
Copyright © 2024 American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists
AATCC Manual of International Test Methods and Procedures/2025 AATCC TM193-2023 383
1. Purpose and Scope
1.1 This test method can be used to de-
termine the efficacy of a protective finish
that is capable of imparting a low energy
surface on all types of fabrics, by evaluat-
ing the fabric’s resistance to wetting by a
selected series of water/alcohol solutions
of different surface tensions.
2. Principle
2.1 Drops of standard test liquids,
consisting of a selected series of water/
alcohol solutions with varying surface
tensions, are placed on the fabric surface
and observed for wetting, wicking and
contact angle. The aqueous repellency
grade is the highest numbered test liquid
which does not wet the fabric surface.
(The scale ranges from zero to eight, with
a rating of eight signifying the most re-
pellent surface.)
3. Terminology
3.1 grade, n.—in textile testing, the
symbol for any step of a multi-step stan-
dard reference scale for a quality charac-
teristic.
NOTE: The grade is assigned to test
specimens exhibiting a degree of quality
comparable to that step of the standard.
3.2 aqueous repellency, n.—in tex-
tiles, the characteristic of a fiber, yarn or
fabric whereby it resists wetting by aque-
ous liquids.
4. Safety Precautions
NOTE: These safety precautions are
for information purposes only. The pre-
cautions are ancillary to the testing pro-
cedures and are not intended to be all
inclusive. It is the user’s responsibility to
use safe and proper techniques in han-
dling materials in this test method. Manu-
facturers MUST be consulted for specific
details such as material safety data sheets
and other manufacturer’s recommenda-
tions. All OSHA standards and rules
must also be consulted and followed.
4.1 Good laboratory practices should
be followed. Wear safety glasses and
impervious gloves when handling test
liquids in all laboratory areas.
4.2 The alcohol specified in this
method is flammable. Keep away from
heat, sparks and open flame. Use with ad-
equate ventilation. Avoid prolonged
breathing of vapor or contact with skin.
Do not ingest.
4.3 Exposure to chemicals used in this
procedure must be controlled at or below
levels set by governmental authorities
[e.g., Occupational Safety and Health
Administration’s (OSHA) permissible
exposure limits (PEL) as found in 29
CFR 1910.1000; see web site: www.
osha.gov for latest version]. In addition,
the American Conference of Govern-
mental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) compris-
ing time weighted averages (TLV-TWA),
short term exposure limits (TLV-STEL)
and ceiling limits (TLV-C) are recom-
mended as a general guide for air con-
taminant exposure which should be met
(see 12.1).
5. Uses and Limitations
5.1 This test method is not intended to
give an absolute measure of the resis-
tance of the fabric to staining by all aque-
ous materials. Other factors, such as
composition and viscosity of the aqueous
substances, fabric construction, fiber
type, dyes, other finishing agents, etc.,
also influence stain resistance. This test
can, however, provide a rough index of
aqueous stain resistance, in that generally
the higher the aqueous solution repel-
lency grade, the better resistance to stain-
ing by aqueous materials, especially liquid
aqueous substances. This is particularly
true when comparing various finishes for
a given fabric.
6. Apparatus and Materials (see 12.2)
6.1 Test liquids prepared and num-
bered according to Table IV.
6.2 Dropping bottles (see 12.3).
6.3 White AATCC Textile Blotting
Paper (see 12.4).
6.4 Laboratory gloves (general purpose
is sufficient).
7. Test Specimens
7.1 Test two specimens of the same
size from each sample. Specimen size
should be sufficient to allow for the com-
plete range of test liquids to be evaluated,
but shall be no smaller than 20 × 20 cm
(8×8 in.) and no larger than 20 × 40 cm
(8×16 in.). Specimens from sample to
sample should be the same size. Condi-
tion the test specimens for a minimum of
4 h at 21 ± 2C (70 ± 4F) and 65 ± 5% RH
prior to testing (see 12.5).
8. Procedure
8.1 Place the test specimen flat on the
white textile blotting paper on a smooth,
horizontal surface.
8.1.1 When evaluating open weave or
“thin” fabrics, conduct the test on at least
two layers of the fabric; otherwise, the
test liquid may wet the underlying sur-
face, not the actual test fabric, and
thereby cause confusion in the reading of
the results.
8.2 Wearing clean laboratory gloves,
brush the pile of napped or pile fabrics
lightly with your hand in the direction
giving the greatest lay of the surface prior
to placing the drops of the test liquid.
8.3 Beginning with the lowest-num-
bered test liquid (AATCC Aqueous Solu-
tion Test Grade Liquid No. 1), carefully
place small drops [approximately 5 mm
(0.19 in.) in diameter or 0.05 mL volume]
on the test specimen in three locations
along the filling direction. The drops
should be approximately 4.0 cm (1.5 in.)
apart. The dropper tip should be held at a
height of approximately 0.6 cm (0.25 in.)
from the fabric surface while placing
drops. DO NOT TOUCH THE FABRIC
WITH THE DROPPER TIP. Observe the
drops for 10 ± 2 s, from approximately a
45° angle.
8.4 If no penetration or wetting of the
fabric at the liquid-fabric interface and no
wicking around the drops occur, place
drops of the next higher-numbered test
liquid at an adjacent site on the fabric and
again observe for 10 ± 2 s.
8.5 Continue this procedure until one
of the test liquids shows obvious wetting
or wicking of the fabric under or around
the drop within 10 ± 2 s.
9. Evaluation
9.1 The AATCC Aqueous Solution Re-
pellency Grade of a fabric is the numeri-
cal value of the highest-numbered test
liquid which will not wet the fabric
within a period of 10 ± 2 s. A grade of
zero (0) is assigned when the fabric fails
the 98:2 water/isopropyl alcohol solution
test liquid. Wetting of the fabric is nor-
mally evidenced by a darkening of the
fabric at the liquid-fabric interface or
wicking and/or loss of contact angle of
the drop. On black or dark fabrics, wet-
ting can be detected by loss of “sparkle”
AATCC TM193-2023
Test Method for Aqueous Liquid Repellency:
Water/Alcohol Solution Resistance
Copyright AATCC International
Provided by Accuris under license with AATCC
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from Accuris Not for Resale, 2025-04-14 18:24:10 UTC
Sold to: Nawal Analytical Labs India Private limited
Order Number: 00015024