Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
OF
TEXTILE
TESTING AND
QUALITY
CONTROL
Topic:
1. IDENTIFICATION OF FIBERS
2. COLOR FASTNESS TO WASHING
3. COLOR FSATNESS TO LIGHT
4. COLOR FASTNESS TO RUBBING
TECHNICAL TESTS
There are certain technical tests performed for identifying various fibers. These tests
require high technology laboratory equipment and are much more reliable than the
non technical fibre tests. Technical tests require high skilled personnel and technical
know how of handling chemicals and their accurate analysis. These tests are very
valuable for those fabrics that are a blend of different yarns and also have certain
special properties including flame retardance etc.
WOOL:
Under the microscope , wool’s cross section shows three layers- epidermis, cortex
and the medulla.
SILK:
It appears somewhat elliptical and triangular in cross section when we see under the
microscope. It is composed of fibroin, consisting of two filaments, called brin which is
held together by sericin.
RAYONS:
Rayon fibers have a glasslike luster under the microscope and appear to have a
uniform diameter when viewed longitudinally.
NYLON:
The basic microscopic appearance is generally fine, round, smooth, and translucent.
It is also produced in multilobal cross-sectional types.
Nylon
POLYESTERS:
Generally, polyester fibers are smooth and straight and the cross-section is round.
This general characteristics may be altered to achieve certain characteristics.
CHEMICAL TESTS
Chemical tests are another technical means of identifying fibers. But chemical tests
are not intended for the general consumers. Different types of chemical tests are
undertaken to establish the identity of the fibers used. These tests give accurate and
precise analysis. The tests are conducted in research laboratories.
TYPES OF CHEMICAL TEST
Solvent Test:
The test involves treating the fibres in certain solvents for identifying them. The
technical test is becoming difficult to conduct as most of the manufactured fibres and
their blends are chemically similar. There is no individual chemical or solvent test for
separating or identifying the fibres in combinations.
Distinguishing animal from vegetablefibres with an acid
As strong alkali destroy animal substances, a 5% of soda lye solution in water can be
used to eliminate wool and silk fibers from a sample that contains a mixture of fiber.
The vegetable fibres will not be affected by this solution.
Distinguishing vegetable from animal fibres with an acid
As dilute acid destroy vegetable fibers, a 2% sulphuric acid solution can be used. A
drop of solution is placed on the sample, which is then pressed with a hot iron. The
spotted area will become charred if the sample is cotton linen or rayon.
DISTINGUISHING SILK FROM WOOL:
The use of concentrated cold hydrochloric acid will dissolve the silk and the wool fiber
swells.
DISTINGUISHING NYLON FROM OTHER FIBRES:
If the fabric is thought to contain nylon, the fabric may be immersed in a boiling
solution of sodium hydroxide. The nylon is insoluble in such a solution.
DISTINGUISHING POLYESTERS FROM OTHER FIBRES:
Polyester is soluble in hot meta cresol; however, unlike acetate it is not soluble in
acetone, and unlike nylon it is not soluble in concentrated formic acid.
DISTINGUISHING GLASS FIBERS FROM OTHER FIBRES:
There are two specific solvents for quick identification of glass fibers, they are
hydrofluoric acid and hot phosphoric acid.
Procedure
Perform a test color fastness to washing using wash wheel. The sizes of specimens
required for the various tests are 10x4 cm. There are various types of test fabrics
which are stitched on specimens. Different standard provides different test fabrics.
Put the test combination of test specimen and test fabrics in the canisters. Test one
combination in each canister.
Fill wash liquor in the canisters. Put a certain amount of steel balls in the canisters.
Mount the canisters in the washer.There is a canister frame in the washer. Insert the
canisters in the special slots on the frame and fix them. Fill water into washer (water
use to heat the canister). Generally, the washer should preheat the canisters at least
2min. And then rotate the canister frame for 45min at the speed of 40 RPM.
Wash the combinations in a certain way and precondition them
after getting them out of the canisters. Cut the test fabrics off the specimens. Assess
the color change of the specimen by comparing it with Change in Color Gray Scale
and evaluate the staining of the test fabrics by comparing it with Staining Gray Scale.
COLORFASTNESS TO RUBBING:
For determining the color fastness to rubbing a suitable device (crock
meter) with a rubbing finger, comprising a cylinder of 1.6 cm diameter moving to and
from in a straight line along a 10.0 cm track on the specimen with a downward force
of 9N should be used.
Crockmeter is motorized is an advanced crockmeter, which is operated by geared
motor. It consists of the main unit having oscillating arm with a finger, which rubs
over the test specimen under a specified load over the specimen.
• The test specimen should be fixed on the rubbing device by means of clamps
such that the long direction of the specimen follows track of the device.