Overview
ISO 9073-6:2000 - Textiles - Test methods for nonwovens - Part 6: Absorption defines standardized laboratory procedures to evaluate how nonwoven fabrics behave in contact with liquids. The standard measures three distinct absorbency characteristics: liquid absorbency time, liquid absorptive capacity (LAC) and liquid wicking rate (capillarity). These test methods are intended for conventional nonwovens and explicitly exclude fabrics containing super‑absorbent materials.
Key topics and technical requirements
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Liquid absorbency time
- Measures time for a specimen to become completely wetted.
- Test uses a cylindrical wire basket containing a rolled sample which is dropped onto the liquid surface (drop height specified).
- Results reported as average absorbency time and standard deviation.
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Liquid absorptive capacity (LAC)
- Quantifies mass of liquid retained by a test piece after immersion and vertical drainage.
- Uses 100 × 100 mm test pieces (or stacked piles if needed); specified immersion and drain durations are used.
- LAC is expressed as percent liquid per unit mass of dry sample; test report must include surface tension and measurement method of the liquid.
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Liquid wicking rate (capillarity)
- Measures vertical capillary rise in a suspended specimen strip over time.
- Test pieces (e.g., 30 × 250 mm) are clamped vertically and rise is recorded at specified times (10 s, 30 s, 60 s, optionally 300 s).
- Results reported for machine and cross directions with averaged values and standard deviations; wicking curves can be plotted to evaluate rate behavior.
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Test reporting and conditioning
- Tests reference ISO 139 for conditioning and ISO 186 for sampling.
- Reports must identify sample details, test liquid, deviations from procedure and statistical summaries.
Applications and practical value
- Provides repeatable, comparable metrics for liquid handling performance of nonwovens used in:
- Hygiene products (wipes, pads, liners) - evaluating initial wetting and capillary transport
- Medical disposables (dressings, surgical drapes) - screening fluid uptake and distribution
- Industrial wipes and filtration media - assessing absorptive capacity and drainage behavior
- Product development and quality control - benchmarking manufacturing batches and materials
- Data from ISO 9073-6 help designers select fiber blends, bonding methods and fabric structures to achieve target absorbency and wicking performance.
Who should use this standard
- Nonwoven manufacturers and converters
- Textile testing laboratories and quality assurance teams
- R&D engineers in hygiene, medical and filtration sectors
- Regulatory and procurement professionals specifying material performance
Related standards
- Other parts of ISO 9073 (e.g., Part 1 mass per unit area, Part 2 thickness, Part 8 liquid strike‑through)
- ISO 139 (conditioning for testing)
- ISO 186 (sampling)
- ISO 565 (test sieve specification for gauze support)
Keywords: ISO 9073-6, nonwovens, absorption, liquid absorbency time, liquid absorptive capacity, LAC, wicking rate, capillarity, textile test methods.
