Determination of water resistance by Shirley Hydrostatic

Head tester

Introduction:
The merit of a fabric intended for rainwear, wagon covers or tents is judged, amongst other
properties, by its ability to keep water out; conversely, when intended for hose pipes or canvas
buckets, to keep water in. In another direction, some fabrics must exhibit the ability to absorb
water rapidly, toweling being an obvious example. So there is a relation between water and
textile materials which is very necessary for their end use.

Objective:
 1. To measure the water resistance of the given fabric.

Theory:

Water resistance is the force or pressure of water which it applied on textile material to keep out
though it and the determination of this required pressure or force is very important for particular
use of a fabric. Shirley Hydrostatic Head tester is used to determine this pressure of water. In this
instrument the specimen holder consists a double-chambered cell; the internal diameter of the
inner chamber is 5 cm. Circular specimens are clamped between rubber gaskets over the orifice.
Compressed air enters the outer chamber through a tube B and displaced the distilled water
contained in the chamber through communicating passages into the inner chamber, thereby
forcing water up against the specimen.

Apparatus:

1. Shirley Hydrostatic Head Tester

2. Water
3. Template
4. Canvas fabric.
Sample:

 Spherical canvas fabric.

 Size: 6 cm diameter.

Standard testing temperature:

An atmosphere at the prevailing barometric pressure with a relative humidity of 65% and
temperature of 200 C is called standard testing temperature.

Machine specification:

 Name: Shirley Hydrostatic Head tester

 Capacity: 0-150 cm.

Working Procedure of Shirley Hydrostatic Head Tester:

1. Circular specimens of 6 cm diameter are cut very carefully with as little handling of
the fabric as possible.
2. The test cell is rinsed with distilled water and filled up to approximately 0.3 cm of
the top.
3. The inner rubber gasket is thoroughly dried by wiping with a clean absorbent cloth
and a test specimen is laid over the orifice.
4. The dried clamp is placed in position and screwed down.
5. The switch is turned to ‘Head’ position to start the compressor and then turned to
‘Test’ position.
6. The pressure under the specimen is increased at a specified rate and until water
appears minimum at the three places on the fabric, the switch will not be turned to
‘Head’ position.
7. As soon as three drops of water appear on the fabric the reading is taken from the
dial.
 8. In this way at least 10 readings are taken from 10 specimens and average pressure is
then calculated.

Experimental Data:

Average
S/n Pressure in cm
pressure

1 28

2 30

3 34 30.8

4 29

5 33

Result:
1. The water resistance of the sample fabric is 30.8 cm water pressure.

Remark:
According to the type of fabric the resistance of fabric varies between 0 -150 cm. The
sample of the fabric is a canvas cloth and its water resistance is 30.8 cm. The results of
water resistance test for fabric is satisfactory, so it may say that fabrics resistant to water
is enough for its end uses.

Conclusion:
Fabric water resistance depend on the fabric types and fabric’s finishing process. Our fabric’s
water resistance is 41.6 cm water pressure. From this experiment, we came to learnt about
the Shirley hydrostatic head tester and it working process. This experiment will help in our future
life. Thanks to our teacher to help us.