Rubber Rolling Abrasion Test: Rotating Drum Wear Resistance Testing Explained

The rubber rolling abrasion test is a laboratory method for evaluating the wear resistance of vulcanized and thermoplastic rubber by measuring the volume loss of a cylindrical specimen abraded against a rotating drum covered with abrasive cloth. Performed in accordance with ISO 4649, ASTM D5963, DIN 53516, and GB/T 9867, this rotating drum (rolling) abrasion test quantifies key indicators such as relative volume loss and the abrasion resistance index. It is widely applied to footwear soling, tire treads, conveyor belts, seals, and industrial rubber components for material development, quality control, and third-party certification.

Technical Overview

The rubber rolling abrasion test, also known as the rotating cylindrical drum abrasion test or DIN abrasion test, is one of the most widely adopted methods for determining the abrasion resistance of rubber materials. A cylindrical test specimen is pressed against the surface of a rotating drum wrapped with a sheet of specified abrasive cloth. As the drum turns at constant speed, the specimen holder traverses laterally along the drum so that the specimen is continuously exposed to fresh abrasive grains over the entire run. After the defined abrasion path is completed, the specimen is removed, cleaned, and reweighed. The mass loss is converted into volume loss using the material density, and the result is corrected against a certified standard rubber to yield the relative volume loss and the abrasion resistance index.

Test Principle

Wear is generated by controlled sliding contact between the rubber surface and the cutting edges of the abrasive grains on the drum. Because the severity of abrasive cloth varies between batches and changes with use, each sheet is calibrated with a certified standard rubber compound. The measured volume loss of the test specimen is therefore normalized to the certified value of the standard rubber, producing a relative volume loss that is comparable between laboratories and over time. A lower volume loss or a higher abrasion resistance index indicates better wear performance.

Governing Standards

• ISO 4649 — Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic — Determination of abrasion resistance using a rotating cylindrical drum device
• GB/T 9867 — Chinese national standard technically aligned with ISO 4649
• ASTM D5963 — Standard test method for rubber property, abrasion resistance (rotary drum abrasion)
• DIN 53516 — The original German DIN abrasion method from which the test derives
• EN ISO 20344 / EN ISO 20345 series — Footwear standards that reference drum abrasion limits for outsole assessment

Testing Samples

Eligible Materials

• Vulcanized rubber compounds based on NR, SBR, NBR, EPDM, CR, IIR, FKM, silicone, and blends
• Thermoplastic elastomers, including SBS/TR soling compounds, TPU, TPO, and TPV
• Footwear outsoles, midsoles, and heel components
• Tire tread compounds and retread materials
• Conveyor belt cover rubber and skirt rubber
• Seals, gaskets, O-rings, hoses, rubber rolls, mats, linings, and molded industrial parts

Specimen Requirements

• Cylindrical specimens of 16 mm diameter and a minimum thickness of 6 mm, with flat, parallel end faces free from porosity and surface defects
• Specimens may be die-cut from standard cured sheets or taken directly from finished products
• The material density must be determined in parallel, typically per ISO 2781 or GB/T 533, to allow conversion of mass loss into volume loss
• Specimens and abrasive sheets are conditioned in the standard laboratory atmosphere, generally at 23 °C ± 2 °C for at least 16 hours before testing
• At least three specimens per material are normally tested, and the median value is reported

Testing Items

• Abrasion mass loss, expressed in milligrams
• Abrasion volume loss, expressed in cubic millimeters
• Relative volume loss, corrected for the severity of the abrasive sheet using the standard rubber
• Abrasion resistance index (ARI), expressed as a percentage relative to the standard rubber
• Supporting density determination of the tested material

The relative volume loss is the primary reported parameter for specification and certification purposes, while the abrasion resistance index is frequently used to rank compounds against a common benchmark.

Testing Methods

Method A — Non-Rotating Specimen

In Method A, the specimen is clamped in the holder and does not rotate about its own axis while traversing the drum. Each run is performed on a fresh track of the abrasive surface. This configuration is suitable for homogeneous, isotropic compounds and delivers fast, repeatable results for routine quality control.

Method B — Rotating Specimen

In Method B, the specimen additionally rotates about its own axis at approximately 84 rpm during the run. This rotation distributes the wear uniformly around the specimen circumference and reduces the influence of surface texture, filler dispersion, and any directionality introduced by processing. Method B is preferred for anisotropic materials and for interlaboratory comparisons.

Apparatus and Test Conditions

• Rotating drum of 150 mm diameter and approximately 500 mm length, driven at 40 rpm
• Drum surface covered with 60-grit aluminum oxide abrasive cloth secured edge to edge
• Vertical force of 10 N applied to the specimen against the drum surface
• Abrasion path length of 20 m of drum surface per run for ISO 4649 Method A, with longer paths such as 40 m used in DIN 53516-type configurations
• Analytical balance with 1 mg resolution for weighing before and after abrasion
• Certified standard rubber compounds for abrasive sheet calibration and result correction

Test Procedure

• Condition the specimens and abrasive sheets in the standard laboratory atmosphere
• Weigh each specimen to the nearest milligram and determine its density
• Mount the specimen in the holder and position it at the starting mark of the drum
• Apply the specified 10 N force and run the abrasion over the required path length, performing a preliminary pass if surface conditioning is needed
• Remove the specimen, brush off debris, allow it to reach thermal equilibrium, and reweigh
• Calculate the volume loss by dividing the mass loss by the material density
• Test the certified standard rubber on the same abrasive sheet and correct the specimen result to obtain the relative volume loss and abrasion resistance index
• Replace the abrasive sheet after the prescribed number of traverses or when the standard rubber result drifts beyond the permitted tolerance

Expression of Results

The relative volume loss is obtained by multiplying the specimen volume loss by the ratio of the certified volume loss of the standard rubber to the volume loss measured for the standard rubber on the same abrasive sheet. The abrasion resistance index is calculated as the certified volume loss of the standard rubber divided by the volume loss of the test specimen, multiplied by 100. An index above 100 percent means the material outperforms the standard reference compound. The test report should state the method used, the median of the individual results, the test temperature, and the abrasive sheet details.

Applications

• Footwear industry: certification of outsole wear performance, with safety and occupational footwear standards such as EN ISO 20345 typically limiting the relative volume loss of rubber outsoles to values around 250 mm³
• Tire industry: ranking of tread compounds during formulation development and benchmarking of wear performance
• Conveyor belting: qualification of cover rubber against specified maximum abrasion volume loss for different cover grades
• Automotive sector: evaluation of wiper blades, weatherstrips, bushings, dust covers, and vibration isolators
• Industrial rubber goods: incoming inspection and life assessment of rolls, linings, tracks, hoses, seals, and mats
• Research and certification: comparative wear studies, failure analysis, and compliance testing performed by accredited third-party laboratories

FAQ

What is the rubber rolling abrasion test?

It is a standardized laboratory test in which a cylindrical rubber specimen is abraded against a rotating drum covered with abrasive cloth under a defined load. The resulting volume loss, corrected by reference to a standard rubber, quantifies the wear resistance of the material.

Which standards govern this test?

The principal standards are ISO 4649, GB/T 9867, ASTM D5963, and the historical DIN 53516. These methods share the same rotating drum principle with minor differences in path length, calibration procedures, and reporting.

How do I choose between Method A and Method B?

Method A, with a non-rotating specimen, is faster and well suited to routine quality control of homogeneous compounds. Method B, in which the specimen rotates during abrasion, gives a more uniform wear pattern and is recommended for anisotropic materials and for comparisons between different laboratories.

How should the results be interpreted?

A lower relative volume loss or a higher abrasion resistance index indicates better wear resistance. Typical footwear soling compounds range from roughly 100 to 300 mm³, while premium tread and cover compounds can achieve substantially lower values; acceptance limits depend on the product specification.

Can finished products be tested directly?

Yes. Cylindrical plugs can be cut from finished goods such as soles, belts, or molded parts, provided the specimen geometry and surface condition meet the requirements of the applied standard.

How long does the test take?

Each abrasion run lasts only a few minutes, but conditioning, density measurement, calibration with standard rubber, and replicate testing extend the process; accredited third-party laboratories typically issue a full report within three to seven working days.

What factors influence the test results?

Temperature, the type and age of the abrasive cloth, specimen preparation, surface contamination, humidity, and the accuracy of the density determination all affect the outcome, which is why strict adherence to the standard conditions and regular calibration are essential.