Developments in Fabric Testing, Test Methods and Equipment

• Publication date: April 2012

Testing plays an important role in maintaining the competitiveness of a company, especially in a highly competitive sector such as the textile industry. Fabric testing can be carried out to measure aspects of the objective quality of a product and to ensure that the product is fit for the purpose intended. It also ensures that a product complies with defined standards. This report provides a wealth of information on fabric testing and test method...

Testing plays an important role in maintaining the competitiveness of a company, especially in a highly competitive sector such as the textile industry. Fabric testing can be carried out to measure aspects of the objective quality of a product and to ensure that the product is fit for the purpose intended. It also ensures that a product complies with defined standards. This report provides a wealth of information on fabric testing and test methods, and some of the latest developments in equipment for: air permeability testing; colour fastness grading; colour measurement; fabric shrinkage and relaxation; moisture management testing; pressure measuring for compression and support textiles; protective wear testing; strength testing; thermal manikins; and weathering testing.

The report highlights the latest products from a range of companies including B-Tex Engineering, Datacolor, James Heal, MAG Solvics, Measurement Technology Northwest, Mesdan Lab, Q-Lab, Salzmann, SATRA, SDL Atlas, VeriVide and WIRA.

Machine Tool And Equipment Industry

List of contents
SUMMARY
IMPORTANCE OF FABRIC TESTING
Role in maintaining competitiveness
Compliance with defined standards
Selected suppliers of fabric testing equipment and specialist services
COLOUR MEASUREMENT: MANAGING ACCURACY AND
CONSISTENCY
Evaluating colour by eye at a desk or point of manufacture
Evaluating colour by eye using standardised lighting cabinets
Instrumental colour measurement
Datacolor Viewport
Verivide: DigiEye system
COLOUR FASTNESS TESTING AND GRADING
James Heal: TruFade Light Fastness Tester
MAG Solvics: PerspiRator DX colour fastness to water and perspiration tester
MAG Solvics: PresoHot XT sublimation tester
Q-Lab: Q-Sun B02 xenon light fastness tester
Verivide: DigiGrade colour fastness system
WEATHERING TESTING
Q-Lab: QUV Accelerated Weathering Tester
STRENGTH TESTING
B-Tex Engineering: Elmendorf Type Tearing Strength Tester
James Heal: Titan4 Universal Strength Tester
James Heal: upgrades to two other strength testing machines
MAG Solvics: MecTear
MOISTURE MANAGEMENT TESTING
SDL Atlas: Hydrostatic Head Tester
SDL Atlas: Moisture Management Tester (MMT)
SDL Atlas: Sweating Guarded Hotplate
AIR PERMEABILITY TESTING
SDL Atlas: Digital Air Permeability Tester M021A
THERMAL MANIKINS
Measurement Technology Northwest: Newton thermal manikin system
Measurement Technology Northwest: Nemo submersible thermal manikin
PRESSURE MEASURING FOR COMPRESSION AND SUPPORT
TEXTILES
Salzmann: MST Professional pressure measuring device
FABRIC SHRINKAGE AND RELAXATION
WIRA: Steaming Cylinder
PROTECTIVE WEAR TESTING APPARATUS
Mesdan Lab: ISO Flammability Lab
Mesdan Lab: Mesdan Impact Abrasion Lab
SATRA
SATRA: STM 604 Martindale Abrasion Tester
SATRA STM 611 Circular Blade Cut Resistance Tester
SATRA: STM 610 Cut Resistance Evaluator
SATRA: STM 566 Tensile Tester
WIRA Molten Test Apparatus (PCT:003)
WIRA Small Drops Molten Metal Test Apparatus (PCT:004)
WIRA Contact Heat Testing Apparatus (PCT:005)