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Textile Functionality Testing

We quantitatively assess the special performance given to textiles for specific environments and purposes.
This is an essential verification process that proves the value of outdoor wear, sportswear, medical textiles and smart fabrics.

1. Comfort and Moisture Management Functions

This testing assesses how a textile manages perspiration and heat from the human body to maintain comfort.

  • Moisture Wicking and Quick Dry: Measures how quickly a fabric absorbs sweat, spreads it across the surface and dries.
  • Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate, MVTR: Measures the ability of a fabric to release water vapour, or perspiration, generated during intense activity.
  • Air Permeability: Measures the amount of air passing through the fabric to assess breathability.
  • Contact Cooling, Q-max: Quantifies the cooling sensation by measuring the amount of heat transferred when the skin touches the fabric.

2. Protection and Safety Functions

This testing verifies performance that protects the human body from harmful external environments.

  • Hydrostatic Pressure: Measures how well a fabric withstands water pressure to assess waterproof performance. It is essential for waterproof and breathable fabrics such as Gore-Tex-type materials.
  • Water Repellency: Grades the extent to which water droplets bead and roll off the fabric surface without being absorbed, using methods such as the spray test.
  • UV Protection, UPF: Measures how effectively a textile blocks ultraviolet rays, including UVA and UVB, and expresses the result as a UPF rating.
  • Flammability: Assesses burning speed and self-extinguishing properties when exposed to flame. This is important for products such as firefighting clothing and curtains.

3. Hygiene and Chemical Functions

This section covers invisible functional properties, including the suppression of bacterial growth and the prevention of static electricity.

  • Antimicrobial Activity: Measures the extent to which the fabric inhibits the growth of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae through methods including absorption and culture-based tests.
  • Deodorization: Evaluates how effectively the fabric reduces odour-causing gases such as ammonia.
  • Anti-static Performance: Measures how quickly static electricity generated by friction dissipates, or how much voltage is produced.

4. Advanced and Smart Functions

This testing evaluates the performance of next-generation textiles incorporating special finishing processes or information technology.

  • Phase Change Material, PCM, Performance: Assesses the temperature-regulating ability of fabrics containing materials that absorb or release heat as their state changes with temperature.
  • EMR Shielding: Measures, in decibels, how effectively the fabric blocks electromagnetic radiation through the use of metallic yarns or similar materials.
  • Conductivity Testing: Measures the electrical resistance of conductive fibres used in smart wearable clothing and verifies how well the performance is maintained after washing.

Summary of Key Testing Standards

Function Category Key Test Items Representative Standards (ISO / ASTM / KS)
Moisture Management Absorbency, moisture vapour transmission ISO 15496, ASTM E96
Waterproof Performance Hydrostatic pressure, water repellency ISO 811, AATCC 22
UV Protection UPF rating AS/NZS 4399, ASTM D6603
Hygiene Antimicrobial activity, deodorization KS K 0693, ISO 20743
Textile functionality testing standards and marketing application image

Functionality testing not only provides data that can support product marketing claims, including hang-tags,
but also serves as an essential verification stage to help ensure user safety in demanding environments.

Contact Information

Reception and Consultation: 031-212-0234 / kafti@kafti.or.kr
Vietnam: Hana Kim / China: Tu Lin / Korea: Researcher Sujin Ahn
Inspection Manager: Senior Researcher Eunjeong Gong (010-4250-0365)
ball0816@kafti.or.kr
Head of Research Institute: Research Institute Director Seunghyuk Baik (010-4802-6453)
shbaik@kafti.or.kr
President: President Eunsu Kim (010-8756-7379)
joshuakim@kafti.or.kr

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