Pilling tester is generally used to test the pilling performance and wear resistance of textiles, so it is also called fabric pilling tester. According to different pilling methods can be divided into the following four kinds of pilling tester: rolling box pilling tester, messy pilling tester, round track pilling tester and Martindale abrasion tester.

1、Introduction of related terms

(1)Pilling: the fabric surface fiber projection or fiber end protrusion to form a lint produced by the obvious surface changes.

(2) hair ball: the formation of fiber tangled projection on the surface of the fabric, dense and light can not pass through and produce projection of the ball. Pilling changes and hair ball formation may occur in the washing, dry cleaning, wearing or use process.

(3) pilling: the process of producing hair ball on the surface of the fabric.

2、Fabric pilling tester's over-weight.

The basic component unit of the fabric is yarn, yarn in the processing of overweighing by combing, stretching and friction, etc., its surface is not smooth, inevitably will appear lint. Fabric in the process of use, constantly by the role of external forces, so that the fabric surface of the fluff or monofilament is gradually pulled out, when the height and density of the fluff reaches a certain value, the continued role of external friction so that the fluff entangled into a ball, raised on the surface of the fabric, such as if the rigidity of the material is larger, it is not easy to puckering in the role of friction and fall off, zui finally formed a hair ball.

Fabric pilling will deteriorate the appearance of the fabric, reduce its taking performance, in the trade transactions is one of the important test items.

3、The test method of pilling tester

3.1、Pilling box method: The specimen mounted on the polyurethane tube is turned over at will in a wooden box with constant speed and lined with cork. After the specified number of tumbling, the visual description of the pilling performance is evaluated.

3.2、Random tumbling method: The sample is put into the test box, and the cork-lined wall of the box is rubbed continuously and randomly under the rotation of the impeller, and the sample is removed for rating after reaching the set time.

3.3, circular track method: according to the specified method and test parameters, using nylon brushes and fabric abrasives or fabric abrasives only, so that the specimen friction hair pilling. Then under the specified lighting conditions, the pilling performance is rated by visual description.

3.4, Martindale method: Under the specified pressure, the circular specimen on the specimen jig and the abrasive on the abrasive table (the same fabric or wool fabric abrasive as the sample under test) in accordance with the Lissajous curve for friction. The specimen is able to rotate freely around a central axis perpendicular to the specimen plane. After the specified rubbing phase, the pilling and pilling grades of the specimens were evaluated by visual description.

This paper introduces the instrumentation principle and relevant standards of these four pilling testers, and analyzes the requirements of different markets for different models of pilling meters.