Abstract
The testing of fabric moisture management is crucial for textile development in healthcare, activewear, personal protective equipment (PPE), etc. Research and industry rely on efficient quantitative testing by moisture management instruments, yet a deeper understanding of these devices and their ability to assess fabric moisture management is needed. This paper provides a thorough comparison of two fabric moisture management testing instruments, Moisture Management Tester (MMT) and WickView, by looking at each instrument’s performance in assessing various aspects of transverse and in-plane liquid transport. Based on the polyester and viscose fabrics tested in this study, the results indicate that MMT is more suitable for testing initial wetting and rapid transverse wicking in fabrics, whereas WickView is unique in detecting directional in-plane wicking in one dimension and two dimensional in-plane wicking. The study also highlights limitations for both instruments. Limited spatial resolution for MMT and temporal resolution for WickView affect the test results’ accuracy. WickView’s ability to provide raw data allows for customizable analysis, which makes it preferable for development and research, whereas MMT is more efficient for routine quality control. Furthermore, the importance of adapting grading systems and general moisture management values according to the intended end use is emphasized. This study is useful for professionals seeking a deeper understanding of instrument-based fabric moisture management testing.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.