Impact abrasion resistance quantification of protective motorcycle gloves

The hands are often the first contact point with the road surface in a motorcycle accident. Wearing well designed protective gloves has been proven to significantly reduce the occurrence and severity of injuries to the hand. There is a vast range of choices available when a motorcyclist purchases new gloves, with almost no guidance beyond word of mouth and price regarding quality of the gloves. The current CE system for the measurement of abrasion resistance of gloves requires manufacturer cooperation to supply materials for testing as the fingers are not large enough to yield 160mm diameter samples. It is impossible to measure all of the components of an already constructed glove and does not consider the influence of a seam in an impact abrasion situation. This work investigated the important protection zones of a motorcycle glove. It used previously published fall mechanics to understand the areas that may undergo impact abrasion. It defines the important zones for abrasion resistance and details ideal impact/measurement geometry for measurement on a Cambridge type abrasion tester. It proposes a method for the impact abrasion resistance of the palm, knuckles, wrist, outer side of the little finger and the tops of fingers. This information may be used for the quantification of fully manufactured gloves for standard certification or use in a rating system.