ASTM D3786/D3786M-18

Standard Test Method for Bursting

Strength of Textile Fabrics—
Diaphragm Bursting Strength Tester
Method
 Principle
• Specimen is clamped over an expandable
diaphragm; the diaphragm is expanded to
the point of specimen rupture.
• The difference between the total pressure
required to rupture the specimen and the
pressure required to inflate the diaphragm
is reported as the bursting strength.

ASTM D3786
 Scope
• Applicable to knits, wovens, or nonwovens
• Mainly for knits and stretch wovens
(tensile tests not appropriate)

ASTM D3786
 Definition
• Bursting Strength
• The force or pressure required to rupture a
fabric by distending it with a force, applied
perpendicular to the plane of the fabric.
• Note that machine and cross-machine
direction are not differentiated.

ASTM D3786
 Apparatus
• Flexible diaphragm
• Hydraulic (fluid; 96% USP glycerin) or
pneumatic (gas; air) inflation
• Pressure control & measurement
• 31 ± 0.75 mm diameter circular clamp

ASTM D3786
 Sampling
• Lab Sample
• 1 m full-width
(discard first meter of roll)
• Test Specimens
• Avoid selvage (10% of fabric width)
• 10 specimens
• 125 mm (5 in) circles or squares
• Different warp/course and fill/wale

ASTM D3786
 Conditioning
• Bring specimens to moisture equilibrium
before testing as directed in ASTM D1776

• Does not specify to test in standard

atmosphere

ASTM D3786
 Procedure
• Clamp specimen smoothly and securely
• Apply pressure until specimen bursts
• Release diaphragm pressure and remove
specimen
• Determine pressure required to distend
diaphragm only
• Test to the same height as used to burst
specimen
• Use known value from foil calibration
ASTM D3786
ASTM D3786
 Calculation
• Subtract tare pressure from burst pressure
for each specimen
• Average the 10 specimens
• Average lab samples in each lot if
applicable

ASTM D3786
 Report
• Test method used
• Material tested
• Individual and average bursting strengths
(kPa or psi)
• Type of tester

ASTM D3786
 Calibration
• Standard aluminum sheets
• Test monthly (minimum)
• 5 specimens
• ± 5% of indicated strength
• Self-calibrating instruments

ASTM D3786
Calibration Foils

ASTM D3786
 Troubleshooting
• Examine clamp for wear and distortion
• High-stretch fabrics may need to be
(uniformly) pre-stretched before clamping
• Eliminate specimen creases and folds
before clamping

ASTM D3786
 Troubleshooting
• If pressure stops before specimen bursts,
report “stretch exceeds dimensional
limitations of the tester.”
• If specimen slips from clamp, discard and
retest.

ASTM D3786
 Troubleshooting
• Burst (on pneumatic tester) should take
15-25 seconds.
• Preliminary trials may be needed to set
control valve correctly

ASTM D3786