Fabric Stiffness Testing | Determination of Fabric

Stiffness by Shirley Stiffness Tester

What is stiffness in textile?

INTRODUCTION
Stiffness :

stiffness is a special property of fabric. ...

It is the tendency of fabric to keep standing without any
support.

Stiffness is one of the most widely used parameters to
judge bending rigidity and fabric handling
Description Of Shirley Stiffness Tester
The stiffness tester is consists of a platform, having a
smooth low friction, flat surface such as polished metal
or plastic. The platform is supported by two side pieces
made of plastic. Index lines are engraved on these side
pieces, inclined at an angle of 41.50 below the plane of
the platform surface. At this angle f (ϴ) = 0.5. A mirror is
attached to the instrument to enable the operator to
view both index lines from a convenient position. A scale
is supplied with the instrument to measure the bending
length and is graduated in cm. It also serves as a
template for cutting the samples of size.

Sample Preparation
The sample is conditioned in the standard testing
atmosphere and using the template, specimens are cut
to the size of 6 inches X 1 inch. Four specimens in warp
way and weft way are prepared for the test. If the fabric
is not uniform or a high degree of accuracy is required,
more samples can be tested. The specimens are cut in
such a way that the warp specimens do not contain the
same warp yarns and the weft specimens contain
different weft yarns. Selvedges, end pieces, creased or
folded places must be avoided and the specimens must
be handled as little as possible.
Procedure
The test is carried out in the standard testing
atmosphere. The tester is set on a table so that the
horizontal platform and the index lines are at eye level.
          
The specimen is placed on the platform with the
template at the top of it so that the leading edges
coincide. Both are slowly pushed forward until the
leading edges of the specimen and the template project
beyond the edge of the platform. With the eye in a
position so that the index line coincide, the sliding of the
specimen is stopped when it cuts both index lines.
          
If the specimen has a tendency to twist, the reference
point at the centre of the leading edge is taken. For the
specimens which twist more than 450, this method
should not be used. Then the bending length can be read
from the scale (template) opposite a datum line
engraved on the side of the platform.
          
Four readings are taken from each specimen, with each
side up, first at one end and then another. Mean values
for the bending length in warp and weft ways are
calculated and the flexural rigidity and the bending
modulus are determined.
          
This instrument is used in the finishing departments
where the control of the process is used and to note the
effects of varying the process.

Name of the Experiment: Determination of fabric

stiffness by Shirley Stiffness Tester.

Introduction:
Stiffness is a special property of fabric. It is the tendency
of fabric to keep standing without any support. It is a key
factor in the study of handle and drape of fabric.
 Shirley Stiffness Tester
Objectives:
To measure the stiffness of the given fabric sample.

Theory:
A rectangular strip of fabric, 6 in. x 1 in., is mounted on a
horizontal platform in such a way that it over change, like
a cantilever, and bends downwards as shown in figure.
Three specimens in warp way and three in weft are
usually tested and since he relative humidity can affect
the results the test should be made in a standard testing
atmosphere. The horizontal platform of the instrument is
supported by two side pieces made of plastic. Attached
to the instrument is a mirror which enables the operator
to view both index lines from a convenient position. The
scale of the instrument is graduated in centimeters of
bending length and it also serves as the template for
cutting the specimens to size.

Apparatus:
1. Stiffness Tester
2. Scissor
3. Scale

Sample:
Cotton woven fabric
Size: 6 X 1².

Atmosphere:
Temperature – 25oC and relative humidity – 67%
Standard atmosphere: temperature – 20oC and relative
humidity - 65%.

M/c specification:
Name: Shirley Stiffness Tester

Procedure:
1. To carry out a test the specimen is cut to size 6 in. x 1
in. with the aid of the template.
2. Both the template and specimen are transferred to the
platform with the fabric underneath.
3. Now both are slowly pushed forward.
4. The strip of the fabric will commence to droop over
the edge of the platform and the movement of the
template and the fabric is continued until the tip of the
specimen viewed in the mirror cuts both index lines.
5. The bending length can immediately be read off from
the scale mark opposite a zero line engraved on the side
of the platform.
6. Each specimen is tested four times, at each end and
again with the strip turned over.
7. In this way three samples are tested.
8. Finally mean values for the bending length in warp and
weft directions can be calculated.

Data:
 S/
n Warp (CMS) Weft (CMS)
Mea
Right Left n Right Left Mean
F 2.1 2.15 2 2.39
1 B 2.25 2.25 2.68 2.75
F 3.1 3.15 2.4 2.2
2 B 2.89 2.97 2.75 2.9
F 2.5 2.89 2.2 2.25
3 B 2.75 2.95 2.66 2.71 2.85 2.51
Table: Bending length obtained from test

Result:
The bending length of the fabric in warp way is 2.66 cms.
The bending length of the fabric in weft way is is 2.51
cms.

Remark:
If the bending length of the fabric is more than fabric
stiffness is more and if less stiffness is less. From the
experiment we see that the bending length of the given
fabric is average both in warp and weft way. So the
stiffness of the sample fabric is average.

Determination of Bending Length of the woven fabric.

Abstract:

In this experiment the bending length of the cotton woven fabric has been determined. The bending
length is very important factor which determines the flexibility of the fabric. The bending length in both
the warp and weft direction of the fabric is important in calculating the flexibility of the fabric. The warp
and weft-wise bending length hence determined in this experiment and results has been discussed.

Introduction:

Bending length is also known as the flexibility of the fabric. This is a very important character of the
fabric which governs its applications. Fabrics with high bending length are stiffer, they lack good drape,
and lack flexibility. They cannot be used as aesthetic fabrics as they are not much comfortable due to
their stiffness. Hence bending length can also be defined as the falling length, when a fabric falls under
its own weight to a specific length, having specific angle.

There are many factors which tells the bending length of the fabric. But the most important is one of the
fiber parameters called flexural rigidity. As different fibers have a different shape factor, some are
circular, other can be kidney bean or any other shape. The shape factor of a fiber tells the flexural
rigidity of the fibers. The flexural rigidity tells us how much the fiber is stiff to the bending or flexural
deformation. The fibers having high values of shape factor have a good rigidity and the fibers having a
low value of shape factor have a good softness character.

Factors influence bending length of the fabric:

 Yarn properties

 The spinning system used for producing the yarn like ring, rotor or vortex spinning
systems shows different characteristics.
  The count of yarn.

 Filament or staple spun yarn.

 Weaving parameters

 Weave design.

 Cover factor.

 GSM

 Ends/inch and the picks/inch

 Wet-processing parameters

 Softeners used during finishing process.

 Any other finishes applied during the finishing process.

 Coupling agents used.

The fabric stiffness tester was used to calculate the bending length of the fabric.

Objectives:

 To determine the bending length of the woven fabric.

 To determine the bending length along the warp-wise and weft-wise direction of fabric.

Materials & Equipment:

 Scissor

 Cotton woven fabric

 Fabric Stiffener Tester

 cm Scale

Procedure:

 Cotton woven fabric was taken.

 Warp and weft direction of the fabric was identified.

 Two strips were cut from the fabric in both directions having dimensions of 6" x 1".

 The sample was then placed on the fabric stiffener tester.

 On the tester fabric was fall to about 45º under controlled movement and marked the length to
which it has fallen to 45º.

 The same process was done for both faces and sides of the fabric.

 The falling length of the fabric was measured using a cm scale.

  The bending length of the fabric was then calculated by adding the falling length to the factor f
(ɵ).

Observations & Calculations:

Fabric type:

Fabric = 100 % cotton

Count of yarn used in the fabric = 40 Ne

Weave Design = 2 x 1 Twill weave

Warp yarn = Sized

Weft-wise fabric Tear strength

Sr. # Falling length (cm)

1 3.9

2 3.5

3 3.2

4 3.6

Mean
3.55
Values

Bending length (C) = Falling length (l) + f (ɵ)

C = 3.55 x 0.486

C = 1.72 cm

Warp-wise fabric Tear strength

Sr. # Falling Length (cm)

1 3.9

2 4.2

3 4.0

4 3.9

Mean
4.0
Values

Bending length (C) = Falling length (l) + f (ɵ)

C = 4.0 x 0.486

C = 1.94 cm

Results & Discussion:

Bending Length

Weft-wise bending length = 1.72 cm

Warp-wise bending length = 1.94 cm

The greater bending length along the warp direction of the fabric tells us that the fabric more stiff in the
warp direction than in the weft direction. This can be due to the result of fabric density which is more in
the warp direction of the then the weft direction [1]. Greater stiffness of the fabric along the warp
direction tells that the fabric has less bending elasticity along warp direction than in weft direction.

Conclusion:

It can be concluded that the fabrics which are stiffer along warp-wise have high fabric density along that
direction as compared to the weft-wise direction of the fabric.