The Exchange Test Method

A-17: Water Repellency: Spray Test

Issue Date: 30 Apr 1993

Revision Date: 09/30/2011

1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE:

   To measure resistance of fabrics (or garments) to wetting by water. Applicable to any textile fabric, which may or may not have been given a water resistant or water-repellent finish. This test method is not intended for use in predicting the probably rain penetration resistance of fabrics, since it does not measure rain or water penetration.

2. PRINCIPLE:

   Water sprayed against the taut surface of specimen under controlled conditions produces a wetter pattern whose size depends on the relative repellency of the fabric. Evaluation is accomplished by comparing the wetted pattern with pictures on a standard chart.

3. REFERENCE:

   AATCC Test Method 22-2010, Water Repellency: Spray Test.

4. APPARATUS:

   • 4.1 AATCC Spray Tester, see 8.1
   • 4.2 Standard Spray Test Rating Chart, see 8.1
   • 4.3 Beaker
   • 4.4 Distilled Water
   • 4.5 Test specimen 18 cm x 18 cm (7 x 7 in.) conditioned at 65 +/- 2% RH and 21° +/- 1C (70° +/- 2F) for minimum of 4 hours before testing.

5. PROCEDURE:

   • 5.1 Fasten test specimen securely in the 15.2 cm (6 in.) metal hoop so that it is wrinkle free. Place hoop on tested stand in position so that center of spray pattern coincides with center of the hoop. With ribbed fabrics, hoop should be placed on stand so that ribs are diagonal to flow of water running off fabric specimen.
   • 5.2 Pour 250 ml of distilled water at 27° +/- 1C (80° +/- 2F) into funnel of tester. Allow to spray onto Test specimen. This will take approximately 25-30 seconds. After completion of spraying period, Hoop is tapped smartly against a solid object with fabric facing object. Rotate 180 degrees and Tap once more on the point previously held. This will result in removal of excess water form the Surface of the specimen being tested.
   • 5.3 Wet or spotted pattern is compared with Standard Spray Test Rating Chart and assigned a rating corresponding to the nearest standard in the rating chart.
     
     

6. REPORT:

   Report the rating number corresponding to Standard Spray Test Rating Chart as follows:
   
   

   Rating	Evaluation
   100	No sticking or wetting of upper surface
   90	Slight random sticking or wetting of upper surface
   80	Wetting of upper surface at spray points
   70	Partial wetting of whole of upper surface
   50	Complete wetting of whole of upper surface
   0	Complete wetting of whole upper and lower surfaces

7. NOTE:

   7.1 The AATCC Spray Tester Unit consisting of hoop, nozzle, funnel, stand and Spray Test Rating Chart is available from AATCC, P.O. Box 12215, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 tel: 919-549-8141; fax: 919-549-8933; e-mail: orders@aatcc.org.