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    • Natural Easy Care (NEC) fabrics are designed to retain all their aesthetic and functional properties after machine washing and tumble drying. Performance testing provides assurance they are fit for this purpose.

    NEC fabrics, developed at AgResearch in Christchurch for Australian Wool Innovation Ltd. (AWI), are tested using the Woolmark Company test specifications. The Woolmark is an internationally recognised brand that gives consumers a guarantee of quality.

    Woolmark quality standard symbol.
    Rights: © Australian Wool Innovation Ltd

    Woolmark symbol

    The Woolmark symbol indicates a product has met the Woolmark quality standards – these standards are internationally recognised.

    Testing NEC fabric properties

    Traditional wool fabrics are likely to shrink, mat and pill when they are machine washed and show signs of fibre breakage with wear over time. NEC fabrics are designed to be more durable and easy care, so scientists use standard tests to ensure they meet the performance standards specified for these fabrics. The main properties they test are machine washability, shrinkage, abrasion and pilling resistance, stretch and recovery, and tensile and tear strength.

    Rights: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato

    Shrink testing on NEC fabric

    Natural Easy Care (NEC) fabrics are designed to be machine washable. Research Associate Carolyn Piper of AgResearch explains how they test NEC fabrics for shrinkage.

    Select here for transcript, questions to consider and copyright information.

    Rights: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato

    Tensile strength testing on NEC fabric

    Tensile strength testing is one of a range of standard quality tests performed on NEC fabric. Lorraine Greer from AgResearch explains how this test is carried out.

    Select here for transcript and questions to consider.

    Fabric testing a stage-by-stage process

    Testing is fundamental to the research, and researchers test NEC fabrics at many stages throughout their development, not just in their finished state.

    From early in the development, researchers trial many different parameters. Each time something is changed, they carry out testing and analyse the results to decide how they will refine and improve the fabrics.

    Martindale machine for testing abrasion and pilling resistance
    Rights: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato

    Martindale machine

    The Martindale machine at AgResearch is used for carrying out standard tests for abrasion and pilling resistance in fabrics.

    Testing of the finished fabric is also carried out at a number of stages:

    • Prototype fabrics: Smaller quantities of fabric are produced first until the required performance properties are met.
    • Pilot plant trials:
      When they are ready to trial a larger production run, they do this in the AgResearch Pilot Plant, and the fabric is tested again.
    • Mill trials: When the technology is transferred to a company for commercial production, the final fabric produced is also tested. Sometimes processing adjustments are necessary to ensure the fabric meets the specifications.
    • Final fabrics: Ongoing testing of final fabric is carried out as required.
    Rights: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato

    Abrasion and pilling testing on NEC fabric

    NEC fabrics are designed to withstand abrasion and resist pilling. Lorraine Greer explains how these tests are carried out at AgResearch.

    Select here for transcript and question to consider.

    Find out more in this aricle, Developing Natural Easy Care fabrics.

    Related content

    This article is a handy curation of our resources looking at some of the innovative wool textiles being developed at AgResearch.

      Published 27 May 2010 Referencing Hub articles
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