Shrinkage Standard
Standardized laboratory testing quantifies the dimensional change of woven fabrics after washing and drying under specified conditions. Laboratory technicians evaluate ISO 5077 dimensional stability by measuring marked distances on cloth specimens before and after automated laundering cycles. Positive percentage changes indicate fabric growth, while negative values denote dimensional shrinkage across warp and weft directions.
Finishing mill test certificates report these percentage changes to verify fabric stability.
Testing Protocol
Woven flax fabrics undergo relaxation, swelling, and mechanical agitation that alter thread spacing during wet finishing. Applying ISO 5077 dimensional stability protocol requires conditioning samples in standard atmospheres of temperature and humidity prior to initial measurement. Specimen markers placed parallel to warp and fill yarns ensure precise distance tracking across repeated wash cycles.
Laboratory technicians calculate mean percentage variations to evaluate thermal and moisture response.
Buyer Acceptance
Garment manufacturers establish strict tolerance limits for fabric dimensional changes to prevent sizing defects after consumer laundering. When testing according to ISO 5077 dimensional stability reveals shrinkage rates exceeding commercial buyer specifications, finishing plants apply compressive shrinking or sanforizing treatments to stabilize the weave. The testing procedure governs finished woven flax fabrics but does not apply to unspun sliver or raw yarn packages.
International inspection agencies list these test results on final commercial mill release documents before export dispatch.
