Lincoln (Neb.) - Nov. 18, 1997 - The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has become the first university in the Great Plains region to establish a Textile Testing Service to help industry and consumers analyze fabrics. The service is intended to aid product development and performance and conservation of heirloom and museum textiles.
Cabela's, the national outdoor clothing and outfitting company based in Sidney, and the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in Lincoln are two of the first companies to use the service, which include testing for colorfastness, fiber composition and construction, flammability and weather- related tests. Physical examinations of fabric include tests of fabric strength, wrinkle recovery, abrasion resistance, appearance and dimensional change.
The service, which uses existing lab space and equipment, has been offered for about six months through the university's department of textiles, clothing and design. The lab also does independent testing for consumers and others, said Carol Easley, one of two lab managers for the program.
"Our service is excellent and our fees are competitive," she said. "We provide independent and objective evaluations. Our hope is to provide a service to businesses at a reasonable fee that allow us to be self- sufficient."
The Textile Testing Service will contact businesses regarding establishment of the lab, its services and fees, she said, noting no other such university-affiliated service exists in the central United States.
The lab evaluates textiles in accordance with national and international testing standards by using established methods, said Lisa Woeppel, lab manager. Fees for services range from $15 for basic tests, such as determining impact resistance and how buttons will maintain on a fabric to $100 for more complicated matters, such as evaluating garment appearance after five washings.
The Textile Testing Service also will aid with the identification and dating of thread for historical textiles for the International Quilt Study Center on East Campus. Other requests for laboratory services have come from a Minnesota company regarding disposable diaper protection. The lab also has performed work regarding ultraviolet protection for fabrics for a Kansas City company.
Cabela's sought the lab's assistance in several tests,
including one to determine "crocking" or whether color from
one fabric would transfer to another worn beneath it. The
lab also has conducted verification tests on rayon yarns for
hoses and tubing supplied to Goodyear by another company,
Easley said.
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