Improved mechanical resistance to wear is a key requirement of a wide range of products. From coatings to clothing, leather to upholstery, keypads to plastic toys, a product's ability to resist wear is an important characteristic.

There are testing methods relating to the 'abrasion by friction' concept. Others are based on the projection of abrasive particles on to the test specimen. These techniques provide valuable information about materials and processes.

The three tests available are:

• Friction: one part moves relative to the other
• Scrubbing: wet or dry brush or sponge is moved over the test piece
• Blast: abrasive particles are projected on to the test specimen

Although it is difficult to correlate test performance with real life wear conditions, mechanical tests can make an accurate comparison.