Overview
ISO 20871:2018 specifies a laboratory test method to determine the abrasion resistance of footwear outsoles, irrespective of outsole material. The standard describes the required apparatus, sampling and conditioning, test procedure, result expression (relative mass and volume loss) and test reporting. It replaces ISO 20871:2001 and is intended for consistent, reproducible comparison of outsole wear under defined conditions.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Test apparatus: rotating cylindrical drum (Ø 150 mm ± 0.2 mm, length ≈ 500 mm) with an abrasive cloth fixed to the drum surface; laterally movable test-piece holder mounted on a swivel arm; lateral displacement 4.20 mm ± 0.04 mm per drum revolution.
- Operating conditions: drum rotation frequency 40 min⁻¹ ± 1 min⁻¹; vertical force on test piece 10 N ± 0.2 N; holder axis inclined 3° to the perpendicular.
- Abrasive medium: aluminium oxide abrasive cloth, grain size 60, dimensions at least 400 mm × 473 mm, ~1 mm thickness; new sheets must be used in a consistent direction. The abrasive cloth should produce ~180–220 mg mass loss on the standard rubber for a 40 m run.
- Test pieces: cylindrical samples, Ø 16 mm ± 0.2 mm, minimum height 6 mm; at least three test pieces per sample; if necessary, bond outsole to a base element to achieve thickness.
- Test distance and procedure: standard abrasion distance 40 m (84 revolutions); for high loss materials a 20 m run may be used and results extrapolated - any deviation must be reported.
- Result expression: relative mass loss (M) referenced to the nominal standard rubber loss (200 mg) and relative volume loss (V) expressed in mm³ using measured material density (ISO 2781 or ISO 2420).
- Test report: must reference ISO 20871:2018 and include sample description, results per Clause 7, density, test date, atmospheric conditions and any deviations.
Applications and users
ISO 20871:2018 is used by:
- Footwear manufacturers and outsole material suppliers for product development and quality control.
- Independent testing laboratories and conformity assessment bodies for performance verification.
- R&D teams evaluating new rubber compounds, thermoplastic outsoles or tread designs.
- Procurement and specification authors seeking objective, comparable abrasion data.
Keywords: ISO 20871:2018, abrasion resistance, outsoles, footwear testing, test methods, abrasive cloth, abrasion machine, relative mass loss, relative volume loss.
Related standards
- ISO 4649:2017 - reference for standard rubbers and similar drum abrasion testing
- ISO 2781 - density determination for rubber
- ISO 2420 - density/mass per unit area for leather (when applicable)
- ISO 17709 - sampling location and conditioning of footwear test pieces
- ISO 18454 - standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing of footwear components
This standard provides a reproducible method for comparing outsole wear performance across materials and designs.
