Testing of Textiles

Testing: Identification/determination of properties or attributes of something is

known as testing.

Textile testing: When testing is done on textile material i.e. fiber, yarn and fabric then
it is called textile testing.

Objective of Textile Testing:

Research: The results of testing in research will help the scientist to decide which route
to follow next.
Selection of Raw material: Raw material is a relative term. The raw material of spinner is
the fibre. The raw material of the weaver is yarn and that of the finisher is cloth. There
may be variation in their quality.
• Fibres may be vary in length, Colour, fineness and strength etc.
• Fabrics may vary in threads per inch, EPI, PPI and shrinkage.
• Yarns may vary in count, strength, twist (TPI).
• The testing of fibers is generally not so important when dealing with MMF because they
are supplied to customer’s requirements and their properties including length, colour and
fineness are determined and controlled during their manufacture.
Process Control:
Spinning Weaving Dyeing Finishing.
• End breakage should be controlled by controlling weight per lap length, sliver length,
roving length or yarn length.
• Weaving process should be controlled the excessive breakage of warp and weft yarn, EPI,
design.
• Dyeing process should be controlled by M:L, pH, temp, pressure.
• Finishing process controlled by softness.
Product Control: The end product of a process should full fill the desired quality.
Spinning process Yarn: Count, Twist.
Weaving process Fabrics: EPI, PPI, Shrinkage.
Dyeing process Color matching, fastness properties.
Finishing process Finished fabrics: Softness.
Process Development: To avoid unnecessary waste of time and money and improve the end
product (quality) may change the machine design and setting. May add or discharge some
process.
Product development: The testing of the product helps in the continual search for new
knowledge. To produce new item first should develop a sample as like desired product. It may
change as demand customer.
Specification test: To reproduce a product first should test the specification of the material.
Specification of yarn Count, Strength.
Fabric EPI, PPI, Shrinkage.
Finished Fabric Fastness, softness etc.
Garments Measurement of garments (length, chest, sleeve etc.)
 Types of testing:
Usually two types as follows-
Routine process testing: When testing results is obtained immediately after testing is done.
Quality record testing: Keeping the record of test results in order to perform various tasks.

Relation between testing and quality control: In order to control the quality of a
product, the results of textile testing are applied. The attained result are evaluated and
analyzed to select the raw material and control of products quality. These two
parameters act together to achieve desired quality.

Causes of lack of Reproducibility:

Variation in the material: Due to material property. Can be solved by appropriate sample
selection and accurate statistical methods.
Variation caused by the test method: Occurs due to operator problem. E.g. not proper
caring, test procedures not accurately followed etc. or can be due to sample dimension,
ambient conditions, parameters and types of the machine.
 Forms of textile materials for textile testing: Fibers (Lot, sliver, roving), yarn, fabric and
garments.

Typical tests for fiber, yarn & fabric:

For fiber: Identification, fiber length, strength, trash, neps, maturity, fineness, color
(yellowness), Reflectance (Rd), MR, MC etc.
For yarn: Linear density, strength, twist, hairiness, evenness & irregularity etc.
For fabric: Length, width, weight, strength, thickness, crimp, air & water permeability,
crease, drapeability, handle, abrasion resistance, comfort properties, color fastness test,
dimensional properties, resiliency, pilling, water absorbency, shrinkage, EPI & PPI, fabric
construction, thermal properties etc.
 Factors affecting test results:
The following factors may affect the test results of tested materials-
Sampling
Atmospheric condition during test
Method of test
Testing instruments used
The efficiency of technician