Textile Testing, Certification and Chemical Analysis

As accredited according to ISO 17025 and one of Northern Europe's most extensive textile laboratories, RISE offers materials knowledge, evaluation, development, consulting and more than 400 chemical, mechanical and physical test methods for verifying properties on textiles and other soft materials such as nonwoven, foam, plastics and leather.

Methods of Textile Testing

Some of the textile tests are physical and comfort tests, in which a sample of textile material is examined closely for feel and appearance. Common tests are for example determination of moisture management (MMT), thermal and water-vapour resistance (skin model), thermal isolation, water absorption, liquid strike through, pressure distribution, permeability to air and water repellency tests (Bundesmann).

Mechanical tests are those in which textiles are subjected to different pressure and stressors usually in specialized testing machines. These include tests such as for example tensile-, tear-, seam- and burst strength (CRE), abrasion (Martindale), pilling and snagging.

One of the most common sources of consumer complaints is when coloured textiles change and vary greatly compared to the purchased product and are unacceptable to the user. The colour fastness of the textile is therefore an important property to determine.

Still other tests are chemical analysis, in which a textile is analyzed by chemical means to determine whether textiles might contain harmful substances such as heavy metals, banned chemical dyes, or plasticizers that could possibly endanger the consumer.

Specialized textile testing is also done to test for flammability, or how quickly a given textile burns. Other smart textiles are designed to protect the human skin from UVA and UVB radiation. Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) may be measured according several different standards due to the intended use of the textile.

Simulated ageing in climate chambers might impact negatively on both colour and mechanical properties and should be considered when choosing textile testing. Other ways to simulate use may be for example 100 washing cycles, exposure to light, sea water and abrasion.

In short, there are as many ways to test textiles as there are uses for textile material and products.

Quality Assurance and Certification of Textiles

RISE has a unique textile chemical expertise, especially in the detection of chemicals in products such as textiles, leather, and accessories. As a partner in advanced research and development work, RISE also offers certification according to OEKO-TEX® - a world-leading testing and certification system for raw textile materials, intermediate and end products at all stages of processing.

Certification is provided according to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®, LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX®, MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX®, and STeP by OEKO-TEX®. Additional services is ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX®.

What we offer

Chemical analysis in textiles, nonwoven, foam, latex, wadding, plastics, and leather
Colour fastness, appearance, and ageing
Consulting and evaluation within textiles
Determination of physical- and mechanical properties of textiles (as well as surgical textiles), nonwoven, foam, latex, wadding, plastics, and leather
Fire testing
OEKO-TEX® certification
Washing and laundry processes
Our expertise enables us to customize and develop in-house methods upon request

In addition to testing, we also offer training and courses adapted to the needs of companies, e.g within material- and fibre knowledge, textile testing technology, laundry chemistry, comfort properties and sewing. We also offer analyses of fabric constructions, assistance with preparation of requirement specifications (QRS), consultation on complaint matters, standards, and choice of materials/fabrics.