Designation: F3260 − 17Standard Test Method forDetermining the Flexural Stiffness of Medical Textiles 1This standard is issued under the f i xed designation F3260; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1. Scope1.1 This test method covers the measurement of f l exuralstiffness properties of medical textiles (for example, surgicalmesh, f i lms, and membranes). Bending length is measured andf l exural rigidity is calculated.1.2 This test method may be used for absorbable or non-absorbable medical textiles.1.3 This test method measures the f l exural stiffness at roomtemperature in air and, if used directly, may not provide anaccurate measure of in-vivo behavior for implantable medicaltextiles.1.4 This test method is not suitable for testing tubularsamples.1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard. Values in parentheses are for information only.1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-ization established in the Decision on Principles for theDevelopment of International Standards, Guides and Recom-mendations issued by the World Trade Organization TechnicalBarriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards: 2D747 Test Method for Apparent Bending Modulus of Plas-tics by Means of a Cantilever BeamD1388 Test Method for Stiffness of FabricsF1635 Test Method for in vitro Degradation Testing ofHydrolytically Degradable Polymer Resins and FabricatedForms for Surgical Implants3. Terminology3.1 Def i nitions:3.1.1 f l exural stiffness, n—resistance to bending, measuredas bending length and f l exural rigidity.3.1.2 medical textile, n—a fabric, f i lm, or membrane usedfor medical purposes that may be woven, knit, braided, felted,or nonwoven.3.2 Def i nitions of Terms Specif i c to This Standard:3.2.1 back, n—with regard to textile orientation, (1) thedownward facing surface of the textile during manufacture; (2)the inward or downward facing surface of the textile duringnormal use.3.2.2 bending length, n—general—the length of textile thatwill bend under its own weight to a def i nite extent; specif i c—the measured length of overhang divided by two (per 11.2) atwhich the edge of the specimen touches the bend angleindicator per the test method (per 10.6).3.2.3 cross-machine direction, CD, n—the direction in theplane of the textile perpendicular to the direction ofmanufacture, analogous to the weft direction for knit andwoven textiles.3.2.4 face, n—with regard to textile orientation, (1) theupward facing surface of the textile during manufacture; (2) theoutward or upward facing surface of the textile during normaluse.3.2.5 f l exural rigidity, n—the couple on either end of atextile strip of unit width bent into unit curvature.3.2.6 machine direction, MD, n—the direction in the planeof the textile parallel to the direction of manufacture, analo-gous to the warp direction for knit and woven textiles.3.2.7 weight, n—with regard to textiles, mass per unit area.4. Summary of Test Method4.1 A specimen is slid at a specif i ed rate in a directionparallel to its long dimension, until its leading edge projectsfrom the edge of a horizontal surface. The length of theoverhang is measured when the tip of the specimen is de-pressed under its own mass to the point where the line joiningthe top to the edge of the platform makes a 0.724 rad (41.5°)1 This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F04 on Medicaland Surgical Materials and Devices and is the direct responsibility of SubcommitteeF04.15 on Material Test Methods.Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2017. Published September 2017. DOI:10.1520/F3260-17.2 For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United StatesThis international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for theDevelopment of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.1 Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Sat Sep 30 20:00:27 EDT 2017Downloaded/printed byUniversity of Edinburgh (University of Edinburgh) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
