Bursting Strength Explained: How It Works in Performance Sportswear
Bursting Strength is best understood as resistance to a perpendicular load. This entry explains how it behaves inside a finished garment rather than only in the laboratory.
What the term means
resistance to a perpendicular load, which is why the value appears on almost every technical data sheet. Working figures for Bursting Strength normally sit around above 300 kPa for stretch knits in mainstream production. Note ISO 13938-1 hydraulic method on the tech pack so nobody tests against an older revision.
Why it matters in practice
it reflects real strain better than tensile for knits, so it influences buying decisions more than most buyers expect. Record elastane content alongside Bursting Strength, because blends shift the measured value. A result outside above 300 kPa for stretch knits usually points to process drift rather than to the fibre itself.
Typical values seen in activewear
above 300 kPa for stretch knits. Ranges vary by construction, so compare like with like. Keeping reference values for Bursting Strength lets suppliers quote without extra sampling rounds. Ask for conditioning details together with ISO 13938-1 hydraulic method, since both affect the reading.
How it is measured
ISO 13938-1 hydraulic method is the reference normally quoted on a test report. Working figures for Bursting Strength normally sit around above 300 kPa for stretch knits in mainstream production. Note ISO 13938-1 hydraulic method on the tech pack so nobody tests against an older revision.
Frequent mistakes
Comparing results from different standards, testing unwashed fabric, and writing the target without tolerance are the common errors. Record elastane content alongside Bursting Strength, because blends shift the measured value. A result outside above 300 kPa for stretch knits usually points to process drift rather than to the fibre itself.
