Nonwoven Thickness Gauge:
ISO 9073-2 vs NWSP 120.6.R0 (15)
Why is Nonwoven Thickness Testing So Important for Nonwovens
The high-performance nonwoven materials have become really critical due to inaccurate thickness testing results, leading to product rejection, inconsistent functional performance, and compliance audit failures.
Products such as hygiene nonwovens, medical fabrics, filtration media, and technical nonwovens demand precise thickness test data from the buyers. The demanding modern nonwoven products require the really advanced thickness testing systems that maintain high precision accuracy with a measuring range up to 20 mm for various nonwoven structures.
Why Standards Are Important in Buying Decisions
The 2 main internationally accepted standards for determining the thickness of nonwoven fabrics are ISO 9073-2 and NWSP 120.6.R0 (15). Although both of these tests aim to determine nonwoven thickness, some differences can lead to variations in measurement results, mainly due to differences in test pressure, sample procedure, and the type of applicable nonwoven materials.
So for exporters and QA managers, it is very important to select the best and correct thickness test method to get results that are in line with other laboratories and that meet buyers’ requirements.
What Buyers Should Know Before Buying a Fabric Thickness Tester
Before you buy Fabric Thickness Tester, you should first know the basics about textile thickness measurement, the test pressure settings, and the differences between the tests according to ISO 9073-2 and NWSP 120.6.R0 (15).
Thickness Testing in Nonwoven Materials
Definition of Nonwoven Thickness
Thickness of Nonwovens: The thickness of nonwoven fabrics is defined by the distance between the face and back of a nonwoven, measured as the distance between a reference plate on which the nonwoven rests and a parallel presser-foot that is applying a specified pressure to the material.
Thickness can be expressed in several different units and, as a rule are measured and expressed in mm, μm, or even mil. The thickness test is carried out at a constant pressure and this can range from 0.1 kPa up to 0.5 kPa for most nonwoven products.
Modern laboratories are employing the latest Non woven Thickness Gauge for the thickness test of nonwovens. The results obtained are repeatable, and the accuracy of the results are ±0.01 mm and better. This eliminates human error as far as possible.
How Thickness Relates to Nonwoven Structure
The nonwoven thickness really depends on the fiber fineness, web bonding method, bulk density, coating thickness, and also pore distribution.
High-loft, low-density structures show higher thickness values, while the compact calendared structures create lower thickness with higher density. In technical products such as filtration and medical nonwovens, it is highly essential to maintain the thickness balance and also the protection and absorption performance.
Some Related Terms
Bulk density is the mass per unit volume of a nonwoven, calculated from basis weight and thickness. Compressibility means the degree of thickness reduction under increased pressure, and loft refers to the fluffy, high-volume property of bulky nonwovens.
Why Thickness Consistency Affects Product Performance
The incorrect thickness value negatively affects absorption capacity, filtration efficiency, insulation performance, and compliance performance.
Why Nonwoven Thickness Testing Really Matters
Performance of Hygiene Nonwovens
The highly accurate thickness testing is critical in hygiene products because it determines how effectively the material absorbs and retains liquid, and how comfortable it feels against skin.
Consistent nonwoven thickness improves the absorption performance, reduces leakage risk, and also improves wearer comfort. The top sheet nonwovens normally target uniform thickness values to ensure consistent liquid transfer performance.
The Absorption and Comfort Optimization
The advanced testing helps manufacturers strike the right balance between thickness, softness, and absorption capacity, which is really essential for export-quality hygiene products.
The Medical and Protective Nonwovens
Medical nonwovens control the thickness so that barrier performance and breathability are balanced. Excess thickness may reduce breathability, while reduced thickness can compromise barrier protection.
The Thickness vs Barrier Balance
The Nonwoven Thickness Gauge systems use automatic pressure control to ensure highly consistent textile thickness measurement and improved testing consistency in coated and laminated nonwovens.
The Filtration and Industrial Nonwoven Applications
The filter media, geotextiles, and industrial nonwovens require controlled thickness to maintain the filtration efficiency and also structural stability. Consistent nonwoven thickness is really critical for the filtration performance and also safety compliance.
What Are The Differences Between ISO 9073-2 And NWSP 120.6.R0 (15)?
ISO 9073-2 vs NWSP 120.6.R0 (15)
The test for the textile thickness measurement is covered by two main standards, ISO 9073-2 Textiles — Test methods for nonwovens — Part 2: Determination of thickness and NWSP 120.6.R0 (15) Nonwoven Thickness.
The Overview of ISO 9073-2
Widely Used in Europe and Global Supply Chains
ISO 9073-2 is widely used as a standard by European apparel brands, hygiene product manufacturers, and technical nonwoven buyers. It is commonly applied to normal nonwovens, bulky nonwovens, and industrial nonwoven products.
The Standard Pressure Settings
The standard ISO thickness test provides multiple test methods: Method A for normal nonwovens at 0.5 kPa pressure, Method B for bulky nonwovens up to 20 mm thickness at low pressure, and results are expressed as thickness in mm or μm.
The Overview of NWSP 120.6.R0 (15)
The North American and Industry Preferred Standard
NWSP 120.6.R0 (15) is widely used as a standard in North America and the global nonwoven industry supply chains, particularly for hygiene, filtration, and industrial nonwoven testing.
The Standardized Test Conditions
NWSP 120.6.R0 (15) provides unified test procedures aligned with EDANA test methods, with specified pressure settings and sample preparation requirements for general nonwoven products.
How to Choose a Nonwoven Thickness Gauge
A nonwoven thickness gauge mainly depends on the lab workload, compliance requirements, and long-term performance.
The high-volume QA labs prefer the automatic systems because they improve the repeatability during thickness testing and also reduce dependency on the operator.
The Manual vs The Automatic Gauges
Digital thickness gauge for nonwovens automatically performs the pressure control, presser-foot recognition, and also real-time reporting, while the manual systems require frequent weight adjustments. The automatic systems improve testing speed and accuracy.
Maintaining Stable Pressure
The stable pressure of 0.5 kPa and other specified values is really crucial for ISO 9073-2 and also NWSP 120.6.R0 (15) compliance; the modern systems maintain high precision pressure control.
Conclusion
There are two test methods for the Nonwoven Thickness Gauge. Both methods test thickness of a test specimen, but there are considerable differences in the test pressures and test conditions for the two test methods and thus the results will be different and give different information.
Contact Us for a Free Demo or Consultation
For more information on nonwoven testing methods, standards, and textile testing machines, contact us for professional support.
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