James Heal, the market leader in the design and manufacture of precision testing solutions and support services, has launched AirPro textile air permeability tester that can be used on a variety of applications, including performance apparel, medical textiles, PPE, infant products such as bedding, nonwovens, geotextiles and more. AirPro is a consistent and accurate Air Permeability tester used to test airflow resistance through woven, knitted, and nonwoven textile materials. It is supplied with TestWise software, making it intuitive and easy to use.
Air permeability is the measure of airflow passed through a given area of fabric. This parameter influences the thermal comfort properties of fabrics to a large extent. It is generally accepted that the air permeability depends on its air porosity, which in turn influences its openness. The concept of ‘air permeability is widely used in the textile industry to interpret the intrinsic characteristics of the fabric. Outdoor garment manufacturers, in particular, frequently employ this technical information to describe the functional performance of products.
The AirPro has the following features;
- Large illuminated testbed- AirPro’s illuminated testbed can accommodate large samples and is suitable for testing various materials and finished garments.
- TestWise software- The intuitive 7″ touchscreen and TestWise allow users to choose a pre-loaded standard or create their own. TestWise can detect the test area in use and warn the user if the wrong head is inserted. Test reports are easy to view and analyze on-screen and customized for export to Excel or PDF.
- Quick change test heads: A quick-release mechanism means changing test heads is quick and easy, speeding up lab testing with less downtime. Test heads can be changed without disconnecting the air supply or changing air pressure.
- Quality and availability of parts- Focussing on the quality of the parts used to make AirPro, the company used medical-grade valves (like those used in ventilators) to keep the airflow consistent, prolong its lifespan and maintain instrument performance. When replacements are needed, the process is easy and reasonably priced.
