Textile Adviser: FABRIC PILLING TEST BY MARTINDALE PILLING TESTER

FABRIC PILLING TEST BY MARTINDALE PILLING TESTER:

Fabric pilling:

when the fabric is used for garment, flat sheet, fitted sheet, car sheeting, table linen etc, it passes under various kinds of situations like rubbing, stretching, lighting, raining etc. the rubbing of the fabric badly affect the fabric surface. This rubbing situation generates balls on the fabric surface. Thus we can say that the formation of the ball on the fabric surface during fabric wear due to the entanglement of protruding fibres is termed as pilling. These balls on the fabric surface form due to rubbing. The pilling of the fabric is always a major fabric quality issue because it directly affects the fabric surface.

Apparatus used:

1 - Martindale pilling tester

2 - processed fabric ( dyed or printed)

3- scissor

4 - Measuring scale

5 - marking pen

Specimen's preparation:

One pair of circular specimens of 38 mm diameter is cut from the fabric.

Another pair of a circular specimen of 140 mm diameter from the fabric.

Mounting of specimens:

The specimen of 38 mm diameter is mounted on the machine as shown in below figure:

Another test specimen of 140 mm diameter is mounted as shown below figure:

Working principle:

In this pilling testing machine, the face of the test specimen gets rubbed against the face of the same mounted fabric in the form of a geometric figure, that is, straight line, which becomes a gradually widening ellipse, until it forms another straight line in the opposite direction and traces the same figure again under light pressure for a specific number of movements.

Testing procedure:

1 - After mounting the specimens, the required number of turns are set in the electronic counter meter.

2 - 100 turns are set into the counter meter.

3 - The main power supply is switched on.