C0051 - Tuft Withdrawal Tensometer

Product details

The tuft retention property is one important factor in the useful life of a tufted or traditional 

carpet.  Carpets which are badly constructed or poorly backed may lose complete tufts in some 

situations, for example on stairs.  In loop pile carpets, a good bind is necessary to prevent long 

runner loops formed.

The IDM Tuft Withdrawal Tensometer measures the force required to withdraw a single tuft 

or loop of pile from a carpet – that is, the binding force between carpet pile and backing.  

The instrument is normally used on small samples of carpet in the laboratory, but the balance 

may be detached and used in selected positions on large pieces or on carpets already laid.

Test Method:
The carpet sample is held down by a steel plate, and a pair of surgical forceps is clamped 

to one end of the tuft to be tested, or a hook threaded through one loop.  The forceps or 
hook are linked to a digital force gauge, which is raised at a steady rate by a small electronic 

motor.  Tension on the tuft or loop is thus increased and the digital force gauge indicates 

the maximum force needed to withdraw it.
The standard instrument is supplied with a digital force gauge registering up to 10kg, for 

testing carpets pile binding force.

Applications:
• Textile floor covering which has a tuft (cut) loop pile yarn structure
• Woven: individual loops
• Woven: individual cut tufts

Standards:
• AS 2111.15
• ASTM D1335
• BS 5229:1975 (1996)
• ISO 4919:1978
• IWS 202

Features:
• Portable stａnd with force gauge able to measure force required to withdraw a single tuft
• Digital Force Gauge features:
o20 x 0.02 lb, 10 x 0.01 kgF, 100 x 0.1N, 220V
oPeak memory for tensile loads
oAccuracy: ± 0.5% of full scale ± digit