When you're looking to invest in a massage chair, one of the key factors to consider is the durability of the materials. After all, you want a chair that's going to stand the test of time and provide you with a relaxing massage for years to come. So how do you check massage chair's materials are durable?

Leather Quality

Bend Test. High-quality leather used in massage chair recliners should be able to withstand repeated bending without cracking or breaking. A good benchmark is that the leather can endure over 200,000 to 500,000 cycles of bending at a 21.5° angle without damage.

Universal Material Tensile Test. This includes:

-Tear Strength Test. The leather should not tear apart when force is applied along the grain (25N) and the weft (20N) after an initial tear.

-Tensile Rupture Strength. The leather should be able to withstand a force of at least 250N in both the lengthwise and widthwise directions without breaking.

-Elongation at Rupture. Good leather should be able to stretch by 10% in the lengthwise direction and 15% in the widthwise direction without breaking.

-Leather Sewing Strength Test. The leather stitching should be able to withstand a force of at least 180N without breaking at the seams.

Color Fastness Test. The color of the leather should not fade significantly after being dry and wet rubbed 20 times with a 22N load. A colorfastness level of 4 or above (with 5 being the highest) is desirable.

Leather Abrasion Test. The leather should show no significant wear after being rubbed 500 times with a 1kg load, simulating long-term use.

Hydrolysis Resistance Test. The leather should not layer or crack when continuously soaked in a 10% concentration of sodium hydroxide (a strong base) for 24 hours, mimicking the hydrolysis reaction that the leather might encounter over 5 years of use.

Fabric Durability

Martindale Pilling Test. For durable fabric, which is the most important and expensive fabric in massage chair upholstery that comes into direct contact with the human body and moving parts, the fabric should have a clear pattern after being rubbed 500 times with a total load of 500g, following the ASTM D4966 fabric friction resistance test method.

Wire and Cable Flexing Test

According to EU and Chinese standards, wire and cable flexing tests are crucial to ensure the durability of electrical components in the massage therapy chair.

Mechanical Safety Tests

Mechanical Strength and Stability Tests. These tests ensure that the mechanical structure of the electric chair for massage is robust and will not become unstable or damaged during use. The tests simulate the loads and forces that a user might apply while using the chair that massages.

Protection of Moving Parts Test. The rollers and massage heads in the massager chair must have sufficient protection to ensure that users cannot accidentally come into contact with these moving parts, preventing crushing or shearing injuries.

Temperature and Overheat Protection Tests

Temperature Rise Test. This test ensures that key components of the device do not exceed the allowed temperature range, especially motors and heating elements, which must comply with the temperature limits set by GB 4706.1.

Overheat Protection Function Test. This checks if the massage recliner chair has an effective overheat protection device to automatically shut down the device in case of malfunction or extended use, preventing fires caused by overheating.

Electrical Safety Tests

IP Rating Test. Especially for home massage chairs with heating functions or used in high-humidity environments, they need to meet certain protection ratings (such as IPX0 - IPX4) to ensure that electrical parts are not accidentally accessed by users.

EMC Tests

EMI Test. Massage chairs may generate electromagnetic interference while operating. This test ensures that the device stays within the specified electromagnetic radiation range and does not interfere with other electronic devices.

EMS Test. This test ensures that the back massage chair can withstand electromagnetic disturbances without performance degradation.

Durability of the Massage Chair

Endurance Test. The massage chairs for home should be tested to operate continuously for 1000 hours to check the wear and tear of main components and ensure they meet functional requirements.

By considering these tests and standards, you can get a good idea of how durable the materials of a massaging chair are. It's all about ensuring that the chair you choose will provide you with a comfortable and reliable massage for many years to come. Happy massaging!