FEBRUARY 99

RUN-OFF
152.0-99

RECOMMENDED TEST METHOD: NONWOVENS RUN-OFF

1 SCOPE

This test method is to measure the amount of test liquid (simulated urine) which runs down
a nonwoven test piece when a specified mass of test liquid is poured on the nonwoven test
piece superimposed on a standard absorbent medium and placed on an inclined plane.

This test method is designed to compare run-off of nonwovens. It is not intended to simulate
in use conditions for finished products.

2 DEFINITION

For the purpose of this ERT, the following definitions apply:

- the run-off is the amount of excess liquid in g that runs from the test piece,
- the percent run-off is the percent of the original mass of liquid which runs from the test
piece.

3 TESTING CONDITIONS

Condition the samples of nonwoven and the filter papers to be used as the standard
absorbent pad for 24 h and test at 23ºC and 50 % relative humidity or, if not, at 20ºC and 65
% relative humidity; test conditions are to be mentioned in the report (see ERT 60 for
tolerances and choice of conditions).

4 RECOMMENDED METHOD

ISO 9073-11 (draft) Textiles – Test methods for nonwovens -

Run-off test

Note: for testing conditions specified in ISO 9073 - 11 (draft), refer to ERT 60.

The present ERT includes 3 alternative methods:

- The basic method for testing hydrophilic nonwovens (5)

- The repeated test, with the same test parameters as in 5
- The modified method for testing hydrophobic nonwovens specifying another table
inclination than in 5.

This is based on methods largely used by the industry.

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5 BASIC METHOD FOR TESTING HYDROPHILIC NONWOVENS

5.1 PRINCIPLE

A specified quantity of simulated urine is discharged at a prescribed rate under specified

conditions onto a test piece of nonwoven which is superimposed on a standard absorbent
medium and placed on an inclined table. Any excess liquid that runs down the test piece is
collected by a standard receiver pad placed below the lower end of the nonwoven test piece.

The run-off measures the mass of liquid collected by the standard receiver pad.

5.2 MATERIAL AND REAGENTS

5.2.1 Standard absorbent medium, consisting of 2 layers of reference filter paper, (140 ± 1)
mm x (275 ±1) mm, with the longer side in the MD.
Filter paper characteristics:
- Mass per unit area = (124 ± 6) g/m² ;
- LAC = ( 480 ± 30) %;
- STT = (3 ± 0.5) s, e.g. ERT FF3 filter paper supplied by
Hollingsworth & Vose Company Ltd.

LAC is the liquid absorptive capacity measured according to ERT 10 ;

STT is the strike-through time measured without the nonwoven test piece according
to ERT 150.

The filter papers are placed smooth/test sides up. (The smooth/test side is
determined and indicated by the producer label, it is generally the side in contact with
the conveyor wire during the production process, where the wire mark may be visible).

5.2.2 Standard receiver pad: absorbing paper (same dimensions as the absorbent medium)
to collect excess test liquid that runs down the test piece, e.g. 2 layers of filter papers
or similar.

Note: the receiver pad can be replaced by a receiver trough (see 7.3)

5.2.3 Simulated urine, consisting of a 9 g/l solution of sodium chloride in distilled water with
a surface tension of (70 ± 2) mN/m.
This surface tension should be checked before each series of tests, as surface can
alter tension during storage.

5.3 APPARATUS

5.3.1. Run-off table of acrylic glass or similar as shown in figure 1:

1) Table marked with two reference black lines at (250 ± 0,2) mm distance (see figure
2):
- the lower line, (3 ± 0,2) mm from the lower end of the table, defines the
position of the lower end of the absorbent medium;
- the upper line defines the position of the discharge tube axis (approximately
25 mm from the upper end of the test piece).
2) Table inclination 25º.
3) Clip or similar with symmetrical reference marks at (140 ± 0,2) mm (to adjust the
axial position of the test piece).
4) Spirit level (to ensure axial discharge of the tube).
5) Support for placing the standard receiver pad below the lower end of the test piece.
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5.3.2 Glass tube, internal diameter 5 mm.

5.3.3 Ring stand.

5.3.4 Dosing equipment capable of delivering (25 ± 0,5) g mass of test liquid in a continuous
stream via the glass tube within (4 ± 0,1) s, e.g. either a funnel, or a syringe with a
motorized syringe drive unit, or a hydraulic pump or an other pressurized system, leak
free attached to the tube.

Note: If dosing device graduation is expressed in volume (ml), calculate the liquid
density for converting g to ml.

5.3.5 Timer, capable of measuring 60 s to an accuracy of 0,1 s.

5.3.6 Analytical balance, capable of determining a mass of 30 g to an accuracy of 0,01g.

5.3.7 Rigid 25º angle template.

5.4 PROCEDURE

5.4.1 Cut a minimum of 5 test pieces of the nonwoven, (140 ± 2) mm x (280 ± 2) mm, with
the longest side in machine direction (MD), according to ERT 130.

5.4.2 Adjust the angle of the table inclination to 25º ± 10'.

5.4.3 Use the spirit level to ensure the top edge of the table is horizontal.

5.4.4 Set the dosing equipment for a discharge of (25 ± 0,5) g in (4 ± 0,1) s.

Note: Verify regularly that the specified mass of liquid is being delivered by
performing the following test:
Hold under the glass tube a clean dry pre-weighed cylinder capable of
containing (25 ± 0,5) g of liquid, activate the timer, collect and weigh the test
liquid dispensed. If the mass dispensed is outside the limits (25 ± 0,5) g,
adjust the flow, e.g. by modifying the speed of the motor using the pump
control box, and repeat the test. Continue testing and adjusting until at least
three successive collections are within the specified limits.

5.4.5 Position the ring stand and the glass tube vertically with the outlet about 27 mm above
the table, at the center of the upper reference line.

5.4.6 Place the standard absorbent medium on the table with the filter papers' smooth/test
sides up, just covering the lower reference line and adjust its axial position.

5.4.7 Pick up the test piece from the corners in order to avoid the contamination of the test
area.

5.4.8 Place the nonwoven test piece, test side up, on the absorbent medium so that the
nonwoven is (5 ±1) mm longer than the filter paper at the lower end.

5.4.9 Fix the absorbent medium and nonwoven with the clip centered between axial position
marks.

5.4.10 Adjust the vertical distance between the glass tube and the test piece to (25 ± 1) mm.

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5.4.11 Weigh the standard receiver pad with an accuracy of 0,01 g and record the mass
(W1).

5.4.12 Place the receiver pad on its support.

5.4.13 Start the discharge of test liquid.

5.4.14 Wait for 5 s after the discharge is completed.

5.4.15 Weigh the standard receiver pad with the collected run-off liquid and record the mass
(W2) to an accuracy of 0,01 g.

5.4.16 Make sure the run-off table is completely dry before placing the next test piece and
new absorbent medium on it.

5.4.17 Repeat the run-off test steps 5.4.4 to 5.4.16 for the remaining test pieces.

5.5 EXPRESSION OF THE RESULTS

For each of the test pieces, calculate the run-off:

RO = W 2 - W1 (in g)
__
Average the run-off: RO (to the nearest 0,01 g) and calculate the standard deviation.

If requested, using this average, calculate the percent run-off:

RO
%RO = ×100 (to the nearest 0,1%)
25

5.6 REPORT

The test report shall include the following information:

a) Type of material tested.

b) Individual run-off in g.

c) Average run-off and standard deviation in g.

d) Percent run-off in %, if requested.

e) Any deviation from the standard procedure.

5.7 ANNEX

For R&D purposes, other characteristics could be measured, or some parameters could be
modified e.g.:

- When zero run-off is observed, the length of the wetted surface ("spread length") could
be measured.
The spread length is the distance measured from the upper reference line to the point
where the last drop enters the test piece.
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- Time to penetrate could also be recorded.

For comparison purpose, the starting and end points of the time measurement are
specified:

Start the timer at the first contact of the liquid with the test piece, stop when the last drop
enters the test piece.

- Various table inclinations or discharge tube angles could be used.

6 REPEATED TEST

6.1 PRINCIPLE

The principle is the same as described in the basic method (5) but the same test piece is
consecutively submitted 3 times to the same test with the same amount of test solution at
each discharge.

The run-off is measured after each test in order to evaluate the performance consistency of
the nonwoven after repeated tests.

6.2 MATERIAL AND REAGENTS

Material and reagents are identical to 5.2 except that 3 sets of standard absorbent medium
and 3 sets of standard receiver pad instead of 1 set are necessary.

6.3 APPARATUS

Identical to 5.3

6.4 PROCEDURE

6.4.1 Cut a minimum of 5 test pieces of the nonwoven, (140 ± 2) mm x (280 ± 2) mm, with
the longer side in machine direction (MD), according to ERT 130.

6.4.2 Adjust the angle of the table inclination to 25º ± 10'.

6.4.3 Use the spirit level to ensure the top edge of the table is horizontal.

6.4.4 Set the dosing equipment for a discharge of (25 ± 0,5) g in (4 ± 0,1) s (see note 5.4.4).

6.4.5 Position the ring stand and the glass tube vertically with the outlet about 27 mm above
the table, at the center of the upper reference line.

6.4.6 Prepare the 3 sets of standard absorbent medium on a desk besides the table.

6.4.7 Place the standard absorbent medium on the table with the filter papers smooth/test
sides up, just covering the lower reference line and adjust its axial position.

6.4.8 Pick up the test piece from the corners in order to avoid the contamination of the test
area.

6.4.9 Place the nonwoven test piece, test side up, on the absorbent medium so that the
nonwoven is (5 ± 1) mm longer than the filter paper in the lower end.

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6.4.10 Fix the absorbent medium and nonwoven with the clip centered between axial position
marks.

6.4.11 Adjust the vertical distance between the glass tube and the test piece to (25 ± 1) mm.

6.4.12 Weigh the standard receiver pad with an accuracy of 0,01 g and record the mass (W 1).

6.4.13 Place the receiver pad on its support.

6.4.14 Start the discharge of test liquid.

6.4.15 Wait for 5 s after the discharge is completed.

6.4.16 Weigh the standard receiver pad with the collected run-off liquid and record the mass
(W2) to an accuracy of 0,01 g.

6.4.17 Wait for 4 minutes between the step 6.4.14 and the step 6.4.18.

6.4.18 Remove the nonwoven test piece and place it on a fresh absorbent medium already
prepared.

6.4.19 Remove the wet standard absorbent medium.

6.4.20 Make sure the run-off table is completely dry before each test.

6.4.21 Repeat the run-off test two more times with 25 g test liquid at each discharge on the
same nonwoven test piece, each time with a fresh absorbent medium.
i.e. - for the 2nd test repeat steps 6.4.4 and 6.4.7 to 6.4.20
- for the 3rd test repeat steps 6.4.4 and 6.4.7 to 6.4.16

6.4.22 Repeat the steps 6.4.3 to 6.4.21 for the remaining test pieces.

6.5 EXPRESSION OF THE RESULTS

For each of the test pieces, calculate the run-off (in g):

- 1st test RO1 = W21 - W11

- 2nd test RO2 = W22 - W12
- 3rd test RO3 = W23 - W13

Average the run-off for the 5 test pieces:

RO1,RO2,RO3 (to the nearest 0,01 g)

and calculate the standard deviation.

If requested, using these averages, calculate the following percent run-off:

___ ___ ___
%RO1, %RO2, %RO3 (to the nearest 0,1 %)

ROi
with %ROi = × 100
25

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6.6 REPORT

The test report shall include the following information:

a) Type of material tested.

b) For each test piece, individual run-off measured in tests nº 1, 2, 3 in g.

c) Average run-off for tests nº 1, 2, 3 (in g) or percent run-off for tests nº 1, 2, 3 (in %) and
standard deviation.

d) Any deviation from the standard procedure.

7 MODIFIED METHOD FOR TESTING HYDROPHOBIC NONWOVENS

7.1 PRINCIPLE

The principle is the same as described in the basic method. The only modified parameter is
the inclination of the table.

The test method is designed to measure the repellency of hydrophobic nonwovens.

7.2 MATERIAL AND REAGENTS

Identical to 5.2

7.3 APPARATUS

Identical to 5.3 except the inclination of the table: 10º ±10' instead of 25º ± 10'.
Note: Instead of a standard receiver pad to collect liquid that runs down (as specified in
5.2.2), a collecting trough can be used for testing highly hydrophobic nonwovens. The
trough can be placed on the balance to allow direct measurement.
The collecting trough length should be 20 mm longer than the width (180 mm) of the
table.

7.4 PROCEDURE

Identical to 5.4

7.5 EXPRESSION OF THE RESULTS

Identical to 5.5

Note: (1) When using a collecting trough, instead of 5.4.11 and 5.4.15, read:
7.4.11 Weigh the collecting trough, record the mass (W 1) and place it on its
support.
7.4.15 Weigh the collecting trough containing the run off liquid and record the
mass (W 2).

(2) As an alternative or for checking the results from the above-mentioned procedure,
collect and weigh the absorbent medium before and after the test.

7.6 REPORT

Identical to 5.6

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 Figure 1 - Run-off Apparatus
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 Figure 2 - Run-off table
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