AATCC 201 Dry Rate Test of Fabric

The AATCC 201 Dry Rate Test evaluates the clothing drying rate. We take a water-saturated fabric sample and record the time to dry completely using the hot plate method. It is called the Dry Rate Test of Fabric. In this article, we will discuss the test procedure of AATCC 201 – 2013, the Dry rate test using the heated plate method.

Why is the Dry Rate Test Important in Textiles?  

Suppose you are in hot areas with a temperature of 37 C or more. At that temperature, the human body starts sweating even if you have sun protection.

So, if you wear clothes with a low drying rate, your skin will be sticky, irritated, and uncomfortable. Sweating at a low drying rate will also cause a foul odor in your body.

However, these issues can be avoided by using quick-drying clothes. These fabrics evaporate sweat faster, which makes them comfortable and pleasant to wear in hot and humid weather.

Now, the question arises of how we will know whether the fabric is quick or low-drying. Verifying this parameter is very important for textile manufacturers.

That’s why the drying rate AATCC 201 test is a standard for evaluating the physical properties of fabrics.

AATCC 201 Dry Rate Test Method   

AATCC Test method 201 is the name of the standard by which wet fabric’s drying rate is measured.  Here, we take the Drying Rate Tester AATCC 201 model # DR290F, by Darong Company China, as a testing apparatus. According to AATCC 201, this apparatus has a hot plate as a heating source to dry out the water-saturated clothing sample. The hot plate temperature is set at 37 C. This is the temperature of the human body where it starts sweating.

This method evaluates the drying rate of different fabrics, such as woven, nonwoven, and knitted. Now, let’s start the step-by-step test procedure.

Sample Preparation

1. The sample is taken in 150 × 150 mm dimension to apply the dry rate test.
2. The specimen should be taken randomly from different places of the fabric. You can take three specimens from unstitched woven fabric.
3. For unstitched textiles, specimens are taken from the cloth’s left, center, and right positions.

4. If testing material is in stitch form, like garments or any end product, the sample is taken from each section of the cloth, front, back, and sleeve.
5. Socks and hosiery samples are taken lengthwise. During dry rate testing, the socks’ inner side that touches the skin is mainly focused and taken to the front of the heating plate.
6. After cutting out the specimens, they are placed in a wet balance for 04 hours. The wet balance consists of the perforated rack. The temperature is maintained at 21±2°C and humidity level at 65±5%.
7. It should ensure the specimen’s wet balance is as according to ASTM D1776.

Test Setup Requirements & Parameters   

• Deionized or Distill Water

Water is used in the apparatus for the dipping process. Deionized or distilled water is required for the proper dipping and functioning of the instrument.

• Setting Hot Plate Temperature

A hot plate is used to dry the water-saturated sample. Its temperature is set at 37±1°C. This is the temperature of the human body at which it starts sweating.

• Airflow Rate 

The airflow for drying is set at 1.5 ± 0.5 m/s, and the water dipping rate is 1 ml.

• Large Size Specimen 

Textile fabrics have different water absorption rates and behaviors. If water reaches or leaks from the edges of the specimen, it is replaced with a larger specimen for the same water flow rate.

Test Method 

We are taking the DR290F Thermal Plate Method Drying Rate Tester to conduct AATCC 201 Test.

Firstly, turn on the instrument’s power switch.

Click on the dry rate tester main interface.

Now, set the parameters. You have to set parameters according to the test standard and customer requirements.

There are three test parameters

1. Test Temperature
2. Wind Speed
3. Water Volume

There is an additional feature for automatic water addition and its speed.

Once settings are complete, click the save button. After that, a new window will be opened. Here, enter the test interface.

Wait for the test environment to stabilize the set thermal plate temperature. When the testing temperature stabilizes, the instrument will beep. According to the screen prompt, place the specimen.

Open the chamber door to put the sample in the testing area. Place the sample on the test table with the testing side facing up. Secure the specimen with a press plate.

After putting the sample, close the chamber door.

Click Next. Preheating will start. After preheating, the instrument will automatically start the dripping process.

Once the dripping process is complete, the instrument will automatically begin the test. After one test is completed, the instrument will beep.

Replace the sample and test the remaining samples using the same method. When all tests are finished, click on the main interface. Here, you will see the test results.

Clicking on Print data, you can take the results of all samples you have done. It is the whole procedure of doing a Dry Rate fabric test.

Which Fabrics are Quick Drying Clothes?  

Quick-drying clothes have an almost 50% faster drying rate than regular cotton fabrics. If both fabrics are placed in the same environmental conditions, the fast-drying fabric will dry about half the time of ordinary cotton.

Fast-dry fabrics are mainly used for sports and outdoor activities. Textile fabrics manufactured with quick-dry material are specially designed for outdoor sports. Wearing fast-drying clothes allows players to enjoy comfort and a pleasant feel.

Synthetic fibers are developed as quick-dry fabrics. For fast drying, clothes are designed with channels in their structure and applied quick dry finishes.

The fastest-drying fabrics are Polyester, Nylon, Dr Yarn fiber, Polypropylene fiber, Coolmax, Supplex, Moni-dry, Activent, Tencel, and Dri-fit.

Similar Standards to Dry Rate Test AATCC 201

These standards are similar to drying rate test 201 performed in a fabric testing laboratory.

1. AATCC 200
2. ASTM D1776

Comparison of AATCC 200 & 201 

There are two methods for finding the drying rate.

• AATCC 200
• AATCC 201

These methods are developed by The American Association of Textile Dyers and Chemists (AATCC).

Both standards evaluate the fabric’s drying rate. We will see the main differences between these standards.

AATCC 200

• This standard is known as the Air Flow Method, AATCC TM 200.
• In this test, textile fabrics are saturated with moisture or water under airflow.
• The testing apparatus consists of a circular opening device dries the sample through vertical airflow.
• There is no use of a hot plate.
• The unit for drying rate is mL/H

AATCC 201   

• This standard is known as the Hot Plate Method AATCC TM 201.
• In this test, textile fabric specimens saturated with defined water are dried in contact with a hot plate under airflow.
• There is horizontal airflow over the sample’s surface from the heated plate, which resembles the process of human sweating.
• A hot plate with a temperature of 37 C is used to dry the specimen.
• The unit for drying rate is mL/H

Conclusion   

AATCC 201 fabric’s drying rate test uses the hot plate method. A defined water-saturated sample is placed on the fabric lab test machine. The specimen is dried with horizontal airflow from the heated plate over the sample surface.

Drying time is recorded for each specimen for the fabric lab test report. Fabric specimens with the lowest drying time will be the quickest drying cloth.

Related Resources

The Importance of Textile Drying Rate Tester in Quality Assurance

Dry Rate Tester

AATCC 201 Textile Drying Rate Tester (Hot Plate Method) DR290F