Overview
ISO 3810:1987 - Floor tiles of agglomerated cork - Methods of test defines standardized laboratory procedures to evaluate the physical and chemical properties of agglomerated cork floor tiles. This second-edition International Standard (technical revision of ISO 3810:1977) specifies tests for dimensions and squareness, apparent density, tensile strength, initial and residual indentation, ash content and resistance to boiling hydrochloric acid. It also sets sampling and conditioning conditions to ensure reproducible results.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Sampling and conditioning
- Samples obtained per ISO 3813 and conditioned 24 h at 20 ± 2 °C and 65 ± 5 % RH (unless otherwise specified).
- Dimensions, squareness and straightness
- Length, width and thickness measured per ISO 9366 procedures; deviations averaged and reported.
- Apparent density
- Determined from measured mass and volume of tiles; results in kg/m³, rounded to nearest 1 kg/m³.
- Tensile strength
- Test pieces (10 cm × 5 cm) tested on a tensile machine (accuracy ±1 N, jaw gap initially 12 mm, crosshead speed 300 mm/min). Results expressed in MPa.
- Initial and residual indentation
- Uses a steel indentor (diameter 28.7 mm, area 645 mm²). Procedure: apply 88.9 N for 15 s, measure thickness; increase to 4445 N for 10 min, measure; allow 1 h recovery then reapply 88.9 N for 15 s and measure. Results expressed as percent initial and residual indentation.
- Ash content
- Dry specimen at 103 ± 2 °C, ignite in muffle furnace at 450 ± 20 °C, weigh to constant mass; ash content reported as percentage.
- Resistance to boiling hydrochloric acid
- Test in boiling HCl (technical grade, density ≈ 1.18 g/ml) for 30 minutes using reflux apparatus; report presence or absence of disintegration or substantial particle loss.
- Apparatus accuracy and reporting
- Specifies balances, ovens, muffle furnace, tensile machine and micrometer accuracies and requires detailed test reporting (sample ID, methods, results, deviations, and unusual occurrences).
Applications and users
- Manufacturers of agglomerated cork floor tiles for quality control and product specification.
- Test laboratories performing conformity testing and material characterization.
- Specifiers, architects and flooring consultants verifying durability, indentation and chemical resistance.
- Regulatory or procurement bodies requiring standardized test results for acceptance.
Related standards
- ISO 3813 - Floor tiles of agglomerated cork: characteristics, sampling and packing (sampling referenced).
- ISO 9366 - Floor tiles of composition cork: determination of dimensions and straightness (dimensional methods referenced).
Keywords: ISO 3810, agglomerated cork, floor tiles, methods of test, indentation, apparent density, tensile strength, ash content, hydrochloric acid resistance.
