WHAT IS IT?

This test measures the strength of sewn seams in woven fabrics by applying a force perpendicular to the seam. In other words, the force required to pull apart a seam to the point of failure.  

HOW IS IT DONE?

A section of fabric with a sewn seam is placed into a tensile strength testing machine. The machine then pulls perpendicular to the seam until the seam ruptures. The force at the moment when the seam ruptures is recorded.  

WHAT DO THE NUMBERS MEAN?

Results are reported as the force measured the moment the seam ruptured/failed. Example: Metric: 200 N (newtons) US Customary: 45 lbf (pounds force) Results will be given for both the warp and the weft. Recommended ranges vary depending on fabric type.

WHY DO IT?

Determine the strength and durability of a seam and fabric/seam combination. Some fabrics hold seams better than others and some seams are better than others. Recommended for garments, bedding and upholstery.

WHAT IS IT? 

This tests the durability of a fabric against abrasion (rubbing).  

HOW IS IT DONE?

 A section of fabric is placed in a machine where it is rubbed against a standard abradant fabric or the same test fabric. The specific rubbing motion is continued until at least two yarns (threads) have broken. 

WHAT DO THE NUMBERS MEAN? 

The test is finished when two or more yarns have broken. The result is the number of cycles it took to get to this point. Example Result: 5000 cycles (until at least two threads have broken). Meaning, it took 5000 rubbing motions until two yarns broke. Generally the higher the number the better. Reasonable ranges are ≥5000 cycles.  

WHY DO IT? 

This can be a good indicator for the durability of a fabric, especially fabrics which will be subject to rubbing forces. Recommended for garments, bedding and upholstery

This test measures the volume of air that can pass through a given area of fabric at a given pressure. Akin to “breathability.” 

HOW IS IT DONE? 

A fabric is clamped over a test chamber. A fan is adjusted to bring the differential pressure to a set point (for calibration). The pressure reading is then recorded. This is repeated multiple times randomly across the fabric and the final value is the average of all readings.  

WHAT DO THE NUMBERS MEAN? 

Results are reported as a volume of air passing over a specific area per unit of time. It can be in US customary or metric. Example: US Customary: 5.5 ft3 /ft2 /min. (or C.F.M.) Metric: 27.9 L/m2 /sec. - Values between 2 to 8 C.F.M. for cotton fabric may suggest it’s downproof. - Synthetic fabrics vary but generally below 2 is acceptable. 

WHY DO IT? 

It is helpful to know the “breathability” of fabrics filled with natural or synthetic materials. It may help in predicting downproofness, ease of care, and manufacturing requirements. Recommended for bedding and garments.

WHAT IS IT?

This test measures the mass (weight) of a fabric for a specific area.  

HOW IS IT DONE?

A square section of fabric is cut out. The exact dimensions are noted. It is then weighed on a balance to the nearest 0.001 gram. The dimensions and weight are then used to calculate the weight of the fabric per unit area.  

WHAT DO THE NUMBERS MEAN?

Results are reported in US customary (oz/yd2) or metric (g/m2) units. Example: US Customary: 5.6 oz/yd2 Metric: 189.9 g/m2 -To convert from oz/yd2 to g/m2 multiply by 33.9. 

WHY DO IT?

This test is generally done to determine the weight of a fabric or to judge a finished product’s feel and bulk. Also good for acceptance testing when receiving bulk fabric from textile mills. For example, a mill may tell you a certain fabric is 6oz. per square yard, but in reality the per square yard measurement might only be 4.5oz. Having checked the fabric weight, the discrepancy in quality is revealed. Recommended for bedding and garments.

What Is It?

Fabric makes up the bulk of a filled garment or bedding product. Ensuring that the fabric can effectively contain plumage is essential to customer satisfaction.

How Is The Test  Performed?

A small test pillow is made from the sample fabric and filled with natural materials. The pillow is then sewn closed and all stitch lines are glued. It is then placed in the test apparatus which is intended to consistently simulate use of the finished product. At the conclusion of the test cycle the test pillow and apparatus are closely examined. All fibers and feathers that escaped are counted and a corresponding rating is assigned.

What Do The Results Mean?

Rotating Box Downproof Rating Scale:

Rating Number of Particles Escaped

5 <5 Particles
4 6 – 11 Particles
3 12 – 22 Particles
2 23 – 33 Particles
1 34+ Particles

Why Do It?

Fabric makes up the bulk of a filled garment or bedding product. Ensuring that the fabric can effectively contain plumage is essential to customer satisfaction.

How Can I Improve The Results?

A fabric can be made more downproof by several means:

Increase the thread count
Avoid patterns woven into the fabric (jacquard, damask)
Use treatments/finishes (ciré, DWR, calendaring, etc.)
Use high quality materials and techniques

WHY TEST FOR THIS?

Fabric makes up the bulk of a filled garment or bedding product. Ensuring that the fabric can effectively contain plumage is essential to customer satisfaction.

HOW IS THIS TEST PERFORMED?

A small test pillow is made from the sample fabric, filled with down and/or feathers and sewn closed. The pillow is then placed in plastic bag to contain any particles that may escape during the test. It is clamped into the machine so that it rubs against itself for a set number of rotations. At the conclusion of the test cycle the test pillow and plastic bag are closely examined. All fibers and feathers that escaped are counted and reported. This is performed for the warp and weft directions of the fabric. 

WHAT DO THE RESULTS MEAN?

The number of particles that escaped are reported for the warp and weft.

HOW CAN I IMPROVE THE RESULTS?

A fabric can be made more downproof by several means: Increase the thread count, Avoid patterns woven into the fabric (jacquard, damask), Use treatments/finishes (ciré, DWR, calendaring, etc.), Use high quality materials and techniques.