A simple test for wind and waterproof textiles

With the rapid expansion in the outdoor clothing market with some companies reporting 20+% annual growth, not only comes the requirement for improved quality control, but also the need to find ever new fabrics for this multi-billion dollar, fashion-driven market.

The answer to both of these lies in new, accurate and faster testing equipment, particularly for measuring the breathability or windproofness of fabrics (permeability) of fabrics.

Versaperm’s new multi-gas Permeability Meter can measure the permeability of fabrics very quickly – not just for water vapour, but also for Oxygen, CO2, solvents, hydrocarbons and most other gases.  For many fabrics, results can be produced in around thirty minutes, which is less than one percent of the time required for conventional (gravimetric) measurement.   

The meter can measure to accuracy in the parts per million range, even parts per billion for some gases and textiles.  Weatherproof fabrics are typically plain weaves with yarns coated with a durable water repellent finish.  Many also have a microporous or monolithic film, coating, or bicomponent combination.  These materials are produced in massive quantities worldwide.  However, for companies where their throughput is not high enough to warrant a dedicated instrument, Versaperm also offers a laboratory testing service.

Although the ISO standard (15496:2004) for measuring the waterproofness, windproofness and breathability of textiles is rapidly being overtaken by developments in technology, Versaperm also offers a a conventional gravimetric system which is ideal for producing standards-based results. 

Instrumental system are more suited to product development and the quality control of textiles, fabrics and garments.  Most of these mateals freely allow the passage of water as a vapour (breathable), but strongly resist it as both water droplets and wind.