Designation: D6540 − 17Standard Test Method forAccelerated Soiling of Pile Yarn Floor Covering 1This standard is issued under the f i xed designation D6540; 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 describes the equipment, and the testmethod for assessing the propensity of pile yarn f l oor coveringsto soiling in the absence of abrasive wear and texture changes,using a standard synthetic soil composition.1.2 This test method is applicable for use in testing unusedpile yarn f l oor covering of all types. It is not applicable for usein testing used pile yarn f l oor covering.1.3 This test method can be used to compare the soilingpropensity of two or more carpets; or it can be used to soilcarpets as a preliminary step to other test procedures.1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regardedas standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematicalconversions to SI units that are provided for information onlyand are not considered standard.1.5 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 and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.1.6 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: 2D123 Terminology Relating to TextilesD1776 Practice for Conditioning and Testing TextilesD5684 Terminology Relating to Pile Floor Coverings2.2 ASTM Adjunct:TEX-PAC 32.3 AATCC Test Method:Evaluation Procedure 1 – Gray Scale for Color Change 43. Terminology3.1 For def i nitions of terms relating to Pile Floor Coverings,D13.21, refer to Terminology D5684.3.1.1 The following terms are relevant to this standard:carpet, f i nished, f i nished pile yarn f l oor covering, f l oorcovering, pile, pile lay, pile yarn f l oor covering, soiling, textilef l oor covering, tufted fabric, use-surface.3.2 For all other terminology related to textiles, refer toTerminology D123.4. Summary of Test Method4.1 The carpet test specimens are secured to a backing sheetthat is mounted inside the drum with the pile surface exposed,and are subjected to an accelerated soiling process. The degreeof soiling is measured or assessed by comparing the change incolor between soiled and original pile yarn f l oor covering,using a measurement device or visually matching the differ-ences on the light-dark axis of Gray Scales.N OTE 1—Differentiation between test samples is signif i cantly reducedwhen Gray Scales are used.5. Signif i cance and Use5.1 This test method may be used to soil test specimens inthe absence of abrasive wear and texture changes undercontrolled conditions using a standard synthetic soil, or as apreliminary step to other procedures.5.2 This test method will provide a uniformly soiled testspecimen to evaluate, is reproducible (see section 11), and iseconomical for Testing Laboratories.5.3 This test method has been found to give results similarto the actual f l oor service soiling, but its use is recommendedonly as a screening test method and not as a replacement forf l oor testing.1 This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D13 on Textilesand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D13.21 on Pile Floor Coverings.Current edition approved July 15, 2017. Published August 2017. Originallyapproved in 2000. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D6540–12. DOI:10.1520/D6540-17.2 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.3 The PC program on f l oppy disks for analyzing Committee D13 interlaboratorydata are available from ASTM. Request ADJ:D2904.4 Available from American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, POBox 12215, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.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 Oct 7 04:12:21 EDT 2017Downloaded/printed byUniversity of Edinburgh (University of Edinburgh) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
