R
ecent textile industry trade shows provided opportunities for manufacturers and
distributors of textile testing equipment to show their latest technology offerings. Below, Textile
World Asia presents new innovations from several suppliers.
Technologies For Measuring Yarn Properties
Lawson Hemphill, United States, now offers the Entanglement Strength Tester (EST) LH-485, a
high-speed production-scale tester for analyzing the number of entanglements per meter, length of
entanglement skips and entanglement strength in man-made yarns. Speeds range from 50 to 400 meters
per minute (m/min); and 22- to 1,500-denier draw-textured, fully-drawn (FDY) and partially-oriented
yarns (POY) can be tested. The yarn transport system has two zones: The Draw Zone features a
high-resolution tension device to measure the tension developed on the yarn as the entanglements
are removed. The Entanglement Measurement Zone features a charged-coupled device camera that
collects yarn diameter measurements to within 3.5 microns and uses the data to recognize and
calculate the entanglements and entanglement skips in the running yarn.
The Fibrotest from Germany-based Textechno Herbert Stein GmbH & Co. KG is a fiber length
and strength tester that measures the two values on the same fiber bundle without the need for a
calibration cotton sample. Once the measurements are recorded, Fibrotest determines the sample size
from which the exact and absolute tenacity value can be calculated. If desired, the system can be
calibrated with calibration cotton to replicate high-volume instrument (HVI) data. A comb-type
sample holder is used to prepare the sample, and an optical system with high lateral resolution
compensates for unavoidable fiber mass variation along the sample holder.
The Covatest from Textechno is an evenness tester for slivers, rovings, and staple fiber
spun yarns. The machine uses capacitance to measure the mass irregularity along the sample, and the
option hairiness module uses a modern optical sensor with last illumination to determine yarn
hairiness. Results, including a mass spectrogram, are displayed both graphically and numerically
during the test and can be retrieved easily using an open Database access.
United Kingdom-based Oerlikon Fibrevision Ltd. reports its FibreTQS SF — On Line Spin Finish
Measurement technology eliminates production of off-quality yarn and substantially improves
downstream quality. In real time, the system measures and grades the spin finish level and
variation in POY and FDY manufacturing processes. It also eliminates transient and short-term
faults not identified during regular lab testing.
Fibrevision also recently introduced the Fraytec FV, the latest generation of its known
Fraytec MV broken filament monitoring system. In addition to using Fibervision’s advanced software,
the newest model offers optional features to capture and quantify digitally all filament events, as
well as monitor interlace level.
Last year, Uster Technologies AG, Switzerland, acquired the Zweigle product range. Uster has
integrated Zweigle’s technology into its product range, and its research and development staff have
taken complementary technologies from both brands to develop new, advanced technologies, including
the Uster® Zweigle HL400 yarn hairiness tester, which operates at a speed of 400 m/min – eight
times faster than the 50 m/min of its Zweigle system predecessor and other competitors’ products,
and compatible with the speed of the Uster Tester 5.
The Uster® Zweigle HL400 yarn hairiness tester enables in-depth yarn-engineering
opportunities and helps in monitoring and controlling the overall performance level of the
compacting system at the ring spinning frame
“Precise analysis of yarn hairiness is vital for many textile applications, as hairiness has
a significant influence on both the appearance and durability of fabrics, as well as impacting on
the productivity and efficiency of subsequent processing stages,” said Gabriela Peters, product
manager.
“The Zweigle acquisition strengthened the overall portion of Uster Technologies in yarn
testing and certification, as well as providing customers with a single source for all their
laboratory testing needs,” said Dr. Geoffrey Scott, CEO. “Future editions of Uster Statistics
global quality benchmarks will include data from Uster Zweigle-based instruments to enable product
quality to be correlated with internationally-recognized standards.”
The MT-5 Evenness tester from Italy-based Mesdan S.p.A. analyzes periodic mass variations
produced during sliver, roving and yarn manufacturing. The tester utilizes state-of-the-art
capacitive sensors to measure evenness, flaws and yarn count. Features include a measuring range
between 80 grams per meter of sliver to Nm 250 yarns; an MT-5 software system that evaluates mass
variations, provides spectrogram and statistical data, and gives coefficient of variation and other
percentages; an imperfection indicator; a measuring device for thin and thick places and neps in
spun yarns; SPC spectrograph; 306-nanometer maximum wavelength; and PC including monitor and
printer.
Fabric Testing Technologies
In addition to its yarn testing offerings, Mesdan also offers equipment to measure fabric
properties. The Elmatic Automatic Digital Elmendorf Tearing tester for both fine and heavy-duty
fabrics and related materials from Mesdan-Lab features a measuring range from 200 centiNewtons (cN)
to 30,000 cN; automated test execution including specimen cut, pendulum release, specimen tear,
tear force measurement, pendulum stop and pendulum reposition in the starting position; total
safety cover with safety lock during testing; large liquid crystal display, PC and printer
connection; ability to post results in newtons, kilograms and pounds; Elmatic software for data
storage, and graphic and statistical report of results; high acuracy and repeatability; conformance
with international testing standards; and high productivity.
Switzerland-based Werner Mathis AG offers the Crockmeter model CRO-B for measuring abrasion
resistance of colored and printed textiles. The instrument has a minimum sample size of 51
millimeters (mm) by 127 mm, a 16-mm rubbing contact surface diameter and rubbing speed of 1 cycle
per second; and can perform from 1 to 9,999 rubbing cycles in a test. Wet or dry samples may be
tested using BS 1006D02, ISO 105-X12/D02 and AATCC 8-1981 – 8/165 test methods.
The Textest FX 3500 On-Line Tester “Combiscan” from Switzerland-based Textest AG — for woven
fabrics, nonwovens, felts, films and paper machine clothing — can measure air permeability or
pressure drop, thickness and basis weight across a moving web, depending on the model selected. The
FX 3500-TX light frame version measures air permeability and/or thickness; while the FX 3500-SX
heavy frame version can measure basis weight, air permeability and/or thickness.
The Heal Martindale 900 Series™ abrasion and pilling tester is United Kingdom-based James H.
Heal & Co. Ltd.’s latest-generation Martindale technology. The Maxi Martindale 909 features
nine testing stations, and the Midi Martindale 905 model has five testing stations. The machines
now can test lightweight, water-resistant materials; and feature smaller, more ergonomic pressing
weight compared with the previous-generation Martindale testers. Tests are controlled using a
keypad control panel and finger-molded grips facilitate sample removal.
United States-based Q-Lab Corp.’s new rotating-rack Q-Sun B-02 lightfastness tester for
textile labs complies with the ISO 105 B02 standard, as well as AATCC TM 16 and AATCC TM 169
options 2 and 3. Q-Lab reports the affordable, fully automated, compact tester is easy to install
and use, requires minimal maintenance, and can operate around the clock. Features include long-life
xenon lamps and a special filter lantern to produce the required light spectrum; Solar Eye™
irradiance control with AutoCal calibration system; an electronic humidity sensor to control
relative humidity; simultaneous control of chamber air temperature and black standard temperature;
and substantially larger specimen capacity compared with similar testers. In addition, Q-Lab
recently added a water spray feature for the rotating rack, which adds weathering testing
capabilities to the machine.
Q-Lab Corp.’s Q-Sun B-02 lightfastness tester
SDL Atlas, United Kingdom, offers the Moisture Management Tester for knitted and woven
apparel fabrics. It measures the wetting time, absorption rate, maximum wetted radius and spreading
speed of both inner and outer surfaces; one-way wicking capacity from the inner to the outer
surface; and the overall moisture management capacity. Another SDL Atlas instrument, the
Hydrostatic Head Tester M018, measures a fabric’s resistance to water penetration under hydrostatic
pressure. An electronic sensor applies static or dynamic pressure until the material leaks in three
places. The results from three consecutive tests are combined to calculate an average minimum
hydrostatic pressure along with a rating for that material.
July/August/September 2010