ASTM D4772-97(2008)e1

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:D4772–97 (Reapproved 2008)
Standard Test Method for
Surface Water Absorption of Terry Fabrics (Water Flow)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4772; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
´ NOTE—Minor editorial corrections were made throughout in October 2008.
1. Scope D 2906 Practice for Statements on Precision and Bias for
Textiles
1.1 This test method determines the ability of a terry fabric
D 3136 TerminologyRelatingtoCareLabelingforApparel,
to rapidly absorb and retain liquid water from surfaces such as
Textile, Home Furnishing, and Leather Products
human skin, dishes, and furniture.
D 5433 Performance Specification for Towel Products for
1.2 This test method is not applicable to non-terry fabrics
Institutional and Household Use
such as huck towels, waffle-weave towels, crash towels,
2.2 AATCC Standard:
flour-sack towels, and nonwoven wipes. The steep angle of the
Test Method 135 Dimensional Changes inAutomatic Home
specimen on the apparatus may cause a large amount of water
Laundering of Woven and Knit Fabrics
to runoff these non-pile fabrics, or the lightweight/open struc-
ture of these fabrics may allow a large amount of water to
3. Terminology
completely pass through the specimen; thus the test result may
3.1 Definitions:
not be a valid measure of a non-terry fabric’s ability to absorb
3.1.1 absorption, n—a process in which one material (the
water.
absorbent) takes in or absorbs another (the absorbate); as the
1.3 This test method is not applicable to decorative terry
absorption of moisture by fibers.
fabrics that will not be used to absorb water from surfaces.
3.1.2 pile, n—in pile fabric, the raised loops or tufts (cut
1.4 This test method is written in SI units. The inch-pound
loops) that form all or part of the surface.
units that are provided are not necessarily exact equivalents of
3.1.3 surface water absorption, n—by a fabric, the process
the SI units. Either system of units may be used in this test
of removing liquid water from a surface such as human skin,
method. In case of referee decisions the SI units will prevail.
dishes, or furniture.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.4 terry fabric, n—a material with a woven warp pile or
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
a knitted pile, with uncut loops on a single side or uncut loops
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
on both sides, and which is used for such products as toweling,
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
beachwear, and bathrobes.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.1.5 For definitions of other textile terms used in this test
2. Referenced Documents method, refer to Terminologies D 123 and D 3136.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4. Summary of Test Method
D 123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
4.1 Aterry fabric product with hems or with both hems and
D 1776 Practice for Conditioning and Testing Textiles
selvages (such as a bath towel), or a terry fabric without hems
D 2904 Practice for InterlaboratoryTesting of aTextileTest
or without both hems and selvages (such as a terry fabric cut
Method that Produces Normally Distributed Data
from a roll) is prepared for testing by preconditioning and
conditioning. Specimens are placed one at a time in an
embroidery hoop and then the hoop/specimen assembly is
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D13 onTextiles
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D13.59 on Fabric Test Methods,
placed at an angle on the base of the apparatus. After water
General
Current edition approved July 1, 2008. Published October 2008. Originally
approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as D 4772 – 88(2004). Withdrawn. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or on www.astm.org.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Available from American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on (AATCC), P.O. Box 12215, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, http://
the ASTM website www.aatcc.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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D4772–97 (2008)
flows down the surface of each specimen, the amount of water
retained by each specimen is measured. Six specimens are
tested, three on the face of the fabric and three on the back of
the fabric. The six observations are averaged to determine the
surface water absorption of the fabric.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 This test method may be used to test the surface water
absorption of terry fabrics for bath towels, bath sheets, hand
towels, kitchen towels, dishcloths, washcloths, beachwear,
bathrobes, and the like. Different specifications may be needed
for each of these fabrics because of different applications.
5.2 Itisrecognizedthatsurfacewaterabsorptionisonlyone
of the characteristics that the ultimate consumer may use in
determining which terry fabric is acceptable. Consult Specifi-
cation D 5433 for other characteristics that may be applicable
to terry fabrics.
5.3 This test method is recommended for quality control
testing of terry fabrics during manufacturing and product
comparisons of different terry fabrics by manufacturers, retail-
ers, and users.
5.4 This test method may be used for the acceptance testing
of commercial shipments of terry fabrics, but caution is
advised since interlaboratory precision is known to be poor.
Comparative tests as directed in 5.4.1 may be advisable.
5.4.1 In case of a dispute arising from differences in
reported test results when using this test method for acceptance
A = Hoop,
testing of commercial shipments, the purchaser and the sup-
B = Base,
C = Funnel,
plier should conduct comparative tests to determine if there is
D = Valve,
a statistical bias between their laboratories. Competent statis-
E = Graduate,
tical assistance is recommended for the investigation of bias.
F = Pour Spout,
G = Pan, and
As a minimum, the two parties should take a group of
H = Adjustment Screw.
laboratory sampling units (such as towels) that are as homo-
FIG. 1 Schematic Diagram of a Typical Water Flow Tester
geneous as possible and that are from a lot of material of the
type in question. The laboratory sampling units should then be
randomly assigned in equal numbers to each laboratory for
6.1.1 The hoop/specimen assembly must be at 1.1 rad (60°)
testing.Theaverageresultsfromthetwolaboratoriesshouldbe
to the table top (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 3).
compared using appropriate statistical analysis for unpaired
data and an acceptable probability level chosen by the two 6.1.2 The 50-mL graduate mounted on the apparatus must
parties before the testing is begun. If a bias is found, either its be parallel to the table top (see Figs. 1 and 2). The pour spout
cause must be found and corrected or the purchaser and on this graduate must be 3.0 6 0.2 cm (1.18 6 0.08 in.) down
supplier must agree to interpret future test results with consid- from where the adjustment screw bracket joints the outer hoop
eration of the known bias.
and 0.6 6 0.4 cm (0.24 6 0.16 in.) away from the hoop/
specimen assembly (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 3).
6. Apparatus and Materials
6.1.3 The funnel, valve, fittings, tubing, and graduate
6.1 Water Flow Tester—This tester is not commercially
mounted on the apparatus (see Fig. 2) must not restrict the flow
available, but it is not difficult or expensive to build. The tester
of water. The time between the opening of the valve and the
shown in Figs. 1-3 can be made from the parts and the series
time the water has exited the graduate (except for a few drops)
of steps described in Annex A1; however, there are other
must be less than 8.0 s. (The tester shown in Figs. 2 and 3 has
acceptable ways to build the tester. Sections 6.1.1-6.1.4 indi-
a mean of 5.7 s and a standard deviation of 0.5 s).
cate the critical factors which must be incorporated into the
6.1.4 The hoop/specimen assembly must be mounted on the
design of the tester.
base in a manner to direct all water not absorbed by the
specimen toward the pan (see Figs. 1-3). It is especially
important that any water that passes completely through the
The relationship between water and textiles is complex. For information on the
specimen is directed toward the pan and is not allowed to be
different forms of interaction between water and textiles see: Zeronian, S. H.
absorbed by the lower portion of the specimen, or the edge of
“Analysis of the Interaction Between Water and Textiles,” pages 117–128 in
the laboratory sampling unit, or held where the hoop contacts
Analytical Methods for a Textile Laboratory, American Association of Textile
Chemists and Colorists, third edition, 1984, edited by J. W. Weaver. the base.
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D4772–97 (2008)
FIG. 2 A Typical Water Flow Tester
FIG. 3 The Water Flow Tester with the Laboratory Sampling Unit
in Place
6.2 Embroidery Hoop, 15.3-cm (6-in.) outer diameter of
inner hoop. If the hoop is made of wood, it must have a
Consider shipping cartons or rolls of fabric to be the primary
water-resistant finish (such as a marine varnish).
6.3 Graduate, Polymethylpentene (PMP) 50 mL. sampling units, see Note 1.
6.4 Distilled or Deionized Water,at21 6 1°C (70 6 2°F).
NOTE 1—Any agreement between the purchaser and supplier must take
6.5 Laboratory Sampling Unit Conditioning Equipment,
into account the variability between rolls, bolts, or pieces of fabric and
facilities such as a multiple shelf/rod conditioning rack (for
between specimens from a swatch of fabric from a roll, bolt, or piece, or
example see Practice D 1776) or a clothesline and clothespins. between cartons of garments and between garments within a carton, to
provide a sampling plan with a meaningful producer’s risk, consumer’s
For more information see 9.2.
risk, acceptable quality level, and limiting quality level.
6.6 Tumble Dryer, equivalent to the one described in
AATCC Test Method 135.
7.2 Laboratory Sample—As a laboratory sample for accep-
6.7 Washing Machine, equivalent to the one described in tance testing, take the number of laboratory sampling units
AATCC Test Method 135.
specified in the agreement between the purchaser and the
6.8 Detergent, heavy duty granule, equivalent to The 1993 supplier. Take the laboratory sampling units as follows:
AATCC Standard Reference Detergent described in AATCC
7.2.1 Recommended Laboratory Sampling Unit—Because
Test Method 135 or any detergent agreed upon by the pur- this is a nondestructive test method, the recommended labora-
chaser and the supplier that does not include fabric softener or
tory sampling unit is a terry fabric product with hems or with
bleach. both hems and selvages (such as a bath towel). The fabric
shouldbedyedandfinishedastheconsumerwouldpurchaseit.
7. Sampling
A fabric approximately 112 (lengthwise direction) by 56 cm
7.1 Lot Sample—As a lot sample for acceptance testing, (44 by 22 in.) or larger is easier to test than a small fabric as all
take at random the number of shipping cartons or the number six observations can be made on one fabric, but the procedure
ofrollsoffabricdirectedinanapplicablematerialspecification allows for testing a small fabric such as a hand towel (see Note
or other agreement between the purchaser and the supplier. 2).
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D4772–97 (2008)
NOTE 2—A 20.0 by 20.0-cm (7.87 by 7.87-in.) fabric is the smallest
laboratory sampling unit that can be tested on the apparatus. Six of these
small laboratory sampling units will be needed to provide the six
observations. In choosing the size of the laboratory sampling unit, keep in
mind that terry fabric has a high degree of shrinkage during washing and
drying.
7.2.2 Alternate Laboratory Sampling Unit—As an alterna-
tive to the procedure described in 7.2.1, a terry fabric without
hems or without both hems and selvages can be used (such as
a terry fabric cut from a roll). The fabric should be dyed and
finished as the consumer would purchase it. A fabric approxi-
mately 112 (lengthwise direction) by 56 cm (44 by 22 in.) or
larger is easier to test than a small fabric as all six observations
can be made on one fabric, but the procedure allows for testing
a small fabric (see Note 2).
7.3 Specimens—After the laboratory sampling unit(s) has
been prepared as directed in Section 8 and conditioned as
directed in Section 9, take six specimens (the area inside the
hoop) by locating the hoop on the laboratory sampling unit(s)
as follows:
7.3.1 Foralaboratorysamplingunit(s)thatisapproximately
112 (lengthwise direction) by 56 cm (44 by 22 in.) or larger,
locate the hoop as shown in Fig. 4.
7.3.2 For a laboratory sampling unit(s) that is not large
enough to locate the hoop so that all six specimens are on one
laboratory sampling unit, alternate the hoop from face to back
FIG. 4 Location of the Hoop for a Large Laboratory Sampling
using as many laboratory sampling units as needed to obtain
Unit Such as a Bath Towel
the six specimens.
8. Preparation of the Laboratory Sampling Unit
unit uses one cycle of washing and drying. This preconditions
8.1 Recommended Preparation of the Laboratory Sampling
the laboratory sampling unit, raises the pile so it is not matted
Unit—The recommended preparation of the laboratory sam-
down, and removes some chemicals. Other numbers of wash-
pling unit uses a dryer to precondition the laboratory sampling
ing and drying cycles, such as three or five, may be used. The
unit and raise the pile so it is not matted down. See 6.6 for a
purchaser and the supplier, however, must agree on the number
description of the dryer. The procedure is as follows:
of washing and drying cycles. This procedure may cause more
8.1.1 If fabric softener has recently been used in the dryer,
variation in the test result than the procedure described in 8.1
dry a 3.6-kg (8-lb) dummy load of desized unsoftened fabrics
and it is not recommended for acceptance testing unless there
which will not be tested, and then repeat this procedure with a
has been an agreement between the purchaser and the supplier.
different dummy load of 3.6 kg (8 lb) of desized unsoftened
This procedure uses the equipment and the supplies described
fabrics.
in 6.6-6.8. The procedure is as follows:
8.1.2 Clean the
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