AATCC Test Method 22-2001

Water Repellency: Spray Test

Developed in 1941 by AATCC Commit- 5. Apparatus and Materials 7.2 Place the hoop on the stand of the
tee RA63; revised 1952, 1996, 2001; re- tester with the fabric uppermost in such a
affirmed 1943, 1961, 1964, 1967, 5.1 AATCC Spray Tester (see 10.1, position that the center of the spray pat-
1971, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1989; Figs. 1, 2, 2A and 3). tern coincides with the center of the hoop
editorially revised 1987. Technically 5.2 Beaker. (see Fig. 2A).
equivalent to ISO 4920. 5.3 Water, distilled.
7.2.1 In the case of twills, gabardines,
6. Test Specimens piques or fabrics of similar ribbed con-
1. Purpose and Scope struction, place the hoop on the stand in
6.1 Three test specimens 180 180 such a way that the ribs are diagonal to
1.1 This test method is applicable to
mm (7 7 in.) are needed and should be the flow of water running off the fabric
any textile fabric, which may or may not
conditioned at 65 2% relative humidity specimen.
have been given a water-repellent finish.
and 21 1C (70 2F) for a minimum 7.3 Pour 250 mL of distilled water at
It measures the resistance of fabrics to
of 4 h before testing. 27 1C (80 2F) into the funnel of the
wetting by water. It is especially suitable
6.2 Where possible, each specimen tester and allow it to spray onto the test
for measuring the water-repellent effi-
cacy of finishes applied to fabrics, partic- should contain different groups of length- specimen in 25-30 s.
wise and widthwise yarns. 7.3.1 Avoid touching the funnel with
ularly plain woven fabrics.
1.2 The portability and simplicity of the beaker while pouring the distilled wa-
7. Procedure
the instrument, and the shortness and ter. Movement of the funnel will alter the
simplicity of the test procedure, make 7.1 Fasten the test specimen securely spray disposition on the specimen.
this method of test especially suitable for in the 152 mm metal hoop so that it pre- 7.3.2 The spray time must be between
mill production control work. It is not in- sents a smooth wrinkle-free surface. 25-30 s, otherwise the nozzle should be
tended, however, for use in predicting the
probable rain penetration resistance of
fabrics, since it does not measure pene-
tration of water through the fabric.
1.3 The results obtained with this test
method depend primarily on the resis-
tance to wetting or water repellency of
the fibers, yarns and finish on the fabric,
and not upon the construction of the fabric.
2. Principle
2.1 Water sprayed against the taut sur-
face of a test specimen under controlled
conditions produces a wetted pattern
whose size depends on the relative repel-
lency of the fabric. Evaluation is accom-
plished by comparing the wetted pattern
with pictures on a standard chart.
3. Terminology
3.1 water repellency, n.in textiles,
the characteristic of a fiber, yarn or fabric
to resist wetting.
4. Safety Precautions
NOTE: These safety precautions are
for information purposes only. The pre-
cautions are ancillary to the testing proce-
dures and are not intended to be all inclu-
sive. It is the users responsibility to use
safe and proper techniques in handling
materials in this test method. Manufac-
turers MUST be consulted for specific
details such as material safety data and
other manufacturers recommendations.
All OSHA standards and rules must also
be consulted and followed.
4.1 Good laboratory practices should
he followed. Wear safety glasses in all
laboratory areas. Fig. 1Spray test rating chart.

AATCC Technical Manual /2003 TM 22-2001 65

 Fig. 2ADetails of AATCC spray tester.

Fig. 2AATCC spray tester.

checked to see if the holes are enlarged or
blocked.
7.4 Take the hoop by one edge and tap
the opposite edge smartly once against a
solid object, with the fabric facing the ob-
ject, then rotate the hoop 180 and tap
once more on the point previously held.
7.5 Repeat the above steps for all three
specimens.

8. Evaluation and Report

8.1 Immediately after tapping, com-
pare the wet or spotted pattern with the
rating chart (see Fig. 1). Rate the side of
the fabric impacted by the water. Each
test specimen is assigned a rating corre-
sponding to the nearest standard in the
rating chart. Intermediate ratings can be
used for ratings of 50 or higher. In rating
loosely woven or porous fabrics, such as
voile, any passage of water through the
openings of the fabric is disregarded.
8.2 Report the individual rating results
for each test specimen. Do not average
the results. Fig. 3Nozzle for spray tester.

66 TM 22-2001 AATCC Technical Manual/2003

9. Precision and Bias levels by running fabrics of known per- Table IISpray Rating Range100
formance prior to any test comparisons, Components of Variance
9.1 Precision. Precision of this test
and to bring the practice of the test
method is based on interlaboratory tests Vlab = 0
method under statistical control.
conducted in 1994, using six laboratories, Vop = 0.6945
three fabrics, two operators per labora- 9.1.3 Plant experience consistently has
tory and three determinations per opera- shown variation in spray ratings near a Verr = 4.4841
tor. Separate tests were run on two days. grade of 100 to be quite small, with in- Single Fabric Precision Parameters
There were no significant differences creasing variation as the grade goes lower.
found for days, and the data sets were This has been verified again, in this lim- Single Within Between
combined for analysis. ited study. For this reason, critical differ- N Operator Laboratory Laboratory
9.1.1 The Spray Rating Scale is discrete ence tables are shown for two ranges. 1 5.9 6.3 6.3
and discontinuous, but results are based 9.1.4 Single fabric precision param- 2 4.2 4.8 4.8
eters for two fabric levels are given in 3 3.4 4.1 4.1
on averages which tend to normality.
Tables I and II. 4 2.9 3.7 3.7
Also, ratings are assigned against devel- 5 2.6 3.5 3.5
oped grade standards (photographs),
rather than by arbitrary visual assignment. Table ISpray Rating Range80
For these reasons, RA63 has made a judg- Components of Variance 9.2 Bias. This test method has no
ment that analysis of variance be used in known bias. There is no referee method
determining the precision of this method, Vlab = 17.2222 by which to determine the true value of
without correction for discontinuity. Vop = 9.2593 Spray Rating and to find any existing bias
9.1.2 The three fabrics used in this Verr = 9.3750 in this methodology.
study cover a range of 100 to 80 Spray
Rating. Obviously, this is a limited study Single Fabric Precision Parameters
upon which to base a statement of preci- 10. Notes
Single Within Between
sion for the method. It is the best and N Operator Laboratory Laboratory 10.1 The AATCC Spray Test Unit con-
only estimate of precision currently avail- 1 8.5 12.0 16.6 sisting of hoop, nozzle, funnel, stand and
able. Users of the test method should be 2 6.0 10.4 15.5 Spray Test Rating Chart is available from
guided accordingly. In making fabric 3 4.9 9.8 15.1 AATCC, P.O. Box 12215, Research Triangle
comparisons for Spray Rating, laborato- 4 4.2 9.4 14.9 Park NC 27709; tel: 919/549-8141; fax: 919/
ries are encouraged to establish their 5 3.8 9.2 14.8 549-8933; e-mail: orders@aatcc.org.

AATCC Technical Manual/2003 TM 22-2001 67