

This document (EN ISO 3378:2002) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 289
"Leather", the secretariat of which is held by UNI, in collaboration with the International Union of
Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies (IULTCS).

It is based on Method IUP 12 of the International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists
Societies.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of
an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by June 2003, and conflicting national
standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by June 2003.

According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of

the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,
Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Endorsement notice

The text of ISO 3378:2002 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 3378:2002 without any
modifications.

NOTE Normative references to International Standards are listed in Annex ZA (normative).

 EN ISO 3378:2002
Licensed Copy: Gilbert Athens, University of Birmingham, 10/06/2008 08:59, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 3378
IULTCS/IUP
12
Second edition
2002-12-15

Leather — Physical and mechanical

tests — Determination of resistance to
grain cracking and grain crack index
Cuir — Essais physiques et mécaniques — Détermination de la résistance
à la gerçure de la fleur et indice de gerçure

Reference number
ISO 3378:2002(E)
IULTCS / IUP 12
 Licensed Copy: Gilbert Athens, University of Birmingham, 10/06/2008 08:59, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

ii
EN ISO 3378:2002
 ENIS:8733
ISO 3378:2002
O2002(E)
Licensed Copy: Gilbert Athens, University of Birmingham, 10/06/2008 08:59, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

Contents

Page
Foreword .................................................................................................................................................................... iv

1 Scope ..............................................................................................................................................................1
2 Normative references ....................................................................................................................................1
3 Principle ..........................................................................................................................................................1
4 Apparatus .......................................................................................................................................................1
5 Sampling and sample preparation ...............................................................................................................3
6 Procedure .......................................................................................................................................................3
7 Expression of results ....................................................................................................................................3
8 Test report ......................................................................................................................................................4
Annex A (informative) The derivation of a grain crack index ..................................................................................5
Annex B (informative) Sources of apparatus ...........................................................................................................6

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Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO
member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical
committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has
the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in
liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards adopted
by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an International
Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights.
ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

ISO 3378 was prepared by the Physical Test Commission of the International Union of Leather Technologists and
Chemists Societies (IUP Commission, IULTCS) in collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization
(CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 289, Leather, the secretariat of which is held by UNI, in accordance with the
Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement). It is based on IUP 12 originally
published in J. Soc. Leather Trades Chemists 44, p. 380, (1960) and declared an official method of the IULTCS in
1961. This updated version was published in J. Soc. Leather Tech. Chem. 84, p. 347, (2000) and reconfirmed as
an official method in March 2001. This same principle is used but the text has been updated and includes the
number of test pieces to be taken.

This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 3378:1975), which has been technically revised.

vi
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 EN ISO 3378:2002
INTENRATIONAL TSANDADR IS:8733 O2002(E)
Licensed Copy: Gilbert Athens, University of Birmingham, 10/06/2008 08:59, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

Leather — Physical and mechanical tests — Determination of

resistance to grain cracking and grain crack index

1 Scope
This International Standard specifies a method for determining the resistance of leather to grain cracking and for
determining the grain crack index. It is applicable to all heavy leathers.

2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references,
only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.

ISO 2418 Leather - Chemical, physical and mechanical, and fastness tests - Sampling location
ISO 2419 Leather - Physical and mechanical tests - Sample preparation and conditioning
ISO 2589 Leather - Physical and mechanical tests - Determination of thickness

3 Principle
A sample of leather is bent, grain outwards, around a mandrel of known diameter under the minimum force
required to keep the leather and mandrel in contact. The grain is kept under observation and any cracking noted.

4 Apparatus
4.1 Test machine, including 4.2 to 4.4.

4.2 Clamp, or other device, which rigidly holds one end of the test piece.

4.3 Cylindrical roller, diameter 25,0 mm
0,5 mm fitted with a handle perpendicular to the axis with the position
of the roller being adjustable with respect to its position on the handle.

4.4 Set of mandrels, with diameters given in Table 1.

Table 1 — Diameter of mandrels

Mandrel number Diameter

mm
1 61,67
0,03

2 35,00
0,03

3 23,57
0,03

4 17,22
0,03

5 13,18
0,03

6 10,38
0,03

7 8,33
0,03

8 6,76
0,03

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4.5 The general arrangement, is such that the roller (4.3) and mandrel (4.4) make contact with the grain and
flesh surface respectively of the middle portion of the test piece across its full width. Ensure the axis of both the
mandrel and the roller is perpendicular to the length of the test piece. Fix the axis of the mandrel relative to the
clamp and fix the axle of the roller to a handle pivoted at the axis of the mandrel. Ensure the relative position of the
clamp, roller and mandrel is adjustable so that the test piece is not subjected to any distortion when in contact with
the mandrel and roller prior to the start of the test.

Figure 1 shows in plan view the relative position of the clamp (4.2), roller (4.3) and mandrel (4.4)

Key
1 Roller
2 Specimen
3 Mandrel
4 Clamp
5 Positions at beginning of test
6 Positions at end of test

Figure 1 — Positions of clamp, roller and mandrel

4.6 Press knife, the inner wall of which is a rectangle of width 25 mm
1 mm and minimum length 150 mm as
specified in ISO 2419.

4.7 Thickness gauge, as specified in ISO 2589.

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ISO 3378:2002
O2002(E)
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5 Sampling and sample preparation

5.1 Sample in accordance with ISO 2418. From the sample, cut six test pieces by applying the press knife (4.6)
to the grain surface, three test pieces with the longer sides parallel to the backbone and three test pieces with the
longer sides perpendicular to the backbone.

NOTE If there is a requirement for more than two hides or skins to be tested in one batch, then only one test piece in each
direction need be taken from each hide or skin, provided that the overall total is not less than three test pieces in each direction.

5.2 Condition the test pieces in accordance with ISO 2419.

5.3 Determine the thickness of the test pieces in accordance with ISO 2589.

6 Procedure

6.1 Adjustment of the apparatus

6.1.1 Place the required mandrel in the machine.

6.1.2 Clamp one end of the test piece in position. Adjust the relative position of the clamp and mandrel so that
the flesh side of the leather is in contact with the mandrel.

6.1.3 Attach the handle (4.3) to the axis of the mandrel and adjust the position of the roller until the roller touches
the grain surface of the leather. Lock the axle of the roller in this position.

6.2 Resistance to grain cracking using a given mandrel

6.2.1 With the test piece and required mandrel in position (6.1), turn the handle through 180° in 5 s
1 s thus
bending the test piece grain outwards around the mandrel. During the bending observe the grain and note any
cracking.

6.2.2 Repeat with other mandrels if required.

6.3 Determination of grain crack index

6.3.1 Using each of the numbered mandrels in turn, starting with no 1, carry out the procedure described in 6.1
and 6.2.1. Note the number of the largest mandrel which causes grain cracking.

7 Expression of results
7.1 If the resistance to cracking over a specified mandrel is determined, the result is expressed as a pass or
failure.

7.2 If the grain crack index is determined, multiply the number, n, of the largest mandrel which causes cracking
by the thickness, t, of the test piece, in millimetres, to obtain the grain crack index, n · t. If the grain cracks when
the leather is being bent round the largest mandrel (mandrel no 1), the grain crack index shall be expressed as
“less than 1,5t” (not t). Similarily, if the grain fails to crack when bent round the smallest mandrel (mandrel no 8)
the crack index shall be expressed as “greater than 8,5t” (not 8t).

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8 Test report
The test report shall contain the following for each test piece:

a) reference to this International Standard, i.e. ISO 3378 : 2002;

b) if the leather was tested over a specified mandrel (or mandrels) of specified diameter, the diameter of the
mandrels and whether the samples passed or failed;

c) the grain crack index, if determined;

d) the standard atmosphere used for conditioning and testing as given in ISO 2419 (i.e., 20 °C/65 % relative
humidity or 23 °C/50 % relative humidity);

e) any deviations from the method specified in this International Standard;

f) full details for identification of the sample and any deviation from ISO 2418 with respect to sampling.

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Annex A
(informative)
The derivation of a grain crack index

A.1 The diameters of the set of mandrels are chosen so that bending a 5 mm thick leather round them causes
extensions of the grain of (5n + 2,5)%, if the neutral axis of the leather is assumed to be midway between the grain
and flesh surface in the bent test piece.

If the leather does not crack on mandrel (n - 1), but cracks on mandrel n, it cracks when its percentage extension
lies between 5(n 1) + 2,5 and 5n + 2,5 (that is, when the percentage extension lies between 5n
2,5 and 5n +
2,5) so 5n is an acceptable estimate of the percentage extension of the grain at crack.

For a leather 5 mm thick, however, 5n is the grain crack index, so for this leather the grain crack index is equal to
the estimated percentage extension of the grain when cracking occurs.

A.2 For leather of thickness other than 5 mm the grain crack index n·t is not exactly equal to the percentage
extension of the grain at crack, but it is a sufficiently close estimate of it for those mandrel sizes on which cracking
is likely to occur in practice. Table A.1 shows the grain crack index, A, and percentage extension of the grain at
crack, B, for different leather thicknesses and mandrels on which the leather first cracks.

NOTE The percentage extension of the grain at crack is calculated on the assumption that this occurs midway between the
extension given by the corresponding mandrel and that given by the next larger mandrel, and that the neutral axis is midway
between the grain and flesh surface.

Table A.1 — Crack index and percentage extension of the grain at crack

Mandrel Thickness of leather, millimetres

No. 3 4 5 6 7 8

A B A B A B A B A B A B

1 <4,5 - <6 - <7,5 - <9 - <10,5 - <12 -

2 6 6 8 8 10 10 12 12 14 13 16 15

3 9 10 12 12 15 15 18 17 21 20 24 22

4 12 13 16 17 20 20 24 23 28 26 32 29

5 15 17 20 21 25 25 30 29 35 32 40 35

6 18 20 24 26 30 30 36 34 42 38 48 41

7 21 24 28 30 35 35 42 39 49 43 56 46

8 24 29 32 35 40 40 48 44 56 48 64 52

No crack at >25,5 >34 >42,5 >51 >59,5 >68

8

< represents “less than”;

> represents “greater than”

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 EN ISOO2002(E)
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Annex B
(informative)

Sources of apparatus

Examples of suitable products available commercially are given below. This information is given for the
convenience of users of this International Standard and does not constitute an endorsement by ISO of these
products.

The recommended apparatus is the bottom leather grain crack tester manufactured, for example, by:

SATRA Technology Centre, Rockingham Road, Kettering, Northants, NN16 9JH, England.

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 EN ISO 3378:2002
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Annex ZA
(normative)

Normative references to international publications

with their relevant European publications

This European Standard incorporates by dated or undated reference, provisions from other
publications. These normative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text and the
publications are listed hereafter. For dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of
any of these publications apply to this European Standard only when incorporated in it by
amendment or revision. For undated references the latest edition of the publication referred to
applies (including amendments).

NOTE Where an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated
by (mod.), the relevant EN/HD applies.

Publication Year Title EN Year

ISO 2418 2002 Leather - Chemical, physical EN ISO 2418 2002

and mechanical and fastness
tests - Sampling location

ISO 2419 2002 Leather - Physical and EN ISO 2419 2002

mechanical tests - Sample
preparation and conditioning

ISO 2589 2002 Leather - Physical and EN ISO 2589 2002

mechanical tests -
Determination of thickness
 BS EN ISO
3378:2002
BSI — British Standards Institution
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