As a new type of material, non-woven fabrics are widely used in many fields such as medical care, hygiene, clothing, and home textiles. However, the quality of non-woven fabric materials has always been the key to restricting their application. In order to ensure the quality of non-woven fabrics, it is necessary to conduct non-woven fabric testing. This article will introduce three commonly used non-woven fabric testing methods to help readers better conduct non-woven fabric quality testing.
Physical performance testing
Physical properties are the most basic quality indicators of non-woven fabrics, which directly affect their use effect and applicability.
1. Appearance quality testing
Testing purpose: To evaluate whether there are defects such as damage, stains, impurities, and hair on the surface of non-woven fabrics.
Method points: Under natural light or standard light source (such as D65 light source), lay the sample flat, observe with the naked eye or a magnifying glass (10 times), and record the type, quantity and distribution of defects.
Based on standards: GB/T 24218.1-2009 “Textiles Nonwoven Fabric Test Methods Part 1: Determination of Mass per Unit Area” (Appearance testing is often used as an additional item), ISO 9073-1:2008.
2. Mass per unit area (gram weight) test
Test purpose: reflects the thickness and density of non-woven fabrics, which is a key indicator related to cost accounting and performance.
Method points:
Randomly cut 100cm² (such as 10cm×10cm) samples from different parts of the sample (at least 5 places) and remove the edge hair;
Weigh with a balance with an accuracy of 0.01g and calculate the average value (unit: g/m²).
Based on standards: GB/T 24218.1-2009, ASTM D3776-2021.
3. Thickness test
Test purpose: Associate with air permeability, strength and other properties, suitable for scenes where thickness needs to be controlled (such as packaging, padding).
Method points:
Use a thickness gauge (pressure is usually 2kPa±0.1kPa, contact area 200mm²±20mm²) to measure at different locations of the sample (at least 10 points);
Record the readings and calculate the average value (unit: mm).
According to standards: GB/T 24218.2-2009, ISO 9073-2:2019.
4. Tensile properties (tensile strength, elongation at break)
Test purpose: To evaluate the ability of non-woven fabrics to resist tensile damage, suitable for load-bearing scenarios (such as shopping bags, geotextiles).
Method points:
Cut the specimen according to the standard (such as long strips, length 100mm, width 50mm), mark the clamping line (spacing 50mm);
Clamp the specimen with a tensile testing machine (speed 100mm/min±10mm/min), stretch it at a uniform speed until it breaks, and record the maximum tensile force (tensile strength, unit: N/50mm or MPa) and the elongation at break (elongation at break, unit: %).
According to standards: GB/T 24218.3-2010, ASTM D5035-2018.
5. Air permeability test
Test purpose: To reflect the gas permeability, suitable for masks, protective clothing, filter materials, etc.
Method points:
Use an air permeability meter (such as KES-F8) to measure the air flow rate per unit area of the sample per unit time under a certain pressure difference (such as 100Pa);
The result is expressed in “mm/s” or “L/(m²・s)”.
Based on standards: GB/T 5453-1997, ISO 9237:1995.
6. Water absorption (water absorption rate/water absorption speed)
Test purpose: To evaluate the absorption capacity of non-woven fabrics for liquids (such as medical dressings, wet wipes).
Key points of the method:
Water absorption rate: weigh the mass of the dry sample (m₀), immerse it completely in distilled water for 30 seconds, take it out, hang it for 1 minute, weigh the wet weight (m₁), and calculate the water absorption rate = (m₁-m₀)/m₀×100%;
Water absorption rate: use the drop method to record the time it takes for 1 drop of distilled water (0.05mL) to be completely absorbed by the sample.
Based on standards: GB/T 24218.6-2010, ASTM D4770-2019.
Chemical performance testing
Chemical performance testing is mainly aimed at safety (such as direct contact with skin or food) and environmental protection requirements.
1. pH value detection
Testing purpose: to prevent non-woven fabrics from irritating the skin due to high pH (such as infant products, underwear lining).
Method highlights:
Take 1g of the sample and cut it into pieces, add 100mL of distilled water (or deionized water), shake for 30 minutes and let it stand;
Use a pH meter (accuracy 0.01) to measure the pH value of the supernatant (the standard range is usually 4.0-9.0).
Based on standards: GB/T 7573-2009, ISO 3071:2019.
2. Heavy metal content detection
Detection purpose: to limit the residues of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury (such as children’s products and food packaging).
Method highlights:
Treat the sample with microwave digestion (nitric acid-hydrogen peroxide system) to convert heavy metals into soluble state;
Use atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) to determine the content (the limit is usually <100mg/kg).
Based on standards: GB/T 17593-2006, EN 14372:2004.
3. Formaldehyde content detection
Detection purpose: Formaldehyde is irritating and carcinogenic, and its residue in textiles (including non-woven fabrics) needs to be controlled.
Method points:
The sample is extracted with distilled water, and formaldehyde reacts with acetylacetone at 60°C to generate a yellow compound;
The absorbance is measured with a spectrophotometer (412nm wavelength), and the content is calculated by comparing with the standard curve (the limit for infant products is <20mg/kg).
Based on standards: GB/T 2912.1-2009, ISO 14184-1:2011.
4. Organic solvent residue detection
Detection purpose: For non-woven fabrics using solvent spinning or coating processes, avoid the residue of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene and toluene.
Method points:
Use gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to detect the type and concentration of VOCs in the sample by headspace injection (the limit is usually <0.5mg/m²).
Based on standards: GB/T 39285-2020, ASTM D6886-2021.
Microbial index detection
Mainly for medical non-woven fabrics (such as masks, surgical gowns) and sanitary products (such as wet wipes, diapers), microbial contamination needs to be controlled.
1. Total bacterial colony count / total fungal colony count
Purpose of detection: To evaluate the sanitary condition of non-woven fabrics and avoid the spread of microorganisms.
Key points of the method:
Take 10g of the sample, add 90mL of sterile saline, and oscillate to make a 1:10 dilution;
Take the dilution and apply it on nutrient agar medium (bacteria) or Bengal red medium (fungus), culture at 37℃ for 48h (bacteria) or 28℃ for 72h (fungus), and count the number of colonies (unit: CFU/g).
Based on standards: GB 15979-2002, ISO 11737-1:2018.
2. Pathogenic bacteria detection
Test purpose: Pathogenic microorganisms (such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and hemolytic streptococci) are prohibited from being detected.
Method points:
Use selective culture medium (such as MacConkey agar to detect Escherichia coli) to isolate the target bacteria and identify them by biochemical reaction or PCR.
Based on standards: GB 15979-2002, USP 62 (United States Pharmacopeia).
Durability test
For non-woven fabrics that are repeatedly used (such as geotextiles and furniture fabrics), their wear resistance and tear resistance need to be evaluated.
1. Abrasion resistance test
Test purpose: To evaluate the ability of non-woven fabrics to resist friction damage.
Method points:
Use Taber abrasion tester to rub the sample against a grinding wheel (such as CS-10) under a certain load (such as 500g), and record the number of revolutions until damage (or the mass loss after the specified number of revolutions).
Based on standards: GB/T 21196.2-2007, ASTM D3884-2020.
2. Tear resistance test
Test purpose: To evaluate the resistance of non-woven fabrics to tearing (such as packaging fabrics).
Key points of the method:
Use the Elmendorf tear tester to pre-cut the sample and measure the force (unit: N) required to tear a certain length (such as 43mm).
Based on standards: GB/T 3917.1-2009, ISO 13937-1:2000.
Special performance test
Depending on the specific use of non-woven fabrics, targeted test items need to be added.
1. Filtration efficiency (such as masks, air filter materials)
Test purpose: To evaluate the filtration capacity of particulate matter (such as PM2.5, bacteria).
Key points of the method:
Use an aerosol generator to generate a certain concentration of test particles (such as NaCl aerosol, particle size 0.3μm), and use a particle counter to measure the upstream and downstream particle concentrations after passing through the sample, and calculate the filtration efficiency = (1 – downstream concentration / upstream concentration) × 100%.
Based on standards: GB/T 32610-2016 (masks), ISO 16890:2016 (air filter materials).
2. Water repellency (such as waterproof non-woven fabrics)
Test purpose: To evaluate the ability of the surface to resist liquid penetration (such as outdoor products, packaging).
Key points of the method:
Spray test: Use a standard nozzle (such as 600mL of water, pressure 10kPa) to spray the sample, and rate it according to the surface water area (1-5 levels, 5 is completely water-free).
Based on standards: GB/T 4745-2012, AATCC 22-2021.
3. Antibacterial performance (such as medical dressings, antibacterial masks)
Test purpose: To evaluate the inhibitory/killing effect of non-woven fabrics on bacteria.
Method points:
Inhibition ring method: Place the sample on a bacterial agar plate and measure the diameter of the inhibition ring after incubation;
Oscillating flask method: Calculate the reduction rate of live bacteria after the sample contacts the bacterial solution (inhibition rate> 90% is effective).
Based on standards: GB/T 20944.3-2008, JIS L 1902:2015.
Summary
The test of non-woven fabrics needs to be selected in combination with its use. The core is to ensure that the performance meets the standard through standardized methods. In actual testing, it is necessary to strictly follow GB, ISO, ASTM and other standards, control environmental conditions (such as temperature 23℃±2℃, humidity 50%±5%) and sampling representativeness (random multi-point sampling) to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the results.
Dongguan Liansheng Non woven Technology Co., Ltd. was established in May 2020. It is a large-scale non-woven fabric production enterprise integrating research and development, production, and sales. It can produce various colors of PP spunbond non-woven fabrics with a width of less than 3.2 meters from 9 grams to 300 grams.
Post time: Jul-23-2025