Introduction: Compression property of a fabric is an important factor that determines its suitability for various applications. In this lab, we will determine the compression property of a fabric sample by measuring its thickness under different loads.
Materials:
- Fabric sample
- Compression tester
- Circular cutting die
- Weights (100 g)
- Digital micrometer
- Stopwatch
Procedure:
- Preparation of the test sample: Cut a circular fabric sample with a diameter of 10 cm using the circular cutting die.
- Measurement of fabric weight: Weigh the fabric sample using a digital balance and record the weight in grams (g).
- Preparation of the compression tester: Attach the circular cutting die to the compression tester. Adjust the height of the tester to zero.
- Placing the fabric sample: Place the fabric sample on the circular cutting die, ensuring that the fabric is centered on the die.
- Loading the fabric sample: Place a weight of 100 g on the center of the fabric sample. Start the timer and allow the weight to remain on the fabric sample for 30 seconds.
- Removal of the weight: Remove the weight from the fabric sample and start the timer. Measure the thickness of the fabric sample using a digital micrometer. Record the thickness of the fabric sample in millimeters (mm) as the uncompressed thickness.
- Repeat the tests: Repeat steps 5 and 6 for different fabric samples and different loads, such as 200 g, 300 g, and 400 g.
- Calculation of the compression property: Calculate the compression property of the fabric using the formula:
Compression Property = (Uncompressed Thickness - Compressed Thickness) / Uncompressed Thickness
where, Uncompressed Thickness is the thickness of the fabric sample without any load in millimeters (mm) Compressed Thickness is the thickness of the fabric sample under the specified load in millimeters (mm) - Analysis of the results: Analyze the data using statistical methods, such as mean and standard deviation. Compare the compression property values of different fabric samples and observe the effect of different loads on the compression property.
- Conclusion: In this lab, we have determined the compression property of a fabric sample by measuring its thickness under different loads. Compression property is an important factor that determines the suitability of a fabric for various applications, such as bedding, upholstery, and packaging. By evaluating the performance of different fabric samples, we can determine their suitability for specific applications that require certain levels of compression resistance.