Contents

1) Introduction
2) Importance of test
3) Objective
4) Construction of machine & working Principle
Machine model
5. Instructions
1.Standards
2.Prepration of sample
3.Operation
4.Calculation

6. Factors affects on permeability

7. References
 Introduction
Air permeability of a fabric
is a measure of how well it
allows the passage of air
through it.

OR

The volume of air in mm

which is passed in one
second through 100mm^2
of the fabric at a pressure
difference of 10 mm head
of water .
Permeability is a measure of the ability of a porous material to transmit fluids.
It is an important property of technical textiles particularly in protective applications,
such as auto and wearable airbags where even the low permeability of the fabric can
extend the interactive time in impact. Limited permeability of parachute fabric can
stabilise its descent.

Fabric permeability relates to its geometric structure strongly as well as to the path of
streamlines for flow through the structure. Therefore, development of an analytical fabric
permeability model requires a background of fluid mechanics and knowledge of
mechanics of textile fabrics.

Permeability is dependent upon the porosity of the fabric. The porosity is largely
determined by the tightness of the fabric weave. Therefore any fabric that has
reasonably tight weave is suitable for this perspective
 Importance of test
Wear comfort

Maintenance of wear comfort is directly relate to air permeability as,

Perspiration : perspiration helps to lose heat through the body when

its enrapture rise heat is taken from the body by
water
vapours in order to supply the heat needed to
evaporat the moisture from the skin .

Hypothermia : In cold weather high loss of heat as during working can

cause frostbite or hypothermia which can cause
irreparable body damage or even death.

Dehydration : in hot weather perspiration is the only problem and

the sensation of wetness, it can cause dehydration
or
heat stroke by large heat lose.
 Objective

Finding different values of air flow from fabric

samples at different pressures , for testing
required quality of fabric for require use .
Air permeability of fabrics with various densities
 Machine model : MO21S
Machine measure permeability by
drawing air through the specimen with a
vacuum pump.

air flow measured by a selected flow meter .

instrument has 4 flow meter.

ranges of air flow 0.05 ml/sec to 416 ml/sec .

 Schematic Diagram
This is the schematic diagram or internal structure of machine you can get a clear
idea that how
internal parts are connected or assembled with each other.

Pressure valve

Flow meter tubes

Manometer

Clamping device

Pressure valve

Air pump
Construction of machine
• clamping device for securing the test
specimen in a flat tensionless state.

• device to prevent air leaking from the

edges called guard ring

• a pressure gauge or manometer to

measure the pressure drop from side
of the specimen to the other.

• an air pump to draw a steady flow of

air through the clamped specimen

• a means of adjusting the airflow rate to

achieve specific pressure drop from
one side of the specimen to the other.

• a flow meter to measure the actual

rate of air flow through the specimen
 Instructions
For testing sample and operating machine we need to know following in formations

• Standards
• Preparation of sample
• Operation
• calculation
standards
 Air flow range = 0.05 to 416.0 ml/sec

4 * flow meters = flow meter no.1 = 0.1 to 1.0 ml/sec

flow meter no.2 = 0.4 to 5.8 ml/sec
flow meter no.3 = 4 to 40 ml/sec
flow meter no.4 = 4 to 400 ml/sec

01 02 03 04
Standard Measuring Chamber = BS5636:1990

Test Area = 508 mm^2+- 1mm^2

Orifice diameter= 25.432 mm +-0.25mm
Test specimen = subject to sample size

Recommended Measuring Chamber =

ENIso9237:1995

Test area = 20 cm^2 +- 0.5 %

Orifice Dia = 50.46mm
Test specimen = subject to sample size
 Pressure measurement

Direct reading = Maximum range 2kPa (204 mm water )

Manometer = NB (1Pa = 0.102 mm water)
 Instrument weight and Dimensions

weight of instrument =15kgs

weight of pump unit = 11 kgs
overall size of instrument = 370D * 660W *600lt
overall size of pump unit = 200 * 270 * 350
Preparation of sample
 Preparation of sample

Condition the fabric to be tested for 24 hour by the standard B51051 :

relative humidity 65+_ 5 rh temperature 20+_2 c .

Conditioning room with above mentioned conditions

Analysis of sample for selecting flow

meter tube, e.g porous or what ……
 The preparation of stack sample (a shipment or a party taken from the track number)

To prepare mass sample, random samples are taken at least as much as the number
shown in Schedule from a party. In mass sample, there should not be the moisture
exposed or damaged, the follow-up gives the pieces during transportation.

Schedule - Mass Sample

The Number of parts in a party Minimum number of parts in Stack

Samples
≤3 1
4-10 2
11-30 3
31-75 4
≥76 5
Mass, from each piece that makes up the sample, a laboratory sample, the single most
and at least 1m in length is cut ( It should be provided randomly from one place from
the most recent tip of the part at least 3 m distance). It is necessary to ensure that there
are no wrinkle regions and a visible mistake in a laboratory sample. Before the experi-
ment,the samples should be conditioned and the experiment should be done in standard
atmospheric conditions

The suggested conditions for the experiment:

Experimental surface area = 20 cm2

Pressure drop = 100 Pa for clothing fabrics
Pressure drop = 200 Pa for industrial fabrics
Operation of machine contains following 14 steps follow
these steps and operate the machine easily.
Precautions

Close all valve of machine carefully before operating the machine operate machine
if you know the method look any damaged part if any like open wire etc.
Step 1

Insert the plug and On the main electric switch

 Step 2

slide fabric between the measuring chamber and the top clamp and firmly screen down

the knurled cap avoiding air leakage at the edges of the fabric
Step 3

set manometer to zero (0) adjust by using black knob if require.

Step 4

Completely close control valve A and C valve B should never be fully

closed because it is for fine adjustments .

Valve “A”

Valve “B” Valve “C”

Step 5

select flow meter by switches on the front of machine

Flow meter
Is selected
On the basis
Of fabric e.g if
Fabric is looking
Porous so for this
We should on
Tube 3 or 4
Because these
Tubes measure
Pressure
From 4 to 40 & 400 ml
And we know porous
fabric can pass flow in
b/w These range.
Step 6
select flow tube no4 using flow tube select tube according to fabric
Step 7
Turn on vacuum pump using foot switch for passing air through specimen
For information

Regulate flow of air through specimen by the help of valves and the selected
flow meter.
Step 8

Gradually open valve “C” until the required pressure is shown on the manometer tube
Standard is 100Pascal.
 Step 9

Note reading when manometer indicate selected pressure

Note reading at flow tube after selecting pressure at manometer

A particular pressure will be selected

on manometer by regulating valve “c”
Step 10
If the flow tube float has not moved close valve c
Step 11

select flow tube no3 and repeat above again no valve movement close valve c

3
Step 12

If again no movement of float select flow tube no2

2
 Step 13

Gradually open " valve A " until required pressure drop is shown on the manometer

Valve “A” is used for Flowing tube 1 and 2

Step 14
if float tube does not rise as in case of flow tube no3 and above close
valve “A” switch to flow tube 1 and gradually open " valve A " until required
pressure drop is shown on the manometer.

01
Step 14

Record reading across the top of the float if it rise up

 Conclusion
1.Preparing appropriate samples in accordance with standard for
the air permeability
2.Conditioning the samples
3.Setting the pressure and time of the air permeability test device
in accordance with the sample.
4.Placing the sample to the device
5.Running the device
6.Reading the value of air permeability of the sample from the
indicator of the device at the end of the test.
7.After taking the arithmetic mean of the test results, to calculate
the value of air permeability.
8.Repeating the test for the appropriate number of samples in
accordance with standard.
calculation
Air permeability (R) is calculated as mm / s by using the following equation .
 Solution Method
The pressure drop caused by the resistance of the
specimen is measured by a different pressure gauge
the out put is the air resistance R measured in
kilopascals time’s seconds/meter (k Pa.s/m ) found
from this equation :R=P1-P2/v=^p/v where P1 is
pressure 1 and P2 is pressure after passing from
volume v
Follow below steps

volume flow of air per unit water pressure per unit area
of fabric . calculate the mean air flow from the 5 or 10
flow meter reading in litres/minutes or
millimeters/minute (depended upon flow meter read)
then convert to ml/second.
this is then divided by the test area of the
specimen (508^2) / 100 .
record the result to an accuracy of 5 % i.e 2 or 3
significant figures quoting the air permeability in
ml/(cm^2/s) quoting the air permeability in
ml/cm^2/s at 100 Pa or whatever pressure to
meat other specifications.
e.g mean flow meter readied = 0.5 liters/minute
=0.01 liters/second
=10 ml /second
therefore 10*100 = air permeability 2.0 ml cm^2/s at
(100 Pa ).
Figures 4 and 5 show a p vs. t graph as obtained and the air permeability calculated
as volume of free air (i.e. reduced to 100 kPa).

It can be shown that:

Air permeability of the fabric = (V. dp/dt) / (Patm .A ) in appropriate units,

Where,
V = effective tank volume
dp/dt = rate of pressure decay
A = test area
Patm = atmospheric pressure= 0.987 bar

Figure 4: Pressure vs. time graph

for a nylon 66 fabric

Figure 5: Calculated fabric

air permeability vs. pressure
 Factors Affecting
1.Type of material
2.Linear density of yarns "warp-weft"
3.Warp and weft density per cm
5.Twist factors
5.Type of spinning
6.Difference of denting system
7.Type of stitches
8.Form and relative porosity
9.Type of woven construction
10.Thickness & weight
• Construction factor and finishing techniques can have an
appreciable effect upon air permeability

• By causing a change in the length of airflow paths

through a fabric .hot calendaring thus can be used to
flatten fabric components

• Fabrics with different surface textures on either side can

have a different air permeability depending upon the
direction of air flow (ASTM-D737-04)
• For woven fabrics yarn twist is also important as
twist increases the circularity and density of the yarn
increase thus reducing the yarn diameter and cover
factor and increasing the air permeability

• Yarn crimp and weave influence the shape and

area of the interstices between yarn and may permit
yarns to extend easily such yarn extension would
open up the fabric ,increase the air permeability
(ASTM-D737-04)
 Source How to reach to source

Manual of machine Go to TTQC lab Textile MUET or contact company

Fabric Testing book Central library MUET reference hall, textile books section

Textile Testing Central Library MUET reference hall, textile books section

Physical Testing of Textile Department MUET department library

Textiles

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