Armor

The Armor test consists of two smaller tests, Springiness and Toughness. Each is designed to evaluate the durability of armor wire. Tests are performed on ten individual pieces of armor wire, five for each test.

A sample is slowly wrapped around a mandrel at a consistent tension (100-125 grams). The tension is maintained by attaching the free end of the armor wire sample to a spring scale. Once fully wrapped, the sample is released from the spring scale and allowed to uncoil. The sample is visually inspected for any kinks and the diameter of the resulting coil is measured at a middle portion of the coil.

One end of a specimen is held in place with a special vise as identified in the test standard. At a consistent tension of 100 grams, the armor wire is bent 90 degrees in either direction for a total of ten bends. A specimen will pass this test if it endures ten bends without breaking.