The Exchange Test Method
A-14: Resistance to Pilling
Issue Date: 30 Apr 1993
Revision Date: 09/30/2011
PURPOSE AND SCOPE:
To determine the resistance of woven and knitted fabrics to the formation of pills and other related surface changes. Man-made fibers tend to pill more than the natural fibers.
PRINCIPLE:
Pilling and other changes in surface appearance that occur in normal wear are simulated on a laboratory testing machine. Fabric samples are washed or dry cleaned. Depending on expected refurbishment, followed by controlled rubbing against an elastomeric pad having specifically selected mechanical properties. The degree of fabric pilling is then evaluated against standards on an arbitrary scale ranging from 5 (indicating no pilling) to 1 (indicating very severe pilling).
REFERENCE:
ASTM D 3514/D 3514M-10, Standard Test Method for Pilling Resistance and Other Related Surface Changes of Textile Fabrics: Elastometric Pad.
APPARATUS:
- 4.1 CSI Stoll - Universal Wear Tester, Model CS-22C - See 8.1
- 4.2 Sponge pad - See 8.2
- 4.3 Circular specimen holder
- 4.4 Rubber "O" ring
- 4.5 Pilling test standards - See 8.3
PROCEDURE:
- 5.1 Cut 3 specimens, square or round, approximately 125 mm x 125 mm (5 x 5 +/- 0.1 in.) or 100 mm +/- 2 mm (4 in.) in diameter from laundered garments of fabrics.
- 5.2 Condition the specimens for a minimum of 2 hours at 21° +/- 1C (70° +- 2F) temperature and 65% +/- 2% relative humidity.
- 5.3 Mount the specimen on the specimen holder and tighten rubber ring to secure the specimen to the holder.
- 5.4 Place sponge on the abradant plate.
- 5.5 Gently bring the abradant head down until it contacts the specimen.
- 5.6 Depress the "start " button.
- 5.8 Remove the specimen and brush lightly to remove loose fibers. Any material that is easily brushed off should not be considered pills.
- 5.9 Repeat Steps 5.7 to 5.8 until 500 rubs.
- 5.10. Evaluate the 3 specimens using the pilling test standard.
EVALUATION:
Using the overhead lighting, rotate the specimens to the angle at which the pills are the most obvious. Rate the appearance of the face of the 3 specimens compared to the pilling test standards using the following scale: (Note: Assign half values when the appearance of a test specimen falls between that of two rating standards.)
Rating |
Appearance
|
5 |
No pilling |
4 |
Slight pilling |
3 |
Moderate pilling |
2 |
Severe pilling |
1 |
Very severe pilling |
REPORT:
Report the average rating of the 3 specimens at:
- Average number of rubs at first sign of pilling.
- Average rating at the end of 5000 rubs.
NOTE:
- 8.1 Stoll Quartermaster Universal Wear Tester with frosting attachment is available from Atlas Electric Devices Co., 4114 Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613.
- 8.2 Elastomeric Friction Pad is available from Milliken Research Corp, P.O. Box 1927, Dept. M-415, Spartanburg, SC 29304.
- 8.3 Pilling test standards consist of three sets of five photographic standards corresponding to the size of pills produced (small, medium, and large) to be used as rating guide. These standards are available for a nominal cost from ASTM,100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2059, tel: 610-832-9686, fax: 610-832-9668, web: www.astm.org.