Methods of tests for linoleum sheets and tiles
1980 Edition

Overview of IS 9704 Scope and Essential Parameters

Scope (Clause 1.1):
This code defines testing procedures for linoleum sheets and tiles, covering parameters such as:

Highlights:

• Dimension Measurement (Clause 2.1):
  Evaluates length, width, and thickness of linoleum samples.

• Squareness & Indentation:
  Confirms perpendicularity of tile edges and permanent deformation after loading.

• Water Absorption:
  Quantifies moisture uptake affecting product durability.

• Colour Fastness (Clause 9.5):
  Compares changes between exposed and unexposed areas under artificial light, noting test environment temperature and humidity.

Test Parameter Summary Table:

This standard guarantees linoleum products conform to quality and durability benchmarks through systematic testing.

IS 9704: Equipment and Measurement Protocols

Equipment Details

Measurement Conditions

• Pressure foot diameter must be equal to or exceed the anvil diameter.
• Applied pressure must be maintained within specified limits to ensure consistent measurements.
• All instruments require proper calibration for accuracy.

Reporting Guidelines (Clause 9.5)

• Record any visible changes between exposed and unexposed samples using Standard Pattern No. 5.
• Log ambient temperature and humidity during testing.

Summary Table of Apparatus Parameters

flowchart LR
    A[Micrometer] -->|Thickness measurement| B[Sample]
    C[Travelling Microscope] -->|Dimension measurement| B
    D[Steel Tape] -->|Length measurement| B
    B --> E[Record measurements]
    E --> F[Document changes, temperature, and humidity]

These protocols ensure precise and standardized measurement of linoleum sheets and tiles.

IS 9704: Procedure for Squareness Assessment of Tiles

Core Details:

• Clause 3.1: Purpose is to verify the squareness of linoleum tiles.
• Clause 2.3.2: Measurements of length and width are taken at the three-quarter points along tile edges (see Fig. 1).
• Clause 2.4.3: Report the mean value of all recorded measurements.

Testing Steps:

1. Measure length and width at three locations: quarter, midpoint, and three-quarter along each edge.
2. Determine the difference between the lengths of the two diagonals.
3. Calculate squareness by evaluating the diagonal length difference.

Squareness Calculation Formula:

[ \text{Squareness Deviation} = |D_1 - D_2| ]

Where:

• (D_1) = length of one diagonal
• (D_2) = length of the other diagonal

Typical Acceptance Limit:

• Squareness deviation should fall within the allowable tolerance, commonly not exceeding 0.5 mm.

Process Visualization:

graph TD
A[Tile Sample] --> B[Measure Length at 3 points]
A --> C[Measure Width at 3 points]
B --> D[Compute Diagonal D1]
C --> E[Compute Diagonal D2]
D --> F[Calculate |D1 - D2|]
E --> F
F --> G[Assess Squareness]

Note: Refer to the current edition of IS 9704 for precise tolerances and detailed measurement methodology.

IS 9704: Procedure for Determining Thickness (Clause 2.2)

• Method (2.2.2):

  • Place the specimen flat on the micrometer anvil.
  • Gently lower the pressure foot until it contacts the specimen surface.
  • Take thickness readings at 16 dispersed points across the specimen.
  • Measurement accuracy: 0.01 mm.

• Reporting (2.2.3):

  • Compute the average thickness from all 16 readings.
  • Present this average as the specimen's thickness.

Thickness Measurement Summary

flowchart TD
    A[Specimen] --> B[Position on Micrometer Anvil]
    B --> C[Lower pressure foot carefully]
    C --> D[Measure thickness at 16 points]
    D --> E[Record each reading with 0.01 mm precision]
    E --> F[Calculate average thickness]
    F --> G[Report average thickness]

This method assures accurate and repeatable thickness measurements in accordance with IS 9704.

IS 9704: Method for Determining Residual Indentation

Calculation Formula (Clause 5.6)

[ \text{Residual Indentation (5)} = \frac{T_1 - T_2}{T_1} \times 100 ]

Where:

• (T_1) = initial thickness (mm)
• (T_2) = thickness at the indentation site (mm)

Testing Protocol (Clause 5.5)

• Measure the original thickness at a designated central location with ±0.01 mm accuracy.
• Place the specimen on the steel base of the indentor.
• Gently lower the indentor foot until contact.
• Apply a load of 30 kgf (300 N) within 1-2 seconds.
• Maintain the load for 60 seconds.
• Remove the load and wait for 1 hour.
• Measure the indentation depth with ±0.01 mm accuracy.

Additional Information

• Specimens must be conditioned before testing.
• Thickness measurements use a dial micrometer.
• Residual indentation indicates the material's capacity to resist permanent deformation.

flowchart TD
    A[Measure initial thickness T1] --> B[Place specimen on steel base]
    B --> C[Lower indentor foot carefully]
    C --> D[Apply 30 kgf load for 60 seconds]
    D --> E[Remove load]
    E --> F[Wait for 1 hour]
    F --> G[Measure thickness at indentation T2]
    G --> H[Compute residual indentation percentage]

This approach provides a dependable measure of indentation resistance for linoleum products per IS 9704.

IS 9704: Flexibility Assessment of Linoleum Sheets and Tiles

Specifications (Clause 6)

• Objective (6.1): To evaluate the flexibility characteristics of linoleum materials.
• Test Steps (6.5):
  • Condition the specimen according to standard requirements.
  • Bend the test piece, wearing surface outward, around a mandrel by 180 degrees within 5 seconds.
  • Mandrel diameters based on thickness:
    • 50 mm for thicknesses of 1.6 mm and 2.0 mm.
    • 75 mm for thicknesses of 3.2 mm and 4.5 mm.

Dimension Measurement (Clause 2.4.2)

• Place sheet flat without distortion.
• Measure width at three evenly spaced points.
• Use a tape measure held perpendicular to edges.

Mandrel Diameter Selection Table

Testing Workflow

flowchart TD
    A[Condition specimen] --> B[Bend around mandrel 180° in 5 seconds]
    B --> C{Thickness?}
    C -->|1.6 or 2.0 mm| D[Use 50 mm mandrel]
    C -->|3.2 or 4.5 mm| E[Use 75 mm mandrel]
    D --> F[Inspect for cracks or damage]
    E --> F

This ensures linoleum meets flexibility requirements for durability according to IS 9704.

IS 9704: Procedure for Water Absorption of Linoleum Sheets and Tiles

Calculation Formula (Clause 7.6)

[ \text{Water Absorption (5)} = \frac{M_2 - M_1}{M_1} \times 100 ]

Where:

• (M_1) = mass of dry, unimmersed specimen (g)
• (M_2) = mass after 24-hour water immersion (g)

Testing Procedure (Clause 7.5)

• Condition the test specimen as per standard.
• Weigh immediately after conditioning to obtain (M_1).
• Immerse the specimen in distilled water at 27 ± 2°C for 24 hours.
• Remove the specimen, wipe surface moisture, and weigh immediately to obtain (M_2).

Reporting (Clause 7.6)

• Calculate and report the water absorption percentage.

Additional Notes

• Following bending tests, visually inspect specimens for cracks (Clause 6.6).
• Water absorption reflects moisture resistance and product longevity.

flowchart TD
    A[Condition specimen] --> B[Weigh (M1)]
    B --> C[Immerse in water at 27±2°C for 24h]
    C --> D[Remove and dry surface]
    D --> E[Weigh (M2)]
    E --> F[Calculate water absorption percentage]
    F --> G[Document results]

This procedure standardizes determination of moisture uptake in linoleum materials.

IS 9704: Assessment of Colour Fastness Under Daylight Exposure

• Method (Clause 8.4.2):

  • Expose test samples alongside Blue Wool Standard Cloth (IS 686) under daylight as specified in Clause 8.4.1.
  • Observe until Blue Wool Standard No. 5 fades to Grade 4 on the Geometric Grey Scale.
  • Compare colour changes between exposed and unexposed areas relative to Standard No. 5.

• Exposure Setup (Clause 8.3.1):

  • Use an exposure rack compliant with IS 686:1985 for daylight fastness testing.

• Evaluation:

  • Employ the Geometric Grey Scale, where Grade 1 indicates severe colour change and Grade 5 indicates no change.
  • Achieving Grade 4 fading is considered acceptable.

• Reporting (Clause 8.5):

  • Document any colour fading or discoloration alongside other physical property changes.

Geometric Grey Scale Overview

Testing Flowchart

flowchart TD
    A[Test Samples + Blue Wool Cloth] --> B[Expose to Daylight (IS 686)]
    B --> C[Monitor at intervals]
    C --> D{Has Blue Wool No.5 faded to Grade 4?}
    D -- No --> C
    D -- Yes --> E[Compare exposed and unexposed sample areas]
    E --> F[Report colour fastness results]

This method facilitates accurate evaluation of linoleum colour retention under sunlight.

IS 9704: Evaluating Colour Fastness to Artificial Light (Clauses 9.4 et al.)

Essential Details:

• Testing Approach: Specimens and reference patterns are exposed to artificial illumination from a Xenon lamp following IS 2454-1967.
• Temperature Regulation: Air temperature near samples must remain below 60°C during exposure.
• Monitoring: Observe specimens periodically until Standard Pattern No. 5 fades to Grade 4 on the Geometric Grey Scale.
• Comparison: Evaluate differences between exposed and unexposed areas against Standard Pattern No. 5.

Colour Fastness Ratings:

• Blue Wool Standard cloth No. 5 serves as the benchmark.
• Fading is rated using the Geometric Grey Scale:

Reporting (Clause 8.5):

• Include any observations of failures in residual indentation, flexibility, water absorption, or colour changes.

Process Diagram

flowchart TD
    A[Specimens + Standard Patterns] --> B[Expose to Xenon Lamp (IS 2454)]
    B --> C{Air temperature ≤ 60°C?}
    C -- Yes --> D[Observe periodically]
    D --> E{Has Standard No.5 faded to Grade 4?}
    E -- No --> D
    E -- Yes --> F[Compare exposed and unexposed samples]
    F --> G[Document results per Clause 8.5]

This procedure standardizes evaluation of colour durability under artificial lighting for linoleum products.

IS 9704: Guidelines for Conditioning Test Specimens

• Temperature: Maintain at 27 ± 2°C.
• Relative Humidity: Keep at 65 ± 5%.
• Duration: Condition specimens for 24 hours prior to testing.

Conditioning Steps

Important Considerations:

• Conditioning achieves moisture balance within samples.
• Weighing before and after immersion is critical for accurate water absorption measurements.

flowchart TD
    A[Start: Test Specimen] --> B[Condition at 27 ± 2°C & 65 ± 5% RH for 24h]
    B --> C[Weigh specimen immediately]
    C --> D[Immerse in distilled water at 27 ± 2°C for 24h]
    D --> E[Remove and dry surface]
    E --> F[Weigh specimen]
    F --> G[Proceed to testing or analysis]

Following this protocol ensures uniform and reliable test results in line with IS 9704.

IS 9704: Procedures for Preparing Test Samples

• Clauses 6.3 & 8.3:

  • Specimens cut to dimensions of 50 x 200 mm.
  • Samples prepared with cuts both longitudinally and transversely.

• Clause 7.3:

  • Specimens sized 150 x 75 mm.
  • Hessian backing removed.
  • Both surfaces smoothed by filling and abrasion using glass paper.
  • Final thickness reduced to 75% of original, maintaining uniformity.

• Clause 9.2:

  • Specimens sized 50 x 25 mm are cut from each sample batch.

Summary Table of Specimen Sizes

Thickness Reduction Formula (Clause 7.3):

[ t_{final} = 0.75 \times t_{original} ]

This preparation ensures consistent and repeatable testing per IS 9704 standards.

IS 9704: Guidelines for Reporting Test Outcomes

1. Rounding Off Values:

   • Adhere to IS 2-1960 standards for rounding measured or computed results.

2. Report Contents (Clauses 8.5 & 9.5):
   The test report should include:

   • Differences observed between exposed and unexposed portions of specimens using Standard Pattern No. 5.
   • Environmental conditions including temperature and humidity during testing.
   • Average values based on five individual measurements (Clause 5.6.1).

3. Reporting Summary Table:

Reporting Workflow

flowchart TD
    A[Conduct Test] --> B[Observe changes in specimens]
    B --> C{Are changes present?}
    C -- Yes --> D[Document changes with Pattern No. 5]
    C -- No --> E[Note no change]
    D --> F[Record temperature & humidity]
    E --> F
    F --> G[Compute average of five measurements]
    G --> H[Apply rounding as per IS 2-1960]
    H --> I[Compile final test report]

Note: Accurate logging of environmental data and averaging multiple measurements enhance reliability and compliance.