James Heal – a UK-based textile testing solutions provider – has come up with a new grading system for moisture management testing that turns the assessment of wicking behaviour within a fabric on its head.
WickView moisture management test instrument was launched in 2019 that aims at enabling the wicking properties of a textile to be tested both vertically and horizontally, to better reflect real-life wear conditions. Many other instruments and test methods available test only horizontally, claims James Heal.
According to the company, the WickView instrument technology has advanced more quickly than the industry test standards. These use basic distance and time as a measure to assess the spread of moisture, rather than the exact movement in multiple directions.
To address this, James Heal has created a test method and system of grading to ensure systematic, accurate product testing in laboratories, and a software system that also enables the sharing of data and real-time video footage recorded of the actual test, electronically with colleagues or partners based in other locations.
Integrated cameras are mounted on either side of the test specimen within the WickView which are combined with intuitive TestWise software and can uniquely track, record and measure the multidirectional movement of moisture through a fabric on both skin and face sides.
Numerous parameters can be measured for comparison, and features in the software allow users to identify and discount aspects that may skew the results such as the effects of gravitational pull and run-off, giving the most precise results.
As per James Heal, a wealth of data is available within the WickView software, from watching recordings of the live test on each side of the specimen to the resulting graphs and tables showing the grades of performance across a range of parameters. Results can be read individually or in different combinations to suit the scope of testing, enabling users to understand and interpret their meaning in the context of the textile being tested, and where needed, these can be shared via email or online with their customers such as retailers or brand owners.
Guy Smithurst, Technical Head, James Heal, commented, “The WickView has pushed the boundaries of moisture management testing, and together with TestWise software, offers a totally fresh approach. Having designed the instrument, written the test method and developed the grading system, the entire James Heal team including Innovation, Software Developers and Technical Specialists working in collaboration, have created a new concept in this area of performance testing, providing manufacturers with a system to identify moisture movement and behavioural pattern, giving a ‘true wicking value’ of a fabric.”
