The popular ASBCI technical visit in June gave delegates an insight into aspects of technical testing they might not otherwise experience, such as seeing a multifibre strip being woven and then later how it is used in testing for colour fastness in washing.
The day saw attendees join the technical team for two sessions covering textiles testing for an in-depth view of this critical part of the industry. Immersive technical sessions focused on live instrument demos to show the different types of tests, why they are important, and what results show, as well as the consumables needed for accurate, repeatable testing.
Comparative abrasion tests were started at the beginning of the day using fabric samples tested dry, as on a standard Martindale, along with samples of the same fabric dosed with water during testing on the James Heal AquAbrasion. The samples were reviewed at the halfway point and the end of the day to demonstrate the wear and abrasion of a garment under different real-life conditions. The results showed greater wear and abrasion during wet testing, which was a lightbulb moment for some.
In the wet lab, Helen Warburton demoed a microfibre shedding test after laundering. She also explained colourfastness testing using GyroWash with multifibre test material.
In the adjacent conditioned lab, Lisa Keeling showed how a sportswear fabric performed in a moisture management test using infrared video cameras on WickView, followed by an evaluation on ProDry of how quickly the same fabric dries. These two instruments combined help understand the relationship between fabric wicking values and drying rate. Lisa also tested water resistance of a sample fabric on HydroView.
Meanwhile Peter Goodwin showcased a number of tests, including. lightfastness using TruFade. This showed the fabric before and the sample during the point reached in the test. Attendees also learned about air permeability and burst strength tests and were some of the first to see a live demo of the new James Heal Titan 25 universal testing machine.
James Heal sales manager David Buxton said: ‘It has been a pleasure once again to host ASBCI members. We’re always delighted to showcase what we have to offer, and help visitors learn more about evolving testing technology.’
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