Velcro fatigue tester

Meet the standard:

ASTM D5170

ISO 22776

Product Introduction:

Hook-and-loop fasteners, commonly known by the trade name Velcro, are widely used in apparel, footwear, luggage, medical devices, and various industrial applications. Their effectiveness relies on the mechanical interlocking of the stiff hook elements with the softer loop pile. Repeatedly opening and closing the fastener causes the hooks to bend or break and the loops to fray or detach, reducing the overall closure strength. A Fatigue Tester quantifies this degradation by subjecting the fastener to a specified number of engagement and disengagement cycles.

The test typically involves mounting specimens of the hook tape and the corresponding loop tape onto opposing fixtures or platens in the tester. A motorized mechanism controls the relative motion of these fixtures to repeatedly press the hook and loop surfaces together (engagement) and then pull them apart (disengagement) according to a defined test cycle, speed, and sometimes a specified engagement pressure or force. A counter accurately records the total number of engagement and disengagement cycles performed.

The instrument is used in laboratories for:

Determining the durability and functional life of hook-and-loop fasteners under repeated engagement/disengagement cycles.

Evaluating the retained peel and shear strength after a specified number of cycles.

Assessing the wear resistance of the hook and loop elements.

Quality control during the manufacturing of hook-and-loop fasteners.

Research and development of new materials and designs for improved fatigue resistance.

Ensuring fasteners meet the performance requirements for their intended applications, especially those with high use cycles.

Product Advantages:

Provides objective, quantitative data on the durability and retained strength of hook-and-loop fasteners after repeated use.

Essential for predicting the functional life and ensuring the reliability of fasteners subjected to cyclic stress.

Helps assess the wear resistance of the hook and loop components.

Standard compliant test methods (ASTM D5170) are available for evaluating cycling performance.

Allows for testing under controlled conditions of cycling speed, engagement, and disengagement.

Useful for quality control, product development, and material comparison.

Can often test multiple specimens simultaneously.

Product Features:

Based on typical Hook and Loop Fastener Fatigue Testers:

Mounting fixtures or platens to securely hold specimens of both the hook tape and the loop tape in correct alignment.

Motorized mechanism to generate controlled relative motion between the fixtures, providing repeated engagement and disengagement cycles.

Mechanism to apply a controlled engagement pressure or force when pressing the hook and loop surfaces together.

Mechanism to provide a specified disengagement method (e.g., peeling action, shearing action, or a combination).

Digital cycle counter to accurately record the number of engagement and disengagement cycles performed.