Standard Test Method for Surface Water Absorption of Terry Fabrics (Water Flow)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
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.  
It is recognized that surface water absorption is only one of the characteristics that the ultimate consumer may use in determining which terry fabric is acceptable. Consult Specification D5433 for other characteristics that may be applicable to terry fabrics.
This test method is recommended for quality control testing of terry fabrics during manufacturing and product comparisons of different terry fabrics by manufacturers, retailers, and users.
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.
In case of a dispute arising from differences in reported test results when using this test method for acceptance testing of commercial shipments, the purchaser and the supplier should conduct comparative tests to determine if there is a statistical bias between their laboratories. Competent statistical assistance is recommended for the investigation of bias. As a minimum, the two parties should take a group of laboratory sampling units (such as towels) that are as homogeneous 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 testing. The average results from the two laboratories should be compared using appropriate statistical analysis for unpaired data and an acceptable probability level chosen by the two parties before the testing is begun. If a bias is found, either its cause must be found and corrected or the purchaser and supplier must agree to interpret future te...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method determines the ability of a terry fabric to rapidly absorb and retain liquid water from surfaces such as human skin, dishes, and furniture.
1.2 This test method is not applicable to non-terry fabrics such as huck towels, waffle-weave towels, crash towels, flour-sack towels, and nonwoven wipes. The steep angle of the specimen on the apparatus may cause a large amount of water to runoff these non-pile fabrics, or the lightweight/open structure of these fabrics may allow a large amount of water to completely pass through the specimen; thus the test result may not be a valid measure of a non-terry fabric's ability to absorb water.
1.3 This test method is not applicable to decorative terry fabrics that will not be used to absorb water from surfaces.
1.4 This test method is written in SI units. The inch-pound units that are provided are not necessarily exact equivalents of the SI units. Either system of units may be used in this test method. In case of referee decisions the SI units will prevail.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

Status
Historical
Publication Date
14-Jan-2009
Technical Committee
Current Stage
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ASTM D4772-09e1 - Standard Test Method for Surface Water Absorption of Terry Fabrics (Water Flow)
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
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Designation: D4772 − 09
StandardTest Method for
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Surface Water Absorption of Terry Fabrics (Water Flow)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4772; 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.
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ε NOTE—Section 3 was updated editorially in September 2011 in accordance with the D13 Terminology policy.
1. Scope Method that Produces Normally Distributed Data (With-
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drawn 2008)
1.1 This test method determines the ability of a terry fabric
D2906 Practice for Statements on Precision and Bias for
to rapidly absorb and retain liquid water from surfaces such as
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Textiles (Withdrawn 2008)
human skin, dishes, and furniture.
D3136 Terminology Relating to Care Labeling for Apparel,
1.2 This test method is not applicable to non-terry fabrics
Textile, Home Furnishing, and Leather Products
such as huck towels, waffle-weave towels, crash towels,
D5433 Performance Specification for Towel Products for
flour-sack towels, and nonwoven wipes. The steep angle of the
Institutional and Household Use
specimen on the apparatus may cause a large amount of water
2.2 AATCC Standard:
to runoff these non-pile fabrics, or the lightweight/open struc-
Test Method 135 Dimensional Changes in Automatic Home
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ture of these fabrics may allow a large amount of water to
Laundering of Woven and Knit Fabrics
completely pass through the specimen; thus the test result may
3. Terminology
not be a valid measure of a non-terry fabric’s ability to absorb
water.
3.1 For all terminology related to Subcommittee D13.59 on
Fabric Test Methods see Terminology D3136.
1.3 This test method is not applicable to decorative terry
fabrics that will not be used to absorb water from surfaces.
3.2 The following terms are relevant to this standard:
absorption, pile, surface water absorption, terry fabric.
1.4 This test method is written in SI units. The inch-pound
units that are provided are not necessarily exact equivalents of
3.3 For definitions of other textile terms see Terminology
the SI units. Either system of units may be used in this test
D123.
method. In case of referee decisions the SI units will prevail.
4. Summary of Test Method
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.1 Aterry fabric product with hems or with both hems and
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
selvages (such as a bath towel), or a terry fabric without hems
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
or without both hems and selvages (such as a terry fabric cut
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
from a roll) is prepared for testing by preconditioning and
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
conditioning. Specimens are placed one at a time in an
embroidery hoop and then the hoop/specimen assembly is
2. Referenced Documents
placed at an angle on the base of the apparatus. After water
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2.1 ASTM Standards:
flows down the surface of each specimen, the amount of water
D123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
retained by each specimen is measured. Six specimens are
D1776 Practice for Conditioning and Testing Textiles
tested, three on the face of the fabric and three on the back of
D2904 Practice for Interlaboratory Testing of a Textile Test
the fabric. The six observations are averaged to determine the
surface water absorption of the fabric.
5. Significance and Use
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This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D13 on Textiles
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D13.59 on Fabric Test Methods,
5.1 This test method may be used to test the surface water
General
absorption of terry fabrics for bath towels, bath sheets, hand
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2009. Published February 2009. Originally
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approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D4772 – 97(2008) .
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DOI: 10.1520/D4772-09E01. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or www.astm.org.
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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 − 09
towels, kitchen towels, dishcloths, washcloths, beachwear,
bathrobes, and the like. Differ
...

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