CONTENTS
1.1What Is Textile Testing?
1.2Objectives of Textile Testing
1.3Types of Textile Testing
1.4Importance of Textile Testing
1.5Importance of Standards
1.6Sampling Techniques
1.6.1Sampling
1.6.2Sampling Techniques
1.6.2.1Zoning Technique
1.6.2.2Core Sampling
1.6.2.3Random Sampling
1.6.2.4Sampling Errors
1.6.2.5Sources of Error
1.7Statistical Terms
References
1.1What Is Textile Testing?
The quality of a product or process is checked before it is put into large-scale usage. The quality of the product, its performance, and its reliability are the key factors while testing is performed. Testing can be defined as the methods or protocols adopted to verify/determine the properties of a product. It can be divided primarily into two types: regular process testing and quality assurance testing. Routine testing helps to streamline the daily process. Quality assurance testing helps the process or product in the long run to establish credibility. Testing can also be defined as the procedures adopted to determine a product’s suitability and quality [1,3].
Textile testing is a vital basic tool during the processing of a textile raw material into the product. It also helps the distributors and consumer to determine the end product’s quality. So, textile testing refers to the procedures adopted to determine quality throughout the textile product chain. It can be summarized as the application of engineering facts and science to determine the quality and properties of a textile product [2].
1.2Objectives of Textile Testing
The objectives are
For researchers, testing results aid the development of new products or new processes, which can save money and resources before production starts on an industrial scale. They also help in the choosing of the best possible route to achieve the end product.
Testing helps in the selection of the best possible raw materials. “Raw material” is a relative term; for example, fiber is the raw material for spinning, and yarn is the raw material for weaving.
Testing helps in the process control through the use of advanced textile process-control techniques.
Testing ensures the right product is shipped to the consumer or customer and that the product meets the customer specifications.
Testing in general, and textile testing in particular, is affected by the following factors: Atmospheric conditions affect test results as textile products are greatly influenced by moisture and humidity. The test method adopted will also cause variation in test results. The testing instrument is also a vital part and, if not properly calibrated, can cause serious variation. Human error is another source of variation [3,5].
Textile testing starts with textile fibers and goes all the way through to the final product. The fiber test includes the length, strength, elongation, fineness, and maturity. The yarn test includes linear density, single yarn strength, yarn evenness, and yarn hairiness. The fabric test includes aerial density, weave type, and air permeability.
In order to carry out the testing of the textile products, a well-equipped laboratory with a wide range of testing equipment is needed. Well-trained operators are also a prerequisite for the running of the laboratory. The cost of establishing and running the lab is nonproductive and is added to the cost of the final product. These nonproductive costs increase the cost of the final product and therefore make it an expensive trade. Therefore, it is vital that testing is not performed without accumulation of some payback to the end product. Testing is carried out at a number of points in a production cycle to improve the quality of the product [2,4].
1.3Types of Textile Testing
Textile testing can be classified according to the basic technique used and on the basis of the data obtained. The former can be divided into destructive and nondestructive testing, the latter being defined as the application of noninvasive methods to reach a conclusion as to the quality of a material, process, or product. In other words, it is inspection or measurement without doing damage to the test specimen. Examples include drape testing and assessment based on the Kawabata evaluation system. Destructive testing is performed to test for failure of the sample. This type of test is much easier to perform and yield precise information and is more simple to understand than nondestructive testing. Examples of destructive testing are tensile testing and tear testing [5,6,7].
On the basis of data obtained, testing can be classified into objective and subjective. The former can be defined as the testing that gives us quantitative data, which can be easily further processed and interpreted. Subjective testing can be defined as that which gives us qualitative data, which is difficult to interpret and is greatly influenced by operator bias [6].
1.4Importance of Textile Testing
Testing importantly supports the personnel involved in the textile supply chain, from the textile fiber to the end product. Persons involved in textiles should have knowledge of production as well as ...
