If you work in construction, metal fabrication, material handling, manufacturing, or utilities, abrasion is one of the most common hazards workers face. Nearly every task involves handling rough, textured, or heavy materials that create constant friction on the hands.  

It’s also one of the primary causes of early glove failure. Once an abrasion hazard wears through a glove’s coating or outer fabric, the hand becomes vulnerable to secondary hazards like cuts, punctures, and impact injuries. 

For safety managers, these failures are more than an inconvenience. They drive glove turnover, increase budget spend, and, most importantly, put workers at risk. 

To help safety teams choose the right hand protection, two major standards define how abrasion is measured: ANSI/ISEA 105 (used in North America) and EN 388 (used internationally) - read more on hand safety here. Each uses different test methods, such as the ASTM Taber and Martindale tests, to classify how well a material withstands wear.  

This blog breaks down the different types of abrasion hazards, how abrasion is tested, the benefits of abrasion-resistant gloves, and the materials that offer the highest levels of abrasion protection.  

Buckle up, there’s a lot of information here.  

What is abrasion resistance in safety gloves?  

Abrasion resistance refers to how well a glove material can withstand friction-based wear. Any time a worker grips, drags, lifts, or handles a rough or textured surface, abrasive forces start breaking down the outer layer of the glove. 

Over time, this friction causes:  

• Thinning of the coating  
• Loss of grip 
• Exposed knit fibers  
• Palm or fingertip wear-through  
• Micro-tears that weaken cut and puncture performance 

Because abrasion resistance is often the first failure point in a glove, strong abrasion resistance is critical for keeping the rest of the glove’s protective properties intact. 

Key benefits of high abrasion resistance when needed: 

• Longer glove life, reducing how often gloves need to be replaced 
• Maintains cut and puncture protection by keeping glove materials and coatings intact longer 
• Prevents sudden wear-through, reducing mid-shift glove changes 
• Improves performance when handling rough or high-friction materials 
• Boosts comfort and compliance, since durable gloves maintain structure and grip 

Without adequate abrasion resistance, gloves can fail long before a shift ends, leaving workers unprotected even if they’re wearing gloves rated for cuts, punctures, or impacts. 

The types of abrasion hazards workers face 

Not all abrasions are the same. Different tasks create different wear patterns, and understanding these helps safety managers select the right abrasion level for any job. Let’s break down the different types: 

Sliding abrasion (most common):  

Caused by constant rubbing or dragging the glove against rough materials like concrete, steel, brick, rebar, or conveyor edges. 

• Most common across construction, material handling, and metalwork 
• Leads to slow, steady wear-through of the coating 
• Often the first sign of glove breakdown

Cutting abrasion (micro-abrasion): 

A combination of friction plus small sharp edges. These micro-edges slice into the coating as the glove moves across them. 

Common in: 

• Sheet metal handling 
• Fabrication work 
• Wire and cable handling 

This type of abrasion wears coatings much faster than sliding abrasion.  

Impact abrasion: 

Happens when tools or materials strike the glove and then slide across the surface. The initial impact weakens the material, and the sliding motion finishes the damage. 

Seen in: 

• Manufacturing 
• Utilities 
• Maintenance and assembly work 

Impact abrasion tends to cause more sudden wear compared to steady sliding abrasion. 

Particle abrasion: 

Fine abrasive materials – like sand, concrete dust, metal shavings, or fiberglass – erode glove surfaces through repeated contact. 

Common in: 

• Mining 
• Masonry 
• Millwork 
• Demolition 

Particles act like sandpaper, thinning coatings, and exposing the knit. 

Wet abrasion: 

Moisture speeds up wear by softening certain coatings, reducing friction protection, and causing faster breakdown. 

Seen in: 

• Outdoor work  
• Waste handling 
• Utilities 
• Oil & gas environments 

Wet abrasion often leads to earlier-than-expected coating failure even when workers don’t feel much friction. 

Each type of abrasion affects glove materials differently, which is why abrasion ratings matter just as much as cut or puncture levels. Without adequate abrasion resistance, coatings or knits can wear through long before a shift ends – leaving workers unprotected even if they’re wearing gloves rated for other hazards. 

ANSI/ISEA 105-2025 abrasion resistance standard – North America 

In the United States, abrasion resistance is classified under the ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 hand protection standard. The standard uses two separate abrasion test methods depending on whether the glove material is coated or uncoated, since each type wears down differently under friction. 

ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 references: 

ASTM D3389-21 for coated gloves 

ASTM D3884-22 for uncoated gloves 

Keep in mind, the updated ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 standard also includes updated labeling requirements for labeling performance. For a full breakdown of the new symbol change that now looks like a pentagon, see our blog: What’s new in the ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 hand protection standard? 

The two abrasion tests used in ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 

ASTM D3389-21 – for coated work gloves (previously known as D3389-10) 

ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 specifies ASTM D3389-21 as the abrasion test method for coated glove materials such as nitrile, polyurethane (PU), latex, PVC, or other polymer coatings. 

This method tests the number of cycles required to wear through the coating to the point where the base fabric is first exposed. 

How the test works: 

• A coated glove sample is mounted on a rotating abrasion tester. 
• Abrasive wheels rub against the coating under a controlled load. 
• The test continues until the coating wears through enough to expose the knit or fabric underneath. 

This method standardizes important test factors, like pressure, wheel type, and speed, so coated materials can be compared consistently. The results provide a clear ranking of coating durability that often reflects how the glove will hold up in the field. 

ASTM D3884-22 – Abrasion test for uncoated gloves (previously known as D3884-9) 

This is the newest standard (2022 edition) used for uncoated textile materials such as leather or knit glove shells without coatings. 

This method tests the number of cycles until the first yarn or thread breaks.  

How the test works:  

• An uncoated fabric sample is placed on a rotary platform abrader. 
• Abrasion is applied using standardized abrasive wheels made from a mix of hardened clay and silicon carbide. These wheels create a consistent, controlled grinding action against the fabric. 
• The test continues until the first yarn/thread breaks, marking the fabric’s failure point. 

This method reflects how uncoated textiles actually wear. Instead of measuring coating loss, it focuses on when the fabric itself starts to break down, giving a more accurate picture of how long an uncoated glove will last. 

ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 abrasion levels: 1–6 

Regardless of which test method applies (D3389-21 or D3884-22), abrasion results are classified into the same 1–6 scale: 

EN 388 Abrasion resistance standard – Europe  

Outside North America, abrasion resistance is classified under the EN 388 mechanical protection standard. EN 388 is widely used across Europe and internationally, and, like ANSI/ISEA 105-2024, it evaluates how well a glove material withstands wear before reaching failure. 

Under EN 388, abrasion resistance for both coated and uncoated gloves is measured using the Martindale Abrasion Test, a method designed specifically for textiles and coated fabrics used in PPE. 

The Martindale test uses a figure-eight rubbing motion to simulate the multi-directional friction workers experience when handling rough surfaces, tools, and materials. 

How the EN 388 Martindale abrasion test works 

Here’s how the test works: 

• A glove material sample is placed under a rotating abrasive head. 
• The head rubs the fabric in a figure-eight pattern using worsted wool or wire mesh, depending on the glove type. 
• The test continues until two yarns break or the fabric shows visible wear. 

This creates a consistent way to compare how coated and uncoated materials hold up to multi-directional abrasion. 

EN 388 abrasion levels: 1–4 

It’s important to note:  

EN 388 abrasion levels are capped at 4 by design. Because the Martindale test was created as a textile-based method, its performance range naturally tops out once a material withstands around 8,000 cycles. Going higher would lead to unrealistic test times and reduced consistency. 

ANSI uses a more aggressive abrasion method intended for industrial coatings, which is why its scale extends to Level 6. The two systems weren’t built to match; they measure durability in different ways for different PPE needs. 

ANSI/ISEA vs. EN abrasion standards 

See the chart below for the differences in ANSI American standards vs EN European standards.

Materials with the highest abrasion resistance 

What glove materials have the highest level of abrasion resistance? Abrasion resistance varies widely depending on the glove’s construction, coating type, and base materials. While test methods help quantify durability, knowing which materials perform better can make glove selection easier. 

Here are the material categories that generally offer the strongest levels of abrasion resistance. 

Nitrile coatings (standard, sandy, and microfoam nitrile) 

Nitrile is one of the most durable material coatings available. 

• Excellent wear resistance 
• Strong performance on rough or textured surfaces 
• Maintains grip in dry, wet, and oily conditions 
• Highly resistant to friction-based breakdown 

Sandy and micro-foam nitrile coatings add texture that can improve both grip and abrasion durability. 

High-strength fibers (Kevlar® and Aramid blends) 

These fibers offer excellent inherent durability. 

• High tensile strength 
• Strong tear resistance 
• Good heat stability 
• Better abrasion performance than standard polyester or nylon 

Typically used as the shell material or blended into knit constructions. 

 Leathers (especially split leather) 

Leather naturally withstands friction and surface wear. 

• Good abrasion resistance 
• Performs well in dry, rugged environments 
• Split leather (rougher side) typically lasts longer than grain leather 

Best suited for welding, rigging, and general construction tasks. 

Materials with moderate abrasion resistance: 

Useful for light- to medium-duty tasks: 

• Polyurethane (PU) coatings 
• Natural rubber/latex 
• Nylon or polyester knits 

These materials provide comfort and dexterity but may wear faster under high abrasion. 

Materials with low abrasion resistance: 

Not ideal for rough surfaces or high-friction tasks: 

• Cotton gloves 
• Disposable gloves 
• Thin, uncoated knits 

These materials can wear through quickly and are not suited for abrasive environments. 

Common misconceptions about abrasion resistance 

1. “Abrasion resistance = cut resistance.” 

Not true. Abrasion measures surface wear; cut resistance measures how well a material stops a blade. A glove can be highly abrasion-resistant and still offer low-cut protection, and vice versa. 

2. “A higher abrasion level is always better.” 

Higher isn’t always necessary. A Level 6 glove may be overbuilt for light or intermittent contact and could reduce dexterity. The right level depends on how often workers handle rough surfaces. 

3. “Gloves are still protective once the coating starts to wear.” 

Once abrasion breaks through the coating, the glove’s cut and puncture protection drop sharply. Even small worn spots can expose workers to unexpected injury. 

4. “EN and ANSI abrasion levels measure the same thing.” 

They don’t. ANSI uses Taber-based methods with heavier loads and a wider scale (Levels 1–6). EN 388 uses the Martindale method with a maximum of Level 4. They aren’t interchangeable. 

5. “Abrasion failure isn’t a big deal.” 

It’s actually one of the biggest predictors of glove injury. Abrasion is usually the first failure point, and when it fails, every other protective rating becomes irrelevant. 

6. “All coatings hold up the same.” 

Coatings vary dramatically. Nitrile and TPU perform far better under abrasion than PU or latex. Material choice matters as much as the level. 

HexArmor® can help 

Abrasion resistance plays a critical role in overall glove performance, but it’s only one part of selecting the right hand protection for your team. If you need help evaluating abrasion hazards, comparing ANSI and EN ratings, or choosing gloves that will hold up in your specific environment, our Solution Specialists are here to help. 

We’ll work with you to identify the right level of durability, trial products in your application, and make sure your workers are equipped with PPE that performs as hard as they do. 

Let us know if you need guidance or are ready to start a trial – our team is here to help. Call 1.877.MY ARMOR or send us a message.