Fiber materials are subjected to tension, bending, compression, friction and torsion during use, resulting in different deformations. Therefore, characterizing the mechanical properties of fibers is a necessary step to measure fiber quality. Combined with rich testing experience, our team can provide a variety of mechanical properties analysis services for customers’ samples, and provide accurate and complete testing results and reports.

• Tensile Properties
  Tensile properties are the most important mechanical properties of fibers. The main indicators to measure the tensile properties of fibers include breaking strength, elongation at break and initial modulus. To a certain extent, the higher the breaking strength, the less likely the fibers will break during processing. However, the breaking strength is too high, the rigidity of the fiber increases, and the hand becomes hard. Elongation at break is an indicator that reflects the toughness of fibers. The greater the elongation at break, the softer the hand feel, and the fabric is easily deformed. For industrial filaments, the lower the elongation at break, the less deformable the final product is. The initial modulus is used to characterize the resistance of the fiber to small deformations. The larger the initial modulus of the fiber, the less deformable it is.
• Abrasion resistance
  Abrasion resistance of fibers refers to the ability of fibers to withstand external wear. The abrasion resistance of fiber is related to the macromolecular structure, supramolecular structure, elongation at break, elasticity and other factors of the fiber. The order of wear resistance of common fibers is nylon > polypropylene > vinylon > ethylene > polyester > acrylic > chlorinated fiber > wool multifilament > cotton > hemp > cupro fiber > viscose fiber > acetate fiber > glass fiber.
• Elastic Recovery
  The deformation of a material under the action of external force (tension or compression), and the ability to restore the original state after the external force is removed is called elastic recovery. The elastic recovery rate can be expressed as follows:

ε_e: Recoverable elastic elongation
ε_t: Unrecoverable plastic elongation or residual elongation
ε_t: Total elongation

• Fatigue Resistance
  Fatigue resistance usually refers to the damage or destruction of fibers under repeated loads, or under static loads for a long time. Generally speaking, fibers with better resilience have higher fatigue resistance. For example, nylon has better resilience, and its fatigue resistance is better.

Our Analytical Technology

• Pendulum Strength Tester
• Electronic Strength Meter
• Fiber Electronic Strength Tester
• Friction Coefficient Tester
• …

Thermal Resistance & Thermal Stability Analysis

Analysis Purpose

Heat resistance: It characterizes the change in the mechanical properties of the fiber measured at elevated temperature. This change can often be recovered when returning to normal temperature (belonging to a reproducible change), so it is also called physical heat resistance.

Thermal stability: It characterizes irreversible changes in mechanical properties of fibers after they are heated. This change is measured after heating the fiber and cooling to normal temperature, which is caused by the degradation or chemical change of the polymer, so it is also called chemical heat resistance.
Characterizing the heat resistance and thermal stability of fiber materials is a very important step because fibers may involve high temperature environments in specific applications.

Optional Service Items

Combining rich analysis experience and advanced technology, our team provides comprehensive and accurate heat resistance and thermal stability analysis services for fiber materials, as well as detailed analysis results and reports. Analysis items for fiber thermal properties include but are not limited to the following:

• Analyze the changes in fiber physical properties before and after heat treatment, such as microscopic morphology, glass transition temperature (Tg), softening temperature (Ts), melting temperature (Tm), thermal weight loss, etc.
• Analyze the changes in fiber mechanical properties before and after heat treatment, such as tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus, shrinkage, etc.
• Analyze the changes of chemical properties before and after heat treatment, such as chemical structure, molecular chain structure, crystallinity, etc.
• Discover the relationship between stable chemical structure, molecular chain bonding and crystallization on glass transition temperature, melting temperature, decomposition temperature, etc.
• Analysis and comparison of moisture and dry heat resistance of fibers.

Common Analytical Technology

• Tensile Test
• Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
• Infrared Spectroscopy
• Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
• Thermogravimetric Analysis (TG)
• Wide Angle X-ray Diffraction Analysis
• Thermogravimetric-Infrared Analysis (TG-FTIR)
• …

Advanced Technology

It has been reported that the fast boundary element method is applied to the three-dimensional large-scale thermal analysis of fiber-reinforced composites based on the line inclusion model. For example, H.T. Wang et al. used the line inclusion model of the fast boundary element method for large-scale thermal analysis of fiber composites. In this work, the researchers calculated temperature distributions for 200 fibers using conventional and line inclusion modeling. The results show that the relative error is within 0.4% in all cases, and the line inclusion model significantly reduces the problem size.

Fiber Antibacterial Activity Analysis

Optional Service Items

Combining extensive analytical experience and advanced technology, our team provides systematic and accurate antimicrobial activity analysis services for fiber materials, as well as detailed analytical results and reports. The bacteriostatic test is aimed at samples that only inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria/fungi without killing. The bactericidal experiment is aimed at samples that not only inhibit but also kill bacteria/fungi. Our antimicrobial activity analysis services include but are not limited to the following:

Qualitative detection

Qualitative test methods include mixed culture method and streak method. The qualitative test is particularly effective for the dissolution-type antibacterial fiber material sample, and has the advantages of simple test method, short time and low cost. The evaluation is based on the width of the inhibition zone or the inhibition ring.

Quantitative detection

After the sample is inoculated with the quantitative test bacteria solution and a certain period of incubation, the antibacterial effect of the fiber material sample can be quantitatively evaluated according to the reduction rate of the number of test bacteria. This method has the advantages of quantitative, accurate and objective, but the test time is long and the cost is relatively high. The evaluation basis is mainly based on the bacteriostatic rate, bactericidal rate or bacteriostatic activity value. Commonly used analysis methods include shock method, absorption method (dipping method), blotting method, Quine method, transfer method, fluorescence analysis method, etc.

Optional strains

Standard strains commonly used are Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Actinomyces viscous, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, etc. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your other strain needs.

Testing Standards

• Commonly used qualitative test methods for typical antimicrobial properties mainly include AATCC 147-2011, AATCC 90-2011, AATCC 174-2011, ISO 20645-2004.
• Commonly used quantitative test methods for typical antibacterial properties mainly include AATCC 100-2994, AATCC 174-2011, JIS L 1902:2008, ASTM E 2149-10 (2001), ISO 20743-2007.

Analytical Methods

Some advanced and efficient assays have been developed and reported, such as MTT assay, OD₆₀₀ assay, disk diffusion assay, etc. [1]

OD₆₀₀ assay at different time points.

Microfiber Detection Analysis

Optional Service Items

Microfibers are shed during the production, processing and use of fibrous materials and their products and are released into the environment, especially the water environment, causing pollution. Therefore, the qualitative and quantitative analysis of microfibers themselves is one of the basic tasks of microplastic pollution research. Combining extensive analytical experience, advanced technology and interdisciplinary expertise, our team provides customers with comprehensive and systematic microfiber contamination detection and analysis services, as well as detailed analysis results and reports. Our optional services include but are not limited to the following:

• Microfiber Shedding Assessment
  The quality, quantity, shape, length, morphology, distribution and other parameters of the exfoliated microfibers were evaluated.
• Microfiber Composition Analysis
  Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the composition of microfibers, such as natural fibers, polymer fibers, etc.
• Assessing The Environmental Impact of Microfibers
  Detect the content of microfibers in the environment (such as wastewater); evaluate the distribution, migration and fate of microfibers in the environment; predict the migration behavior of microfibers in the environment.
• Microfiber Safety Assessment
  Assess the bioaccumulation, toxic effects, ecological safety and health risks of microfibers in the environment.
• Others
  On top of the above tests, we also offer individual tests and services that meet your requirements. We are working to reduce microfiber emissions and improve the sustainability of fiber materials.

Common Analytical Techniques

Several optical, spectroscopic and microscopy techniques can be used to successfully detect microfibers. For example, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, atomic spectroscopy, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive analysis using X-rays can all be used to rapidly detect the presence of microfibers. In addition, chromatographic mass spectrometry, pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) and other hyphenated techniques are also commonly used methods for microfiber detection.

For the study of the effects of microfibers on biology and human health, technologies such as high-end mass spectrometry and cell analysis are very powerful research methods.

Research Information

The impact of microfibers on the marine environment is also receiving ongoing attention. The presence of microfibers in the marine environment mainly comes from the shedding of fibers and the breaking of bulk plastics and fabrics that are thrown directly into water sources as waste. Researchers are working to develop important treatment technologies for removing these pollutants. Effective methods that have been reported include membrane bioreactors, microfiber capture bags, etc.

Types of synthetic microfiber pollutants present in the ocean.

Fiber Flame Retardant Analysis

Optional Service Items

• Qualitatively analyze the combustion performance of fiber materials, such as observing the fiber’s approaching flame, the combustion state in the flame, the odor emitted during combustion, and the state of ash after combustion.
• Determine the limiting oxygen index of the fiber material, that is, the minimum oxygen concentration required for the sample to maintain stable combustion in a mixed flow of oxygen and nitrogen.
• Determine the decomposition temperature of the fiber material, i.e., the temperature at which it begins to decompose appreciably to give off flammable gases.
• Determination of the heat of combustion of fibrous materials, i.e., the heat released during combustion
• Determination of the amount of smoke produced by the fibrous material.
• Analysis of the toxicity of combustion gases. Common combustion gases include combustible gases, such as methane, ethane, aromatic hydrocarbons, etc.; non-combustible gases, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, ammonia, water vapor, hydrogen halide, SO₂, NOX, formaldehyde, HCN, etc.

Analytical Methods

• Oxygen index method (The higher the limiting oxygen index, the better the flame retardant performance.)
• Vertical combustion method (Fibrous materials are usually difficult to apply horizontal burning test method.)
• Cone calorimetry can be used to determine the heat released by fibrous materials during combustion.
• The 45° flame contact number method is used to measure the number of times the material needs to contact the flame at a distance of 90mm from the lower end of the sample. The fibers with the number of close to fire reaching or more than 3 times are flame-retardant fibers, and the total number of close-to-fire times represents the flame retardant grade.
• The mass measurement method deduces the amount of smoke by measuring the loss of mass of the material before and after smoking.
• The photometric method determines the amount of smoke produced by measuring the attenuation effect of the generated smoke on the light intensity.

Overview of flammability test methods for flame retardant materials.

Fiber Biodegradability Analysis

Optional Service Items

For a safer, cleaner, and healthier environment, it is critical to check and determine that your products are truly biodegradable. Combining extensive analytical experience, advanced technology and interdisciplinary expertise, our team provides systematic, accurate biodegradability analysis and testing services for fiber materials, as well as detailed analytical results and reports. Our optional services include but are not limited to the following:

• Biodegradation Performance Evaluation
  The percentage of biodegradation, biodegradation curve, organic carbon content, etc. are determined under specified laboratory conditions or in a standardized soil test environment.
• Ecotoxicological Safety Assessment
  Environmental compatibility or environmental contamination caused by product degradation is checked by ecotoxicological testing, with optional chemical analysis.
• Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) Test
  The BMP test is one of the related tests to evaluate the biodegradability of a sample. BMP testing is performed using bacterial populations under anaerobic conditions, which makes it time-consuming.
• Others
  On top of the above tests, we also offer individual tests that meet your requirements.

Common Test Standards

Depending on the decomposition conditions, test standards include Standard Test Methods for Aerobic Biodegradation and Standard Test Methods for Anaerobic Biodegradation. Several common test standards for reference include ISO 11721-1, ISO 846, ASTM D6400, ASTM D5338, ISO 14855-1, ASTM D5511, ISO 15985.

About Biodegradable Fiber

Biodegradation refers to the gradual digestion of materials by microorganisms or some organisms as a nutrient source, resulting in loss of quality, performance degradation, etc., and ultimately leading to the decomposition of materials into simpler compounds or elements such as water, carbon dioxide and methane.

Biodegradable fibers offer the following benefits:

• In line with the current needs of environmental protection, energy saving and low-carbon economy, it can effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
• Reduce environmental pollution, reduce emissions of harmful substances, and alleviate pollution to soil and air.
• The effective solution to “white pollution” enables the effective use of resources and forms a degradable cycle.

Advanced Technology

Since BMP testing is time-consuming, a large number of alternative methods are being explored and developed. For example, models based on physicochemical properties can be used to predict the amount of methane produced. BMP tests based on pyrolysis and spectroscopic techniques are also used to determine the biodegradability of materials.

BMP prediction based on spectroscopic and AOP approaches.