Apparatus and method for abrasion testing

A method of testing abrasion resistance comprising the steps of:

• placing a first material and a portion of a second material on an abrasion testing apparatus;
• said abrasion testing apparatus comprising a base, a test platform;
• a pair of angle adjustment wheels, each angle adjustment wheel being laterally displaced from the test platform;
• a pair of upper idler wheels, each upper idler wheel being laterally displaced from an adjacent one of the pair of angle adjustment wheels;
• a lower idler wheel, a tension control wheel, and a drive wheel;
• wherein the test platform is vertically adjustable and wherein the tension control wheel is vertically adjustable;
• the method further comprising the steps of placing the first material on the test platform, placing the portion of second material in intimate contact with the first material, threading the portion of second material under the angle adjustment wheels, over the upper idler wheels, under the drive wheel and lower idler wheel, and over the tension control wheel;
• adjusting the test platform and/or the angle adjustment wheels to obtain a pre-determined angle between the first material and the portion of the second material;
• adjusting the tension control wheel to obtain a pre-determined tension in the portion of the second material;
• and activating the drive wheel to move the portion of the second material against the first material.