Overview
ISO 10734:2016 - Footwear - Test method for slide fasteners - Strength of slide fastener pullers specifies standardized laboratory methods to assess the mechanical strength of slide fastener pullers (zipper pullers) used in footwear. The standard is applicable to all types of footwear slide fasteners and defines two complementary test methods (tension and torsion), required apparatus, conditioning, sample counts and reporting criteria to ensure consistent, comparable results across manufacturers and testing laboratories.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope: Test method to measure puller strength for footwear slide fasteners (applies to all footwear slide fastener types).
- Two test methods:
- Method 1 - Tension: Measures force required to pull the puller off the slider in the puller’s longitudinal direction. Jaw separation rate: (100 ± 10) mm/min. Record maximum force in newtons (nearest 5 N). Minimum samples: 3.
- Method 2 - Torsion: Measures torque required to twist the puller off the slider about its axis. Rotation rate: (9 ± 3)°/s; measure torque to nearest 0.5 Nm and angle to nearest 1° (estimate permanent twist to nearest 5°). Minimum samples: 6 (three clockwise and three anticlockwise).
- Apparatus and accuracy: Tensile machines calibrated per ISO 7500-1 (force up to 1 kN, class 2, 2% accuracy), dedicated jigs for clamping slider and puller, and a torsion device capable of torque/angle measurements.
- Conditioning: Samples must be conditioned in the standard atmosphere for footwear testing per ISO 18454 before testing.
- Failure recording: Types of failure must be documented (e.g., puller break at attachment, slider break away from attachment, permanent twist).
- Test report: Must reference ISO 10734, describe samples, date, test method used, arithmetic mean results (force or torque), failure types and any deviations.
Practical applications and users
- Footwear manufacturers use ISO 10734 to verify zipper/puller durability and to support product specifications.
- Component suppliers (slide fastener and puller manufacturers) rely on the standard to certify component strength to footwear OEMs.
- Testing laboratories and QA departments implement the methods for incoming inspection, R&D validation and compliance testing.
- Design and testing engineers use results to improve puller geometry/material selection and assembly techniques.
Keywords: ISO 10734:2016, slide fastener pullers, footwear slide fastener testing, puller strength test, zipper puller strength, tension test, torsion test.
Related standards
- ISO 7500-1 - Verification of static uniaxial testing machines (tension/compression)
- ISO 19952 - Footwear vocabulary
- ISO 18454 - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing of footwear
- ISO 17709 - Sampling and conditioning (bibliography reference)
