Resistance to Hydrolysis with the ISO 1419 “Jungle Test”

Nowadays, climatic tests on materials have become truly numerous and every production sector must be familiar with dozens and dozens of tests approved by various international organizations.

Some of these tests, however, have gained a certain notoriety in the industry and even earned some amusing nicknames. This is the case of the “Tropical Test” Method for the hydrolysis test, known in the industry as the “Jungle Test”.

Let's find out what it is.

What is the Jungle Test for?

Like many other sectors, the textile industry has its own specific climate tests, among which the accelerated aging tests, which we have discussed at length on our pages, stand out.

In general, the accelerated aging test is used to verify how well a given material resists the influence of atmospheric agents, which are adjusted upwards to simulate exposure that is much longer than the duration of the tests themselves.

Accelerated weathering tests for a given sector, in turn, vary by fabric type and test methods. The ISO 1419 standard presents four distinct methods, including the famous Method C "Tropical Test ," nicknamed the "Jungle Test" in the industry.

We talk about tropicality and jungle because the test measures resistance to hydrolysis, that is, to very hot and humid environments such as those typical of tropical jungles!

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How the Jungle Test according to ISO 1419 works.

The ISO 1419 standard is recommended by the ACT, Association of Contract Textile, one of the most important industry associations and certifies the approval of fabrics for various accelerated aging tests including resistance to hydrolysis performed using Method C, the Jungle Test.

To perform the Jungle Test, a climate chamber with temperature and humidity control because these two parameters are essential to reproduce the "tropical environment" simulated by the test.

The sample is placed in the test chamber with a temperature of 70° and arelative humidity of 95%, i.e. close to saturation.

It is then visually examined against a control sample at the end of each week for a predetermined number of weeks, or until the sample experiences significant damage; such as surface cracking, film delamination, or extreme changes in color and gloss level. 

The Jungle Test does not prescribe a minimum duration of the test but it is generally accepted that a material intended for the private market must resist for at least 3 weeks, while one intended for the commercial market, at least 5.

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The FDM Climatic Chamber for Jungle Testing according to ISO1419

The FDM climate chamber for humidity and temperature testing is the ideal instrument for performing the hydrolysis resistance test also known as the Jungle Test.

Our climate chambers meet test requirements exceeding 70°C and 98% relative humidity.

Furthermore, thanks to the innovative revoFACE, the cycles are perfectly programmable for the duration of all the weeks necessary for the accelerated aging test on the sample.

For any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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Reference Standards

• ISO 1419:1995 Method C — Rubber- or plastic-coated fabrics – Accelerated aging tests – Method C: Tropical test (Jungle Test). Main reference for hydrolysis resistance of coated fabrics.
• ISO 1419:1995 Method A, B, D — Complementary methods: A (UV exposure), B (dry heat 70 °C), D (artificial exposure to light).
• ISO 175:2010 — Plastics – Methods of test for the determination of the effects of immersion in liquid chemicals.
• ASTM D3690-02(2017) — Performance Specification for Vinyl-Coated and Urethane-Coated Upholstery Fabrics – Indoor, calls jungle test as verification.
• ACT – Association for Contract Textiles Performance Guidelines — Contract textile industry guidelines for hydrolysis resistance (3 weeks retail, 5 weeks hospitality).
• ISO 7854:1995 — Rubber- or plastics-coated fabrics – Determination of resistance to damage by flexing.
• EN ISO 105-B02:2014 — Color fastness to artificial light: xenon arc fading lamp test.

Authoritative Sources

• ACT – Association for Contract Textiles. Contract textile industry association that recommends ISO 1419 Method C as a qualifying standard.
• ISO/TC 38 – Textiles. ISO technical committee responsible for standards on fabrics and coated materials.
• AATCC – American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists. An American organization with complementary methods such as AATCC 169 for moisture resistance.
• BTTG – British Textile Technology Group. Accredited laboratory and reference source for testing coated and contract fabrics.

Frequently Asked Questions about ISO 1419 Jungle Testing

Why does the Jungle Test last 3 or 5 weeks?

The distinction between 3 weeks (residential) and 5 weeks (contract/hospitality) is based on the ACT Performance Guidelines . Coated fabrics for home furnishings have limited exposure to critical humidity and temperature conditions; for contract use (hotels, restaurants, hospitals, public transport), the environment is more severe due to repeated sanitization, sweating, variable ambient humidity, and disinfectants. A 5-week exposure at 70°C and 95% RH corresponds to approximately 5 years of real-world exposure in a continental tropical environment. The post-test acceptance criteria are: no visible cracks in the coating layer, delamination < 5 mm at the edge, loss of tensile strength < 30% compared to the initial value measured according to ISO 1421 or ASTM D5035. The colorimetry must remain within ΔE*ab < 3 CIELAB units.

Which coated materials are most sensitive to hydrolysis?

Polyurethanes (PUs) , especially those based on polyesters, are the most vulnerable to hydrolysis: water breaks the ester bonds of the polymer chain in the presence of heat, causing yellowing, hardening, crumbling, and loss of adhesion to the textile backing. Aliphatic polyester PU formulations have a shelf life of 1-3 years in hot, humid environments. Polyether-based PUs are more resistant to hydrolysis (5-10 years) but less stable to UV rays. PVCs have excellent hydrolytic resistance (>10 years) but are sensitive to migrating plasticizers. Silicone and fluorocarbon-based (PTFE/ePTFE) PUs are virtually inert to hydrolysis. For contract use, polyether-based PU formulations with anti-hydrolysis stabilizers (carbodiimides) are preferred to pass the 5-week test. Post-test FTIR analysis reveals the increase of the band at 1720 cm⁻¹ indicative of carboxylic groups from hydrolysis.

How do you evaluate the sample after the jungle test?

The evaluation combines visual inspection, mechanical testing, and instrumental analysis. visual inspection with comparison to a control sample in a standard ISO 139 atmosphere (20°C/65% RH): any surface cracking, peeling, blooming, and color variations are recorded. mechanical tests (generally after the contractual duration of 3 or 5 weeks): tensile strength ISO 1421, elongation at break, resistance to small tear ISO 13937, adhesion of the coated layer to the support ISO 2411 (pull-off). The percentage retention compared to the initial value is calculated, with a typical threshold of ≥ 70%. Instrumental analyses: CIELAB colorimetry (ΔE*ab), FTIR-ATR spectroscopy to detect chemical hydrolysis, DMA (Dynamic Mechanical Analysis) for Tg and modulus. For contract fabrics, resistance to disinfectants is also documented according to ISO 105-E04.

What characteristics must the climatic chamber for the Jungle Test have?

The chamber must guarantee 70 °C ± 1 °C and 95% RH ± 2% RH continuously for several weeks without fluctuations. The critical technical specifications are: thermal uniformity ± 1 °C on 9 points (IEC 60068-3-6); temporal stability ± 0.5 °C and ± 2% RH over 24 hours; ultrafiltered steam humidification system to avoid limescale deposits; efficient condensation drainage to prevent drops on samples; horizontal airflow 0.2-0.5 m/s. At 70 °C/95% RH the dewpoint is 68 °C, so the environment is close to saturation and requires resistant chamber materials (AISI 304/316 stainless steel, silicone gaskets). The following are essential: multi-threshold alarms on T/RH, continuous audit trail recording 21 CFR Part 11, deionized water backup for 7 days of autonomy. FDM jungle test chambers offer up to 98% RH and can accommodate 20-30 specimens in a standard 1000 L configuration with adjustable shelves.