Fabric Penetration Tester Made Simple: What You Need to Know

Fabric penetration tester is a device that measures the resistance of fabrics to penetration by liquids or solids. It is used to evaluate the performance of protective clothing, medical textiles, filters, and other applications where fabric barrier properties are important.

In this blog post, we will explain what fabric penetration tester is, how it works, and what are the main standards and methods for fabric penetration testing. We will also give you some tips on how to choose the best fabric penetration tester for your needs.

What is fabric penetration tester?

Fabric penetration tester is a device that simulates the conditions of liquid or solid penetration through fabrics under different pressures, temperatures, and contact times. It consists of a test chamber, a specimen holder, a pressure source, a timer, and a detector.

The test chamber is where the fabric specimen is placed and exposed to the penetrating agent (liquid or solid). The specimen holder is a clamp that holds the fabric specimen securely and prevents leakage. The pressure source is a pump or a cylinder that applies a constant or variable pressure to the penetrating agent. The timer is a device that controls the duration of the test. The detector is a device that measures the amount or rate of penetration through the fabric specimen.

The fabric penetration tester can be classified into two types: hydrostatic pressure tester and dynamic penetration tester.

Hydrostatic pressure tester applies a constant water pressure to the fabric specimen and measures the time or pressure required for water to penetrate through the fabric. It is used to evaluate the water resistance of fabrics.

Dynamic penetration tester applies a variable pressure or impact force to the fabric specimen and measures the amount or rate of penetration by liquids (such as blood, synthetic body fluids, chemicals) or solids (such as microorganisms, dust particles, needles). It is used to evaluate the barrier performance of fabrics against biological or chemical hazards.

What are the main standards and methods for fabric penetration testing?

There are various standards and methods for fabric penetration testing depending on the type of fabric, the type of penetrating agent, and the intended application. Some of the most common standards and methods are:

- ASTM F1670/F1670M: Standard Test Method for Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing to Penetration by Synthetic Blood

- ASTM F1671/F1671M: Standard Test Method for Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing to Penetration by Blood-Borne Pathogens Using Phi-X174 Bacteriophage Penetration as a Test System

- ASTM F903: Standard Test Method for Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing to Penetration by Liquids

- ASTM F1862/F1862M: Standard Test Method for Resistance of Medical Face Masks to Penetration by Synthetic Blood (Horizontal Projection of Fixed Volume at a Known Velocity)

- ASTM F2100: Standard Specification for Performance of Materials Used in Medical Face Masks

- ASTM F2101: Standard Test Method for Evaluating the Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE) of Medical Face Mask Materials, Using a Biological Aerosol of Staphylococcus aureus

- ASTM F2299/F2299M: Standard Test Method for Determining the Initial Efficiency of Materials Used in Medical Face Masks to Penetration by Particulates Using Latex Spheres

- ISO 811: Textiles — Determination of resistance to water penetration — Hydrostatic pressure test

- ISO 9073-16: Textiles — Test methods for nonwovens — Part 16: Determination of resistance to penetration by water (spray impact)

- ISO 13994: Clothing for protection against liquid chemicals — Determination of the resistance of protective clothing materials to penetration by liquids under pressure

- ISO 16603: Clothing for protection against contact with blood and body fluids — Determination of the resistance of protective clothing materials to penetration by blood and body fluids — Test method using synthetic blood

- ISO 16604: Clothing for protection against contact with blood and body.