Fabric Dimensional Stability Testing
topic
Fabric dimensional stability testing per ISO 6330 or AATCC 135 measures the percentage change in warp and weft dimensions after defined laundering cycles under controlled wash conditions, with relaxation shrinkage from stress relief during washing and progressive shrinkage from fibre swelling and yarn crimp increase in successive washes both measured separately through defined test protocols, and with shrinkage specifications typically requiring less than 3 to 5 percent for apparel fabrics and less than 1 to 2 percent for industrial technical fabrics.
Role
Verifies that woven fabric will maintain dimensional accuracy through the end-use conditions of washing or wet processing, with shrinkage being one of the most commercially significant quality parameters from the direct impact of excessive shrinkage on garment fit and dimensional accuracy of technical fabrics, making shrinkage testing a standard qualification test for all apparel fabric development and a routine incoming quality test for garment manufacturers.