TST Fiber Thermal Shrinkage Tester

Fibres are mounted on the sample cylinder under a pre-tension of 0.5cN per piece, applied by the tension clamp. The built-in industrial video camera, mounted on a multi-directional mechanical arm, scans each fibre position on the cylinder and measures the initial length of every specimen to ±0.01mm accuracy. After the thermal treatment cycle in the built-in oven is complete, the camera re-measures each fibre at the same positions. The software computes the length change for each specimen and calculates the shrinkage percentage, average shrinkage, and CV across the full batch automatically — with no manual measurement required at any stage.

The built-in precision oven has a settable temperature range from room temperature (RT) up to 250°C, covering the full range of dry-heat conditions specified by standard shrinkage test methods for polyester, nylon, and polypropylene fibres. The oven maintains the programmed temperature to within ±0.1°C throughout the treatment period. This level of accuracy is important because fibre shrinkage is highly sensitive to temperature: a deviation of even 1–2°C from the specified treatment temperature can introduce measurable bias into the shrinkage result, particularly for fibres tested close to characteristic transition temperatures.

Each sample cylinder can hold up to 36 individual fibre specimens simultaneously. Since two cylinders are supplied with the TST, the instrument can process up to 72 fibre measurements per test session when both cylinders are used in cross-testing mode. The high specimen count per cylinder is important for obtaining statistically meaningful shrinkage data: standard test methods typically require a minimum of 20 to 30 replicate specimens to characterise the average shrinkage and CV of a fibre lot reliably, and loading 36 specimens per cylinder ensures this requirement is met in a single run.

After measuring all fibres on the cylinder before and after thermal treatment, the TST software automatically calculates the individual shrinkage percentage for each fibre specimen, the average thermal shrinkage across the full batch, and the coefficient of variation (CV) of the batch. The CV is a key quality parameter in fibre production: a high CV indicates that some fibres shrink significantly more or less than the mean, pointing to process inconsistencies. No manual calculation or post-test data entry is required — all values are displayed on-screen and included in the printable or exportable test report.

The TST is supplied with two sample cylinders mounted on a revolving plate. While one cylinder is inside the oven undergoing the thermal treatment cycle, the operator can load a fresh set of fibre specimens onto the second cylinder on the outside position. Once treatment is complete and the camera has completed its post-heat measurement scan, the revolving plate positions the pre-loaded cylinder for its initial measurement, and the cycle restarts without the instrument sitting idle between batches. The software tracks both cylinders independently and associates the correct pre- and post-treatment length data for each.

The TST operates on 220V or 110V at 50/60Hz — the appropriate voltage variant should be specified at the time of order to match the local supply. In addition to electrical power, the instrument requires a compressed air supply in the range of 0.4 to 0.8 MPa to operate the pneumatic components of the mechanical arm and tension clamp system. The instrument is available in two weight configurations — 70kg and 140kg gross weight — reflecting different model configurations. Installation should be planned to accommodate the compressed air connection and provide adequate bench or floor space for the chosen configuration.

Yes. The TST software supports two reporting outputs: the test report can be printed directly from the connected computer, providing a hard-copy record suitable for QC files and shipment documentation; or it can be exported to Excel format, which allows the raw data, individual shrinkage values, average, and CV to be saved to a spreadsheet for further analysis, trending, or integration into a laboratory information management system. The straightforward software interface is designed to minimise the learning curve for laboratory operators, and the export function requires no additional software beyond standard Microsoft Excel.