A Comparison of Standard Methods for Measuring Water Vapor Permeability of Fabrics

It is difficult for outdoor apparel manufacturers to interpret the technical information provided by fabric suppliers concerning fabric “breathability” properties because different methods and test conditions are used. In addition, fabrics with hydrophilic components change their properties under different humidity conditions. The purpose of this study was to measure the water vapor permeability and evaporative resistance of 26 different waterproof, windproof, and breathable (WWB) shell fabrics using five standard test methods. The water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) was measured using the ASTM E 96 upright and inverted cup tests with water, the JIS L 1099 desiccant inverted cup test, and the new ASTM F 2298 standard using the dynamic moisture permeation cell (DMPC). The evaporative resistance was measured using the ISO 11092 sweating hot plate test. The WVTRs were consistently highest when measured with the desiccant inverted cup, followed by the inverted cup, DMPC, and upright cup. The upright cup was significantly correlated with the DMPC (0.97), and the desiccant inverted cup was correlated to the sweating hot plate (-0.91).

Reference Information:

McCullough, Elizabeth A., Kwon, Myoungsook, and Shim, Huensup. “A Comparison of Standard Methods for Measuring Water Vapor Permeability of Fabrics,” Measurement Science and Technology, Vol. 14, No. 8, 2003, pp. 1402-1408.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 13th, 2007. It is filed under Apparel, Textiles, and Interior Design.