Textile Testing and Quality Assurance

Title: To determine pilling on fabric surface with ISO-

pilling tester

Submitted by:
Tauqeer Raza (06-NTU-97)

Section D 8th semester

S u b m i tt e d t o :

Mr. Salman Naeem sb.

Garments department
 1

Abstract:
The pilling of textile fabrics is very complex property because it is affected by many
factors, such as type of fiber of blend, fiber dimensions, yarn and fabric construction,
and fabric-finishing treatments. This method of testing fabrics for resistance to pilling
is not recommended for acceptance testing of commercial shipment, because the
between-laboratory precision is poor. In some cases the purchaser and the supplier
may have to test a commercial shipment of one or more specific materials by the best
available method, even though the method has not been recommended for acceptance
testing of commercial shipments. In such a case, if there is a disagreement arising
from differences in values reported by the purchaser and the supplier when using this
method or acceptance testing, the statistical bias, if any, between the laboratory of the
purchaser and the laboratory of the supplier should be determined with each
comparison being based on testing specimens randomly drawn from one sample of
material of the type being evaluated.
 2

Contents
Abstract:......................................................................................................................................................1
Theory:........................................................................................................................................................3
DEFINITIONS:...........................................................................................................................................3
RELATED STANDARD:...............................................................................................................................3
Pilling Tester:...........................................................................................................................................3
Objective:....................................................................................................................................................3
APPARATUS:................................................................................................................................................4
Test Specimen:........................................................................................................................................4
TECHNICAL DATA:....................................................................................................................................4
METHOD:.....................................................................................................................................................4
Result:..........................................................................................................................................................5
Assessment:.................................................................................................................................................5
Conclusion:..................................................................................................................................................6
Reference:...................................................................................................................................................6
 3

Theory:

DEFINITIONS:
1. Fuzz: untangled fibre ends that protrude from the surface of a yarn of fabric.

2. Pilling resistance: resistance to the formations pills on a textile fabric.

3. Pills: Bunches or balls of tangled fibers that are held to the surface of a fabric by one
or more fibers.

RELATED STANDARD:
ISO: 10971 – 1984: Method for Determination of Pilling Resistance of fabrics.

Pilling Tester:
Pilling is a fabric surface fault characterized by little pills of entangled fibres clinging to
the surface. These are formed during wearing or washing by the entanglement of the
loose fibres which protrude from the fabric surface and development of these into
spherical bundles anchored to the fabric by a few unbroken fibres. These give a very
unsightly look to the garments.
The Pilling Tester consists of two wooden cubic boxes with inside surfaces lined with
cork and outer surfaces laminated. These boxes are rotated about their central axis at
a specified speed with the help of a motor and a gear box. A pre-set digital counter
stops the motor automatically after the desired number of revolutions.
The test specimens are firmly held around rubber tubes. Four such tubes are placed in
each box and then rotated for desired numbers of revolutions after which they are
assessed visually against standard rating photographs and graded.

Objective:
 To evaluate the potential of fabric to pill
 4

APPARATUS:

 Pill box (speed 60 rpm +/- 2  Lock or chain stitch sewing

rpm) with standard cork machine.
 Molded Polyurethane pilling  White PVC tape 19mm wide.
tubes.  Pilliscope.
 Specimen mounting jig  Soft brush.
 Woven or knitted as applicable.  Standard maintenance fabric

Test Specimen:

Using the template mark and cut four squares 125 mm x 125 mm. A sample
approximately 190 mm x 60 mm should be kept for use during assessment. Avoid
fabric within 50 mm of the selvedge.

Mark the length direction of the fabric on the back of each square to ensure accurate
preparation and mounting of the specimens.

Where a fabric has no discernable face, test both side.

TECHNICAL DATA:

Size of wooden boxes (Inside) 225 x 225 x 225 mm

Thickness of cork lining 3 mm

Speed of rotation of boxes 60 rpm

Size of test specimen 125 x 125 mm

 5

Size of rubber tubes 32 OD x 25.5 ID x 150 mm long

METHOD:

 The specimen is prepared by folding in half, ensuring the face is on the inside.
 A seam is Sewn parallel to tie fold (12 mm from the edge) to form a tube with an
open seam.
 The specimen is turned face outwards.
 The specimen is mounted on to the polyurethane tubes. To avoid unnecessary
handling of the specimens always:
o Collapse the tube onto the two pronged jig.
o Push the metal sleeve over the tube.
o Slide a specimen with the seam opened out and fixed onto the sleeve.
o Hold the specimen gently and remove the sleeve leaving the specimen
firmly mounted (not loose or tight) on the tube with an equal amount of
polyurethane protruding at each end.
o Remove the tube from the jig.
 To secure the specimen, a PVC tape of sufficient length is applied to each end of
the tube to wrap around one and a half times so that 6 mm of polyurethane
tube is visible at each end.
 Pill box is cleaned with a soft brush.
 The set of four tubes is placed in one pilling box.
 Machine is turned on for 4 hours.
 After testing, the specimens are removed. The sample is examined inside of the
box and recorded the presence of any loose pills and fabric debris.
 The PVC tape is carefully removed.
 The seam is cut to remove the specimen from the tubes.

Result:
 6

Assessment:
1. Grading should be carried out in the dark room or curtained of area.

2. Select the appropriate woven or knitted photographic standards for use in the
Pilliscope.

3. Grade each specimen in turn by placing in the Pilliscope and compare the degree
of pilling against the standard photographs. Record the grade.

4. Mount the graded specimens by stapling on to size A4 card. Mount the strip of
untested fabric across the card between the two pairs of specimens.

Conclusion:
There is no pilling according to the photograph in the lab. Fabric sample is pilling
resistance.

Reference:
www.mnufacturingsolutions.org

www.labnetwork.org