Testing, standards and measurements

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.

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