Introduction: The air permeability, water permeability, and water repellency are important properties of fabrics that determine their suitability for various applications. In this lab, we will determine these properties of a fabric sample by conducting air permeability, water permeability, and water repellency tests.
Materials:
- Fabric sample
- Air permeability tester
- Water permeability tester
- Water repellency tester
- Water
- Stopwatch
Procedure:
- Air Permeability Test:
a. Preparation of the test sample: Cut a fabric sample of 12.7 cm x 12.7 cm (5 in x 5 in) using a pair of scissors.
b. Preparation of the air permeability tester: Set up the air permeability tester according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
c. Placing the fabric sample: Place the fabric sample on the testing apparatus and adjust the holder to ensure that the fabric sample is taut and has no wrinkles.
d. Measuring the air permeability: Turn on the air permeability tester and record the air permeability value in cubic feet per minute (CFM). - Water Permeability Test:
a. Preparation of the test sample: Cut a fabric sample of 10 cm x 10 cm using a pair of scissors.
b. Preparation of the water permeability tester: Fill the water permeability tester with water according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
c. Placing the fabric sample: Place the fabric sample on the testing apparatus and ensure that it is centered over the opening in the tester.
d. Measuring the water permeability: Turn on the water permeability tester and measure the time taken for the water to pass through the fabric sample. Record the time in seconds. - Water Repellency Test:
a. Preparation of the test sample: Cut a fabric sample of 10 cm x 10 cm using a pair of scissors.
b. Preparation of the water repellency tester: Fill the water repellency tester with water according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
c. Placing the fabric sample: Place the fabric sample on the testing apparatus and ensure that it is centered over the opening in the tester.
d. Measuring the water repellency: Turn on the water repellency tester and observe the behavior of water droplets on the fabric sample. Record the number of water droplets that remain on the fabric sample after 30 seconds. - Repeat the tests: Repeat steps 1 to 3 for different fabric samples and observe the variations in their air permeability, water permeability, and water repellency values.
- Analysis of the results: Analyze the data using statistical methods, such as mean and standard deviation. Compare the air permeability, water permeability, and water repellency values of different fabric samples and observe the effect of different factors, such as fabric composition, finishing, and construction on these properties.
- Conclusion: In this lab, we have determined the air permeability, water permeability, and water repellency of a fabric sample. These properties are important for various applications, such as clothing, outdoor gear, and medical textiles. By evaluating the performance of different fabric samples, we can determine their suitability for specific applications that require certain levels of air permeability, water permeability, and water repellency.