Rubber abrasion resistance GB testing measures the wear performance of vulcanized rubber and thermoplastic elastomers in accordance with Chinese national standards, primarily GB/T 9867 and GB/T 1689. By quantifying volume loss under controlled abrasive conditions, these tests support compound development, quality control, and product compliance for the Chinese market. This guide explains the applicable standards, specimen requirements, test procedures, data interpretation, and typical industry applications.
Technical Overview
Abrasion resistance is one of the most critical performance properties of rubber materials, determining service life in applications where the material experiences rubbing, scraping, or sliding contact against other surfaces. In China, rubber abrasion resistance is evaluated using GB national standards, and test results are widely referenced in product specifications, procurement contracts, and certification dossiers. Two GB methods dominate routine testing practice:
- GB/T 9867-2008, Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic — Determination of abrasion resistance using a rotating cylindrical drum device, a modified adoption of ISO 4649 that is technically aligned with the well-known rotating drum abrasion test of German origin.
- GB/T 1689-2014, which specifies the Akron abrasion method for vulcanized rubber, using an inclined abrasive wheel configuration to generate wear.
These GB methods correspond to an international standards framework that includes ISO 4649, EN ISO 4649, ASTM D5963, and JIS K 6264. Alternative abrasion techniques such as the Pico method (ASTM D2228) and the Taber rotary platform method (ASTM D3389) exist for specific product categories, but the rotating drum and Akron approaches remain the reference procedures for most rubber compounds in GB-based evaluation. Supporting standards, including GB/T 2941 for specimen conditioning and GB/T 533 for density determination, are integral to a complete GB abrasion test program.
Testing Samples
Vulcanized Rubber Compounds
Standard test sheets cured under controlled conditions are the preferred sample format because they provide uniform thickness, consistent cure state, and freedom from surface contamination. Test pieces are normally punched or cut from molded slabs with a minimum thickness of 6 mm, ensuring a stable cylindrical specimen for the rotating drum method.
Thermoplastic Elastomers
Thermoplastic elastomers such as TPE, TPV, and SBS-based compounds can be evaluated under GB/T 9867, since the standard explicitly covers both vulcanized and thermoplastic materials. Injection-molded or compression-molded plaques are machined or cut to the required cylindrical geometry.
Finished Rubber Products
Specimens may be taken directly from manufactured goods when wear performance of the actual product must be verified. Common sources include tire treads, conveyor belt covers, footwear outsoles, rubber rollers, hose covers, seals, gaskets, and anti-vibration components. Sampling must remove any molded skin, fabric impression, or release-agent residue so that the test surface represents the functional material.
Specimen Preparation and Conditioning
- For GB/T 9867, the standard test piece is a cylinder of 16 mm diameter and at least 6 mm height, with flat, parallel end faces.
- For GB/T 1689, a rubber strip is secured around the circumference of the specimen holder wheel.
- All test pieces are conditioned in the standard laboratory atmosphere of 23 °C ± 2 °C and 50 % ± 5 % relative humidity for at least 16 hours in accordance with GB/T 2941.
- A minimum interval between vulcanization (or molding) and testing is observed to allow property stabilization, typically at least 16 hours.
- At least three test pieces per material are recommended, with the median value reported to reduce the influence of abrasive track variability.
Testing Items
GB abrasion test programs typically include the following measured and calculated quantities:
- Relative volume loss, expressed in mm³, determined per GB/T 9867 and normalized against a standard reference compound; lower values indicate higher abrasion resistance.
- Abrasion resistance index, expressed as a percentage, calculated as the ratio of the volume loss of the standard reference compound to that of the test piece; values above 100 % indicate performance superior to the reference.
- Akron abrasion volume, expressed in cm³ per 1.61 km of test travel, determined per GB/T 1689.
- Mass loss of each test piece, measured to 1 mg resolution before and after abrasion.
- Density of the test material, determined per GB/T 533, which is required to convert mass loss into volume loss.
- Comparative grading against client-specified limits or benchmark compounds, where requested.
Testing Methods
Rotating Cylindrical Drum Method (GB/T 9867)
The test piece is pressed against the surface of a rotating drum of 150 mm diameter that is covered with a sheet of 60-grit abrasive cloth. The specimen holder traverses along the drum axis so that each test piece travels over a fresh abrasive track for a total path length of 40 m, equivalent to approximately 84 drum revolutions. Depending on the selected procedure, a 10 N normal force is applied with a non-rotating specimen (Method A), or a 5 N force is applied with a slowly rotating specimen (Method B). A certified standard reference compound is abraded at defined intervals to characterize the cutting power of the abrasive, allowing the measured volume loss to be corrected to the relative volume loss. This normalization is essential for comparability between laboratories and between abrasive batches.
Akron Abrasion Method (GB/T 1689)
In the Akron configuration, the rubber strip mounted on the specimen wheel is pressed against a driven abrasive wheel set at an inclination angle of 15°. The inclined geometry introduces a degree of slip that accelerates wear in a controlled manner. After a running-in stage to condition the surface, the specimen is abraded over a total travel distance of 1.61 km. The abrasion volume is calculated from the mass loss divided by the density measured per GB/T 533 and is reported as volume loss per 1.61 km. Regular dressing of the abrasive wheel and verification with reference materials are required to maintain repeatability.
Data Reduction and Reporting
A complete GB abrasion test report identifies the standard and method used, specimen details and origin, conditioning history, density, individual and median volume-loss values, relative volume loss or abrasion resistance index, abrasive specification and calibration data, laboratory temperature and humidity, and the date of testing. Accredited third-party laboratories operating in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 issue bilingual reports suitable for domestic acceptance and international recognition.
Applications
GB rubber abrasion testing is applied across virtually every sector in which rubber is exposed to wear:
- Tire industry: ranking tread compounds, evaluating filler systems, and benchmarking silica and carbon black formulations during development.
- Conveyor belting: verifying cover compound wear performance for mining, cement, and port handling belts, where product specifications such as GB/T 7984 set maximum permissible volume-loss limits.
- Footwear: assessing outsole durability for safety footwear, casual shoes, and work boots using test pieces cut from finished soles or molded compound plaques.
- Industrial rubber goods: qualifying rollers, wheels, casters, bushings, scraper blades, and liners subjected to continuous sliding or rolling contact.
- Sealing systems: comparing elastomer grades for gaskets, O-rings, and wiper elements where frictional wear affects leak-tightness over time.
- Quality control and supply chain management: incoming material inspection, supplier qualification, batch release testing, and failure analysis of returned or field-failed parts.
- Regulatory and market access: generating technical evidence for product standards compliance and for export documentation aligned with ISO 4649, EN ISO 4649, ASTM, and JIS equivalents.
FAQ
Which GB standards are used for rubber abrasion resistance testing?
The two principal standards are GB/T 9867-2008, which uses a rotating cylindrical drum device and is harmonized with ISO 4649, and GB/T 1689-2014, which specifies the Akron abrasion method. Supporting standards GB/T 2941 and GB/T 533 govern conditioning and density measurement respectively.
Is GB/T 9867 equivalent to the DIN abrasion test or ISO 4649?
GB/T 9867-2008 is a modified adoption of ISO 4649:2002 and is technically consistent with the rotating drum method that originated as the German DIN procedure. Test parameters such as drum diameter, 60-grit abrasive, 40 m path length, and force levels align with ISO 4649, so results are generally comparable when the same method variant and calibration procedure are applied.
How should abrasion results be interpreted?
Lower relative volume loss values indicate greater wear resistance. The abrasion resistance index expresses performance relative to a standard reference compound, with values above 100 % meaning the material outperforms the reference. Results from different methods, such as drum versus Akron, must never be compared directly because the wear mechanisms and scales differ.
What sample size and quantity are required?
For GB/T 9867, cylindrical test pieces of 16 mm diameter and at least 6 mm thickness are required. For GB/T 1689, a rubber strip suitable for wrapping the specimen wheel is needed. At least three test pieces are recommended for each material, and clients submitting finished products should provide sufficient material to cut intact specimens with clean surfaces.
How is test-to-test variability controlled?
Abrasive cloth sharpness is the dominant variable. It is controlled by conditioning new abrasive with preliminary runs, abrading a certified standard reference compound at prescribed intervals, and correcting measured values to normalized relative volume loss. Specified temperature and humidity, consistent specimen preparation, and accurate density measurement further improve repeatability.
How long does a typical test take?
Individual abrasion runs are short, but the complete sequence of conditioning, density measurement, calibration with reference compound, and testing of replicate specimens means most projects are completed within three to seven working days, depending on sample preparation requirements and laboratory scheduling.
Can GB test reports be used for international purposes?
Yes. Reports issued by ISO/IEC 17025-accredited third-party laboratories, whether in Chinese, English, or bilingual format, are widely accepted. Because GB/T 9867 aligns with ISO 4649 and EN ISO 4649, laboratories can often issue combined or cross-referenced reports covering multiple standard designations on a single set of specimens.
When should the Akron method be chosen over the rotating drum method?
The Akron method under GB/T 1689 is traditionally favored for soft vulcanized rubbers and for comparative ranking where an inclined-wheel, slip-dominated wear condition better simulates the end use, such as certain tire and footwear applications. The rotating drum method under GB/T 9867 offers faster throughput, simpler calibration, and direct international equivalence, making it the default choice for most industrial specifications.