Importance of testing in finished product (leather and textile)

You must know the importance of testing in finished product (leather and textile) as it is an important part of developing a quality product. It is a necessary step that helps the product development teams to make products that are reliable within specific technical standards.

Millions of people are employed in the textiles and leather industries. They use multiple complex processes to turn raw materials into finished products like clothes and footwear.

The importance of leather and textile testing:

The testing of leather and textile is important if you want to maintain your reputation in the manufacturing industry and maximize your company’s profits. Let us discuss below the reasons why leather and textile testing is important;

The testing of the finished product makes you able to identify what fibers are present in your product as well as their quantity. This analysis is easy and affordable.
You can make better decisions when you determine the composition of your product. This way, you can’t damage textile fibers and make sure of high-quality products.
Your time and resources get saved when you determine the composition and quality of a product.

Hence, testing of leather and textile is important to understand the quality and composition of chemical substances and materials that are used in the finished products. Testing before use helps you to avoid any issues with customer dissatisfaction. Also, to protect your company’s reputation and integrity, you can reduce the risk of defects by testing your products thoroughly.

The main purpose of product testing is to assure that your product meets specific standards. Testing consists of different processes that occur before the product leaves the facility to make sure your products are safe and high-quality.

Methods of textile testing:

There are three methods of textile testing international;

1. Physical testing

In this method of testing, the professionals will analyze a fabric for its physical characteristics. Obtaining as much physical data on a textile sample as possible is the main purpose of physical testing. Moreover, fibers are assessed during testing for;

Their weight
The unit length of a single and bundled fibers
Stiffness
Fabric count for woven materials
Coatings

2. Mechanical testing

The aim of textile mechanical testing is to identify the strength and durability of a fabric. You as a consumer have to ensure that your textiles will withstand reasonable wear and tear for their specified period. For textiles testing, there are different mechanical tests. Here are the most common ones;

Tensile testing
Abrasion testing
Pilling testing

3. Chemical testing

The main purpose of conducting chemical testing of textiles is to make sure that fabric is free from harmful substances. To ensure a fabric’s safety, chemical tests for lead and other heavy metals, harmful dyes, and more are implemented. Additionally, to test a fabric’s pH and color fastness, samples of chemical testing of textiles might be used. For textiles like athletic wear, this is particularly relevant to make sure their optimal performance on the body during physical activity.

Methods of leather testing:

Here are the methods of leather testing;

Chemical tests for toxic dyes in Leather

To detect restricted chemicals in leather products, the two standard chemical tests are used.

EN ISO 17234-1:2010; it determines specific aromatic amines derived from azo colorants
EN ISO 17234-2:2011; it determines 4-aminoazobenzene

Testing Leather for pH Value

In this testing method, the damp indicator paper on the paper is used. Cutting the leather and testing it using the EN ISO 4045:2008 standard is another more accurate method. Measure the pH value on a logarithmic scale of 0-14. The following ranges apply as per a rule of thumb;

Acidic: pH 1-7
Neutral: pH 7
Alkaline: pH 8 – 14

Testing Leather for Chromium VI compounds

There are various extraction methods involving chemical solutions that can be used for the tests as per EN ISO 17075 Chemical Determination of Chromium (VI) Content in Leather. The results you obtain define as colorimetric or chromatographic.

Physical Tests for Leather

Here is a list of physical tests for leather;

Resistance to wetting
Adhesive properties of finishing
Tear load test
Tensile strength test
Colorfastness test
Relative stiffness test

Conclusion:

In conclusion, testing the finished product (leather and textile) is important to make sure quality and reliability of a product. Testing guarantees high-quality materials that are safe for users. You can examine and identify the physical, mechanical, and chemical properties of a finished product through testing.