Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute - Visit 2

Some of us wonder about fabrics and some of us don't ! and just take them for granted ..
well! - whether wondering or not- we got the chance twice to experience Cotton processing "From the field to Fashion" as my colleague Emily said; moreover, on the second visit, we got to be exposed to some of the testing, tearing, measuring, counting, and all kinds of machines that define the specifications of the fabric. Below are few examples of these machines.

The first machine was to a tester to determine the abrasion resistance of textile fabrics. A small cloth of fabric would be cut to a 140mm diameter to be placed and tested on the machine.

MARTINDALE ABRASION TESTER 

(ASTM D 4966)

the second machine is to test the strength and length of the textile fabrics; there are two ways to do so. First is called the reveled strip test which is used for woven fabrics only. the second one is called cut strip test which is used for non woven, felted and dipped, or coated fabrics.

BREAKING FORCE AND ELONGATION OF TEXTILE FABRIC

(ASTM D 5034/5035)

This third machine is another way to test the resistance to the formation of the pills. the good thing is this testing can be done on all types of woven and knitted fabrics. 

RANDOM TUMBLE PILLING TESTER

(ASTM D 3512)

it's amazing what you can see ! 

Another testing process that needs patience and lots of training !! 

while it takes a minute to wear a t-shirt, it takes months and sometimes years of testing and experimenting with the fabric in order to be a wearable t-shirt !