EN ISO 9073-6:2025
(Main)Nonwovens - Test methods - Part 6: Absorption (ISO 9073-6:2025)
Nonwovens - Test methods - Part 6: Absorption (ISO 9073-6:2025)
This document specifies methods for the evaluation of some aspects of the behaviour of nonwoven fabrics in the presence of liquids. In particular:
— the liquid absorbency time;
— the liquid absorptive capacity;
— the liquid wicking rate (capillarity).
The different aspects of absorbency can relate to various end uses of the tested products.
The tests do not apply to any fabric containing super absorbent materials.
Vliesstoffe - Prüfverfahren - Teil 6: Absorption (ISO 9073-6:2025)
Dieses Dokument beschreibt Verfahren zur Bewertung einiger Aspekte des Verhaltens von Vliesstoffen, wenn sie Flüssigkeiten ausgesetzt sind. Im Einzelnen sind dies:
die Dauer der Flüssigkeitsaufnahme;
das Flüssigkeitsaufnahmevermögen;
die Dochtwirkungsgeschwindigkeit von Flüssigkeiten (Kapillarwirkung).
Die unterschiedlichen Aspekte der Absorption können sich auf die verschiedensten Endanwendungen der geprüften Produkte beziehen.
Die Prüfungen sind nicht anwendbar für Flächengebilde, die sehr stark absorbierende Materialien enthalten.
SICHERHEITSHINWEIS — Dieses Dokument erhebt nicht den Anspruch, eine vollständige Aufzählung von gegebenenfalls zutreffenden Sicherheitsproblemen zu beinhalten, die mit seiner Anwendung verbunden sind. Es liegt in der Verantwortung des Anwenders dieses Dokuments, geeignete Vorkehrungen für den Arbeits- und Gesundheitsschutz zu bestimmen und vor der Anwendung zu bestimmen, welche einschränkenden Vorschriften gelten. Es wird erwartet, dass die Person, die diese Prüfung durchführt, in allen Aspekten dieses Verfahrens umfassend geschult wurde.
Nontissés - Méthodes d’essai - Partie 6: Absorption (ISO 9073-6:2025)
Le présent document spécifie des méthodes permettant d’évaluer certains aspects du comportement des étoffes non tissées en présence de liquides. En particulier:
— le temps d’absorption du liquide;
— la capacité d’absorption de liquide;
— la vitesse d’imprégnation en liquide (capillarité).
Les différents aspects de l’absorption peuvent se rapporter à différents usages finaux des produits soumis à essai.
Les essais ne s’appliquent pas aux étoffes renfermant des matériaux superabsorbants.
Netkane tekstilije - Preskusne metode - 6. del: Absorpcija (ISO 9073-6:2025)
Ta dokument določa metode za vrednotenje nekaterih vidikov obnašanja netkanih tkanin v prisotnosti tekočin. To zajema zlasti: – čas absorpcije tekočine; – zmožnost absorpcije tekočine; – stopnjo vpijanja tekočine (kapilarnost). Različni vidiki absorpcije se lahko navezujejo na različne končne uporabe preskušenih izdelkov. Preskusi se ne uporabljajo za tkanine iz super vpojnih materialov.
General Information
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 22-Apr-2025
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 248 - Textiles and textile products
- Current Stage
- 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
- Start Date
- 23-Apr-2025
- Completion Date
- 23-Apr-2025
Relations
- Replaces
EN ISO 9073-6:2003 - Textiles - Test methods for nonwovens - Part 6: Absorption (ISO 9073-6:2000) - Effective Date
- 25-Oct-2023
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 12-Feb-2026
Overview
EN ISO 9073-6:2025: Nonwovens - Test methods - Part 6: Absorption sets out standardized laboratory methods for evaluating the behavior of nonwoven fabrics when exposed to liquids. Developed jointly by CEN and ISO, this standard specifies procedures for testing three key aspects: liquid absorbency time, liquid absorptive capacity, and liquid wicking rate (capillarity). These performance characteristics are essential for nonwovens used in absorbent products across various industries. Importantly, the test methods described do not apply to fabrics that contain super absorbent materials.
Key Topics
EN ISO 9073-6:2025 addresses the following core areas in the testing of nonwoven textiles:
- Liquid Absorbency Time: Measurement of the time required for a fabric sample to become fully wetted by a test liquid under specified conditions.
- Liquid Absorptive Capacity: Assessment of the amount of liquid a sample can retain, expressed as a percentage of the mass of the dry fabric.
- Liquid Wicking Rate (Capillarity): Evaluation of the speed at which liquid is transported vertically into a nonwoven sample by capillary action.
Test procedures are standardized to ensure consistency and repeatability, referencing important conditioning and sampling guidelines from standards such as ISO 139 and ISO 186.
Applications
This standard is highly relevant to industries where the absorbency of nonwovens directly influences product performance and quality. It is commonly applied in:
- Personal hygiene products: Such as diapers, sanitary napkins, and adult incontinence pads, where rapid liquid uptake and high absorptive capacity are vital.
- Medical and healthcare textiles: Including dressings, surgical drapes, and wipes, which require efficient absorption and fluid management.
- Cleaning products: Nonwoven wipes and cloths, where fast wicking and sustained absorbency improve cleaning effectiveness.
- Filtration and technical applications: Where capillary action and fluid handling are important for operational performance.
Consistent testing ensures product reliability, safety, and effectiveness in end-use. Manufacturers, quality assurance professionals, and laboratories benefit from harmonized testing methods, supporting regulatory compliance and facilitating comparison across the industry.
Related Standards
Organizations may also reference the following standards for comprehensive evaluation of nonwoven textiles:
- ISO 9073 Series: Other parts of ISO 9073 cover different test methods for nonwovens, such as mechanical properties, thickness determination, and more.
- ISO 139: Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing of textiles, essential for reproducible results in absorbency tests.
- ISO 186: Procedures for sampling paper and board, adopted here for fabric sampling methodologies.
- ISO 565: Specification of test sieves, relevant for apparatus construction detailed in absorbency testing.
By adhering to EN ISO 9073-6:2025, organizations ensure internationally recognized, comparable results in the testing of absorbent properties for nonwovens, driving advances in both product development and regulatory acceptance.
Keywords: EN ISO 9073-6:2025, nonwovens absorption testing, textile absorbency, liquid absorptive capacity, liquid wicking rate, CEN standards, ISO 9073-6, nonwoven test method, textile quality control, absorbent fabrics, capillarity in nonwovens.
Get Certified
Connect with accredited certification bodies for this standard

Control Union Certifications
Global certification for agriculture and sustainability.
Hohenstein Institut
Textile testing and certification.

Bureau Veritas Bangladesh
Bureau Veritas certification services in Bangladesh.
Sponsored listings
Frequently Asked Questions
EN ISO 9073-6:2025 is a standard published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Nonwovens - Test methods - Part 6: Absorption (ISO 9073-6:2025)". This standard covers: This document specifies methods for the evaluation of some aspects of the behaviour of nonwoven fabrics in the presence of liquids. In particular: — the liquid absorbency time; — the liquid absorptive capacity; — the liquid wicking rate (capillarity). The different aspects of absorbency can relate to various end uses of the tested products. The tests do not apply to any fabric containing super absorbent materials.
This document specifies methods for the evaluation of some aspects of the behaviour of nonwoven fabrics in the presence of liquids. In particular: — the liquid absorbency time; — the liquid absorptive capacity; — the liquid wicking rate (capillarity). The different aspects of absorbency can relate to various end uses of the tested products. The tests do not apply to any fabric containing super absorbent materials.
EN ISO 9073-6:2025 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 59.080.30 - Textile fabrics. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN ISO 9073-6:2025 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN ISO 9073-6:2003, EN 13480-6:2012/A1:2016, EN 4800-002:2010, EN 12503-2:2001, ISO 9073-6:2025. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN ISO 9073-6:2025 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-junij-2025
Netkane tekstilije - Preskusne metode - 6. del: Absorpcija (ISO 9073-6:2025)
Nonwovens - Test methods - Part 6: Absorption (ISO 9073-6:2025)
Textilien - Prüfverfahren für Vliesstoffe - Teil 6: Absorption (ISO 9073-6:2025)
Nontissés - Méthodes d’essai - Partie 6: Absorption (ISO 9073-6:2025)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 9073-6:2025
ICS:
59.080.30 Tkanine Textile fabrics
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EN ISO 9073-6
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
April 2025
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 59.080.30 Supersedes EN ISO 9073-6:2003
English Version
Nonwovens - Test methods - Part 6: Absorption (ISO 9073-
6:2025)
Nontissés - Méthodes d'essai - Partie 6: Absorption Vliesstoffe - Prüfverfahren - Teil 6: Absorption (ISO
(ISO 9073-6:2025) 9073-6:2025)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 21 April 2025.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 9073-6:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
European foreword
This document (EN ISO 9073-6:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 38 "Textiles"
in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 248 “Textiles and textile products” the secretariat of
which is held by BSI.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by October 2025, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by October 2025.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 9073-6:2003.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards
body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 9073-6:2025 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 9073-6:2025 without any
modification.
International
Standard
ISO 9073-6
Second edition
Nonwovens — Test methods —
2025-04
Part 6:
Absorption
Nontissés — Méthodes d’essai —
Partie 6: Absorption
Reference number
ISO 9073-6:2025(en) © ISO 2025
ISO 9073-6:2025(en)
© ISO 2025
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
ISO 9073-6:2025(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Liquid absorbency time . 2
4.1 Principle .2
4.2 Apparatus .2
4.3 Sampling .2
4.4 Preparation and conditioning of test specimen .2
4.5 Procedure .3
4.6 Expression of results . .4
4.7 Test report .4
5 Liquid absorptive capacity . 4
5.1 Principle .4
5.2 Apparatus .4
5.3 Sampling .5
5.4 Preparation and conditioning of test specimens .5
5.5 Procedure .5
5.6 Expression of results . .5
5.7 Test report .5
6 Liquid wicking rate . 6
6.1 Principle .6
6.2 Apparatus .6
6.3 Sampling .6
6.4 Preparation and conditioning of test specimens .7
6.5 Procedure .8
6.6 Expression of results . .8
6.7 Test report .8
iii
ISO 9073-6:2025(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 38, Textiles, in collaboration with the European
Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 248, Textiles and textile products, in
accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 9073-6:2000), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— the title has been changed from "Textiles — Test methods for nonwovens — Part 6: Absorption" to
"Nonwovens — Test methods — Part 6 Absorption;
— Clause 1, the scope has been corrected;
— Clause 2, the normative references has been updated;
— a sentence regarding to SI values has been added in the test report.
A list of all parts in the ISO 9073 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on
...




Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.
Loading comments...