Testing, standards and measurements

A non-radioactive quality-control system that enables the basis weights and thicknesses of flat materials to be assessed as they are being produced is being used by Low & Bonar for the first ti

SDL Atlas has developed a fixture that enables the accurate testing of stretchable fabrics using its MMT: Moisture Management Tester.

A standard monograph that provides practical guidance for the creation and labelling of general-purpose face coverings has been published by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Coloris

A testing device that enables the behaviour of plastics to be determined at temperatures as low as –40°C without the need for a thermal chamber, has been developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer

The effectiveness of a variety of natural and synthetic fabrics for the filtration of particles of a similar size to the virus (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for the human coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

The minimum requirements for the design, production and performance assessment of community face masks (barrier masks) intended for consumers in Europe has been published.

Guidance for the manufacture of non-medical face coverings is being developed by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) of Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

The Oeko-Tex Association of Zurich, Switzerland, is to waive the license fee associated with certifying face masks to its Standard 100 (used to demonstrate that a textile article has been deemed sa

The ability of composite-metal foams (CMFs) to pass simulated-pool-fire tests has been proven by researchers at North Carolina State University (NCSU)—meaning that the material could, for instance,

An agency of the US Federal Government has proposed amending existing legislation concerning the generic names of fibres in order to bring it into line with international standards.

A method that could enable the damage that occurs in a composite when its reinforcing fibres fracture to be observed accurately and easily is being developed by researchers at the National Institut

A testing instrument for determining the drying rate of textiles has been launched by James Heal of Halifax, UK.

Conventional X-ray tubes could be used to investigate the physical structure of fibre-reinforced plastics following the development of a small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) technique by researchers

Labels for workwear and uniforms designed to show that their safety, quality and durability have been thoroughly tested have been launched by Hohenstein of Bönnigheim, Germany.

Testing specialist SGS has established what it says is the first independent laboratory in Europe to measure objectively the softness of disposable hygiene products, such as baby diapers and femini

The smart textiles subcommittee of ASTM International (known as D13.50) has approved its first standard, a compilation of industry terms.

Hexcel, Progen and Future Aerospace have opened a joint-venture laboratory and materials testing facility in Shanghai, China.

Drones and crawling robots that can inspect composite wind turbine blades non-invasively for hidden damage faster and in more detail than is possible using traditional inspection cameras are being

The first centre in the world designed to carry-out large-scale fatigue testing of composite tidal turbine blades is to be built in the UK as part of a partnership between the University of Edinbur

An automated system for the accurate and rapid inspection of composites is to be housed at the National Composites Centre (NCC) in Bristol, UK.

Two countries in the European Union (EU) are supporting a standard for assessing the flushability of wet wipes according to its developers, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) a

A way to measure how the three-dimensional (3D) alignment of molecules in a material changes in response to applied force has been developed in Maryland, USA.

The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) of Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, reports that it has approved one of the first international standards for electronic te

A fast and accurate system for measuring the permeability of dry reinforcements for composites is the latest piece of equipment to be installed at the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturi

A technique for measuring how much insecticide is present on the surface of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) is being developed by researchers from North Carolina State University (NCSU) and

Hohenstein Institute of Bönnigheim, Germany, is to open a textile testing laboratory in Gurugram, India, following 11 months of construction work.  

The latest volume of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC)'s Technical Manual will be available on 1 January 2019.

Researchers at the Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU Research School of High Energy Physics in Russia are combining multiple methods to create an advanced flaw detection system for complex and larg

The Hohenstein Institute of Bönnigheim, Germany, is to open a textiles testing laboratory in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 28 July 2018.

Guidelines concerning both the assessment and labelling of goods regarding their suitability for flushing away in wastewater systems have been made stricter, according to the co-publishers of the l

Hohenstein Group has developed a new generation of its compression testing device, which is claimed to provide accurate measurements of compression garments during movement.

A quick and accurate inspection method for composite components has been developed by FACC of Ried, Austria, and the Upper Austrian University of Applied Sciences and the Higher Technical College (

How skin-friendly do textiles remain when subjected to increased levels of perspiration during wear? Can modern textiles reduce the smell of sweat?

Researchers at the Hohenstein Institute in Bönnigheim, Germany, have developed a method that allows the effect and efficacy of phase-change materials (PCMs) in textiles to be tested without the nee

Two products intended to simplify the assessment of the effectiveness of fabrics for protection from ultraviolet (UV) radiation are now available from the Association of Textile, Apparel & Mate

Voith Paper and Trützschler Nonwovens have developed a new safety standard for wet-laid hydroentangled (spunlaced, WLS) nonwovens machines. 

A system capable of determining the properties of rovings quickly and efficiently will be launched at JEC World

Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast in the UK are developing simulation tools that will help to improve the safety of aeroplanes and cars being built from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFR

The first course to train inspectors in the airline and aircraft manufacturing industries nondestructive inspection techniques (NDI) for solid-laminate composite materials has been developed by the

The medical advisory service of the central association of German health insurance providers (MDS) has included the absorption-before-leakage (ABL) test method in its catalogue of criteria for the

A manufacturer of textile testing equipment has added a touchscreen-based control panel to its portfolio.

To help standardize laundry testing, the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) of Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA, has developed a standard detergent.

A Swiss specialist in antimicrobial additives for textiles and polymers has invested in a new technical centre.

GKN Aerospace is working with Durham University to develop and implement an ultra-sensitive test method to measure accurately improvements in airframe drag performance. 

Facts Inc is to add another scanner (LTM) to its range for measuring the thickness of webs.

Nonwovens associations EDANA and INDA have jointly launched the 2015 edition of standard procedures for the nonwovens and related industries.