AATCC 135-2003 Dimensional Changes of Fabrics after Home Laundering

AATCC 135-2003 Dimensional Changes of Fabrics after Home Laundering. 5. Apparatus and Materials 5.1 Automatic washing machine (see 12.1). 5.2 Automatic tumble dryer (see 12.2). 5.3 Conditioning/drying racks with pull-out screens or perforated shelves (see 12.3). 5.4 Facilities for drip drying and line drying. 5.5 1993 AATCC Standard Reference Detergent (see 12.10 and 12.11). 5.6 Ballast of 920 × 920 mm (36 × 36 in.) hemmed pieces of bleached cotton sheeting (Wash load ballast type 1), or 50/ 50 polyester/cotton bleached plain weave (Wash load ballast type 3) (see 12.4 and 12.11). 5.7 Indelible ink marking pen (see 12.5) for use with suitable rule, tape, marking template or other marking device (see 12.6). Sewing thread may be used for making benchmarks. 5.8 Measuring devices. 5.8.1 Tape or rule marked in milli- meters, eighths or tenths of an inch. 5.8.2 Tape or ruled template marked directly in percent dimensional change to 0.5% or smaller increment (see 12.6). 5.8.3 Digital Imaging System (see 12.7). 5.9 Scale with at least 5.0 kg (10.0 lb) capacity. 6. Test Specimens 6.1 Sampling and Preparation. 6.1.1 Samples from which dimensional change specimens are to be taken should be representative of the fabric processing stage, finishing treatment, research lab trial, pallet, lot or end-product stage. 6.1.2 Fabrics that are distorted in their unlaundered state may give deceptive dimensional change results when laundered by any procedure. In such cases, it is rec- ommended that specimens not be taken from any distorted area of a fabric sample. 6.1.3 Tubular knitted samples should be slit and handled flat in a single layer. Only circular knitted fabrics produced on body-width machines are to be used as specimens in their tubular form. Circular knitted fabrics made on bodywidth machines are ones to be used in garments with no side seams. Body-width tubular circular knitted garments and seamless garments (knit-to-wear) should be tested according to AATCC Method 150, Dimensional Changes of Garments after Home Laundering. 6.1.4 If fraying of specimens is ex- pected in laundering, see 12.8. 6.1.5 Prior to marking, condition test specimens as directed in ASTM D 1776, Standard Practice for Conditioning and Testing Textiles. Condition each specimen for at least 4 h in an atmosphere of 21 ± 1°C (70 ± 2°F) and 65 ± 2% RH by laying each test specimen separately on a screen or perforated shelf of a condition- ing rack. 6.1.6 Lay the sample on a...