ISO 5077 Textiles - Determination of Dimensional Change in Washing and Drying

The ISO 5077 standard, developed by the International Standards Organization (ISO), defines a test method for determining the dimensional change of fabrics, garments or other textile products when subjected to an appropriate combination of specified washing and drying procedures. In the case of textiles or deforming materials, the greatest possible care must be exercised in interpreting the results. The atmospheric conditions required for conditioning and testing are described in the ISO 139 standard.

While testing, the sample is conditioned in the specified standard atmosphere and dimensions are measured before it is subjected to appropriate washing and drying procedures. It is then washed in detergent-treated water at a certain temperature and under controlled conditions. The test sample is then dried, remeasured and changes in dimensions calculated.

This test method is intended to determine the dimensional stability of fabrics and clothing to water washing in a laboratory wash testing machine. The method can be applied to all fabrics and fabric samples cut from clothing.

In the textile industry, sagging, stretching and loss of form are known as dimensional instability, and these properties are factors that are considered in terms of quality when producing fabrics and a textile-based product.

Through industry-focused standards developed by international organizations, specialized dimensional stability tests have been designed to evaluate how fabrics and garments behave under finely tuned conditions. A comprehensively tested fabric or garment should withstand the following tests:

• Curvature, twist, torque tests. These tests are intended to determine the detwisting of fabric after machine washing.
• Shrinkage, wrinkle tests. These tests are intended to determine the shrinkage or deformation of the fabric after machine washing for both warp knitting and weft knitting.
• Stretch and return tests. These tests are intended to determine whether the fabric has stretch and rebound properties after machine washing.

Among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors, our organization also provides test services for the determination of the size change of textile products in washing and drying, within the scope of ISO 5077 standard, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.