The Taber® Fabric Stiffness Tester - Model 112 provides a quick and accurate method of determining stiffness properties such as flexural rigidity of most textile fabrics according to internationally recognized test standards such as ASTM D1388.  Ideal for testing textile fabrics (e.g. woven; layered; pile; knitted; napped), this instrument has been utilized to evaluate the stiffness properties of blankets, air bag fabrics, protective clothing, geotextiles, etc.  Fabrics may be untreated or treated, including those that are heavily sized, coated or resin-treated.  Taber's Fabric Stiffness Tester can also be used to evaluate leather, paper, plastic films, and other flexible sheet materials.
 
Employing the principle of cantilever bending, a rectangular specimen is supported on a smooth low-friction horizontal platform.  A weighted slide is placed over the specimen and advanced at a constant rate.  As the leading edge of the specimen projects from the platform, it bends under its own weight.  The bend angle indicator can be set at either 41.5° (0.724 rad) or 45° (0.785 rad) below the plane of the platform surface, and includes an easy to read bend angle reference scale with 5° graduations.  Once the material flexes enough to touch the bend angle indicator, the test is stopped.  Using a scale calibrated in both metric and English units, the length of the overhang is then measured and flexural rigidity and bending modulus can be calculated.
 
The Fabric Stiffness Tester is available with or without the Hand Crank Speed Control Option.  This feature allows the operator to control the rate of speed that the specimen is advanced.