Testing, standards and measurements

While consumers and policy makers are demanding more transparency along global supply chains, making responsible decisions for people and planet is more of a concern for companies than ever before.

A range of instruments for the testing of face masks and respirators, and filter media for automotive, high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA), and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) a

An updated version of a device that enables the haptic properties of such as wet wipes, diapers and face masks to be measured objectively has been launched by emtec Electronic GmbH, of Leipzig, Ger

A device that enables the haptic properties of such as wet wipes, diapers and face masks to be measured objectively will be shown by emtec Electronic GmbH at INDEX. 

A grading system for assessing the wicking behaviour of fabrics has been developed by James Heal of Halifax, UK.

Autoneum has installed a cold chamber at its headquarters in Winterthur, Switzerland, which is says will enable it to adapt and optimise its technologies for thermal management in electric vehicles

A range of instruments for the testing of technical textiles are to be shown by James Heal, of Halifax, UK, at Techtextil. 

SDL Atlas of Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA, has launched an updated version of its versatile tearing-tester (PowerTear Elmendorf).

A £4.6-million facility for the rapid testing of composite tidal turbine blades has been opened in Rosyth, UK, by the University of Edinburgh and engineering company Babcock International. 

Disinfection methods based on the use of ultraviolet (UV) radiation have little impact on the form or function of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as N95 face masks⁽¹⁾, accordin

A standard for determining the cut-resistance of undergarments for skiers has been developed at the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF).

A device that enables the haptic properties of such as wet wipes, diapers and face masks to be measured objectively will be shown by emtec Electronic GmbH at IDEA 2022. 

An automatic system for testing the strength of yarn has been launched by Mesdan of Puegnago, Italy. 

A tool (called Impact Calculator) that will enable manufacturers of textiles and textile products to gauge the impact that their operations have on the environment has been launched by the Oeko-Tex

In order to manage existing and new projects more efficiently, the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) has split one of its most active research committees, AATCC RA63, W

SDL Atlas of Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA, has launched a re-designed version of its system for testing the water-resistance of fabrics (their hydrostatic head).  

A system for testing the resistance of fabrics to penetration by water (their hydrostatic head) has been launched by James Heal of Halifax, UK. 

A testing instrument that can be used to determine the through-thickness resistance of such as performance apparel, medical textiles and personal protective equipment (PPE) to the flow of air has b

Standards that enable manufacturers of general-purpose face coverings to provide consistent products and inspire confidence in their customers have been launched by the American Association of Text

A test bench for determining the gas-adsorption performance of filter media has been installed by Ahlstrom-Munksjö at its research and development (R&D) centre in Pont-Evêque, France, as it loo

A testing system for determining the surface-wetting resistance of fabrics for use in products such as rain jackets, tents and outdoor furniture has been launched by SDL Atlas of Rock Hill, South C

A standard that can be used to quantify the drapeability and deformability of woven and nonwoven fabrics has been published by the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) of Geneva, Sw

An industry alliance has completed a fibre-fragmentation trial as it looks to develop a harmonised industry standard to tackle issues relating to the shedding of microfibres from textiles. 

Air Techniques International (ATI) has developed an airtight adapter that securely holds cup- and duckbill-style face masks in place on its 100X Automated Filter Tester, so they can be verified acc

A standardised method for quantifying the mass of fibre fragments – sometimes referred to as microfibres or microplastics – a fabric will shed during laundering has been developed by the American A

A laboratory dedicated to the testing of face masks has been opened in Helsinki, Finland, by SGS. 

The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) of Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA, has published the mid-year supplement to its Manual of International Test Meth

An efficient system for testing the water-repellency of textiles has been launched by James Heal of Halifax, UK.

Researchers in the USA are using X-ray microcomputed tomography to capture three-dimensional (3D) images of the surface of fabrics in order to determine how they will interact with human skin.

Viruses similar to the SARS-Cov-2 strain responsible for the human coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic can survive on clothing and migrate to other surfaces for up to 72 hours after first cont

A new standard that will help to establish minimum requirements for the design, performance, labelling and care of re-usable barrier face coverings has been approved by ASTM International of West C

A template that can be used to measure the dimensional changes of fabrics and garments after laundering has been launched by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) of Re

Re-usable, water-repellent coveralls designed to be worn in cleanrooms could serve as protective clothing for medical personnel, according to research undertaken by Krüss GmbH of Hamburg, Germany.

A device that enables the haptic properties of coated and uncoated textiles to be measured objectively is to be presented at the World Congress on Textile Coating (WCTC). 

A robot that can mimic coughing, sneezing and breathing is being used by researchers in Finland to determine the effectiveness of face masks and air-purification systems, and to verify the accuracy

An instrument that can accurately and repeatably measure the energy transferred by flame through a sample of fabric has been launched by Thermetrics of Seattle, Washington, USA.

A test method that can be used to detect trace amounts of chemicals in such as baby diapers, sanitary products and tampons has been developed by SGS France of Arcueil and EDANA of Brussels, Belgium

A modular photogrammetry-based scanning system for studying the interactions between humans and their clothing has been installed at the Institute of Textile Machinery and High Performance Material

The Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) at RWTH Aachen University in Germany has directed the development of what it claims to be the first national standard for spacer fabrics. 

Hohenstein of Bönnigheim, Germany, has developed what it claims to be the first standard for determining the compression behaviour of sportswear. 

A standard that will enable the size of the nanoparticles used in such as antibacterial coatings for textiles to be determined accurately has been developed by ASTM International of West Conshohock

SDL Atlas has unveiled the latest version of its system for testing the flammability of apparel and vertically oriented fabrics to European standards.

Masks made from household fabrics – such as those knitted or woven from cotton or blends of polyester (PES) and cotton – effectively block both small and large respiratory droplets that are release

A testing system that can be used to assess the liquid-barrier performance of fabrics for personal protective equipment (PPE) has been launched by SDL Atlas of Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA.

Standardised methods need to be developed so the impact that microplastics shed by textiles have on the environment can be evaluated reliably.

A system for determining the levels of acoustic insulation provided by parts for automotive interiors has been developed by Autoneum of Winterthur, Switzerland.

SDL Atlas says that its Vortex M6 is the only commercial-grade washing machine available that has been designed specifically to address the needs of the most recent standards from the American Asso

A general-purpose face mask that complies with a recently developed Swiss standard for such products has been launched by Schoeller Textil AG and Forster Rohner AG.