In Europe, the standard EN 388 is used to regulate protection classes of cut restistant safety gloves. To achieve a high level of cut protection, several technical materials – known as high performance fibres – are used.
Testing procedures and product classifications are adapted to reckon with this continuous process of product and material developments.
Rotating cut resistance test : Coupe test

The samples are cut with a counter rotating blade with an alternating movement and specific load.
- sampling area: palm of the glove
- linear movement of a rotating knife over the sample until the fabric is cut through
- introduction of reference material (typically cotton)
- altenration of sample and reference material until at least 5 results are registered
- loss of sharpness of te knife is compensated by cutting the reference material before and after the sample
- cut resistance is determined by the number of cycles needed to cut trhough the sample related to the reference material

Linear cut resistance test (TDM-100) method
The ISO 13997 cut resistance test has been added to the revised standard EN 388 to reckon with the novel materials (high performance fibres) for protective gloves.
- a fabric sample is fixed on a curved testing device and a force from beneath is applied
- the knife sharpness is calibrated after each completed cycle or when the knife has cut through the sample
- the cut-through is established when an electric contact is observed between the knife and the curved testing device
- if the sample contains any metallic yarns, a plastic film is placed between the testing device and the fabric to prevent electric contact initiated by the fabric
- the sample is submitted to a minimum of 20 cutting movements applied with variable forces
- the distance that is covered to cut through the material is measured
- the data are used to establish the force that is needed to cut through the fabric

Marking
Send your samples to
Centexbel - Physical Lab
Technologiepark 70
9052 Gent-Zwijnaarde
Belgium
+32 9 220 41 51
gent@centexbel.be