International Journal of Engineering Sciences, 2(8) August 2013, Pages: 373-379

TI Journals
ISSN
2306-6474

International Journal of Engineering Sciences

www.tijournals.com

Development of the Water Absorbing-Drying Property Evaluation

Method of Fabric by NIR Spectral Image Measurement System
Shouhei Koyama *1, Mika Morishima 2, Yuki Miyauchi 3, Hiroaki Ishizawa 4
1,2,4
3

Faculty of textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Japan.

Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Japan.

AR TIC LE INF O

AB S TR AC T

Keywords:

Water absorbing-drying property evaluation is very important in the textile products. We have developed
a measurement system using near-infrared camera and LED light source to evaluate these characteristics.
The characteristics of this system is unaffected by thermal radiation, can be measured without the use of
dye. In addition, the characteristics of water absorbing-drying property of textile can be measured in time
series change and image evaluation. By these characteristics, we were able to evaluate the absorbingdrying property more concrete in this measurement system. Therefore, we propose this measurement
system as a new absorbing-drying property evaluation method of textile.

Water characteristic
Near infrared spectroscopy
Spectral image measurement system
Fabric
Water diffusion area
Water additional diffusion area

2013 Int. j. eng. sci. All rights reserved for TI Journals.

1.

Introduction

New fiber has been developed by the evolution of science and technology. Using these new fibers, the textile products more functional has
been developed and marketed. In particular, the attract features is the water absorbing-drying property. The water absorbing-drying
property of textile products, there are water-absorbing, water repellency, drying, water transfer characteristics, etc. The representative
examples of products that emphasize these characteristics are underwear, cloth towels, sportswear, and so on. The water absorbing-drying
property evaluation is essential when these products will be developed because the effect of clothing material is large [1-3]. Therefore, a
uniform standard of absorbing-drying property evaluation method have been established [4-7]. The advantage of this standard is very
easily, but has poor reproducibility and also the problem of individual differences because it is a visual evaluation. In addition,
measurement of textile products which have very good water absorption is difficult.
To solve this problem, the study of the water absorbing-drying property evaluation method has been carried out in a variety laboratory and
university. When evaluating the water absorbing-drying property of textile products, we have to measure the how to absorb and dry water
by the textile product [8-9]. Therefore, the visual evaluation of dissolved to the dye in water have been proposed. By this measurement
method may be affected by dye, be desirable to evaluate when the water absorbing-drying property is not use anything other than the water.
Also, if you use a digital camera or video camera, cannot accurately assess the water absorbing-drying property by textile colors and prints.
In this study, we developed a spectral image system using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, we evaluate the water absorbing-drying
property of fabric products. This measuring system is measured by NIR spectral image to time series, and, we evaluate the water absorbingdrying property from the measuring image information in the difficult parameters in the visual evaluation such as the water diffusion area
(WDA), the water additional diffusion area (WADA). In this paper, we report a case of applying the specifications and measurement
system, the highly versatile textile products, we considered the possibility of water absorbing-drying property of textile products.

2.

Measurement method

2.1 NIR spectroscopy

We should be measured without destroying the products, when we measure the textile products. In addition, we should not be a preprocessing, and should not to damage the product. We use an electromagnetic wave in order to clear these conditions. Many textile
products are composed of organic material. Therefore, we use the NIR light which does not damage the organic material. Water has a
wavelength band that absorbs NIR light. In this study, have been using NIR spectroscopy. NIR light is absorbed at a wavelength specific
for each organic material. Further, the amount of absorbed in the NIR light is proportional to the amount of organic matter. From this
characteristic, if it measured in absorption wavelength whether there is the molecule, we can know by the detected light intensity.
To evaluate the water absorbing-drying property of the textile, it is measured at a wavelength which has differential absorption of NIR light
to water and textiles. NIR light is absorbed in where there is water, on the other hand, NIR light is reflected by the textile product in where
there is no water. From these, the presence of water can be measured because the difference of light intensity appears to gradation pixel of
the detected image.
* Corresponding author.
Email address: shouhei@shinshu-u.ac.jp

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2.2 NIR spectral image measurement system

NIR spectral image measurement system developed in this study is shown in Fig.1. NIR spectral image system is composed of NIR light
source, NIR image camera, filters, and sample holder. NIR camera (Electro Physics corp. Micron Viewer 7290A-06) with sensitivity in the
400nm ~ 2200nm wavelength has been placed next to the NIR light source. To NIR camera is installing lens and visible light cut filter (cutoff wavelength: 600nm) for image measurement [10-11]. The sample is placed inside the electronic balance (SARTORIUS: CP225D) to
measure the water weight in the textile products. NIR light from the light source is irradiated to the textile products of sample, and to be
detected into the NIR camera to diffusion reflection light from the sample through the filter.

Figure 1. NIR spectral image measurement system

At this time, if the detection wavelength of the NIR camera which is not absorbed by water and absorbed by sample, is set. The presence of
water can be measured by the brightness in the image. The detected light is obtained as an image of 640 480 pixels on a PC. This image is
analyzed by multi-functional general-purpose image analysis software (LIBRARY, Cosmos32) and concentration displacement
measurement software (LIBRARY, Gray-val). NIR spectral image is detected as a grayscale image is represented by a brightness value of
256 gradations. To analyze the water diffusion on textile products to these images, the image calculating processing and the median filter
processing and the image thresholding are performed in three stages. Every images are measured in the time series, included also the noise
information in the initial state before dropping of water in addition to water diffusion information. The image calculating processing is a
process for removing noise from the initial state information. Measuring NIR spectral images (Fig.2-B) are shown in order as I1, I2, I3 , ... ,
In. In addition, the image of the initial state (standard image, Fig.2-C) is shown as Iref . In the image calculating processing, took the
difference between a reference image from the measuring NIR image as shown in equation. The calculating image I mn (Fig.2-A) by this
equation is obtained.

I mn I n I ref

(A)

( n 1,2,3, , n )

(B)

(C)

Figure 2. Various NIR images used in image analysis. (A: Operation image, B: Measuring image, C: Reference image)

Next, we do a median filter processing to this calculating image. In the median filter processing, 9 pixels be arranged by pixel gradation in
the 33 pixels area, choose the value of its fifth to pixel gradation of the center pixel in this 33 area. The noise pixel of differ materially
from the ambient in the calculating image remove by this process. Thereafter, this image is transformed to image thresholding. In the image
thresholding, set the threshold in gradation pixel of the image, gradation pixel smaller than the threshold value is black, gradation pixel
bigger than the threshold value is white. We use the total of black pixels as the WDA.
2.3 Samples
In measurement samples, we use plain and pile fabrics of cotton. Table 1 shows the detailed information of these samples. The size of the
sample measurement is 100mm 100mm. The sample is placed on a stand of the O-ring having a diameter of 80mm, a height of 10mm.
The sample stage is used to prevent contact of the sample with the bottom surface. Water is dropped into the center of the sample. The
dropping amount of water by the micropipette is 50l. In addition, as a basic measurement conditions, the measurement time is 3600
seconds, the image measurement time interval is 6 seconds, the measurement time interval of the water weight is 30 seconds.

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Table 1. Samples

Sample
Plain
Pile

3.

Warp
30
16

Yarn counts (s)

Weft
36
20

Pile
--20

Density (picks/inch)
Warp
Weft
28
27
24
14

Pile ratio
--6.5

Development of NIR spectral image measurement system

3.1 Selection of the measurement wavelength

In order to evaluate the water absorbing-drying property of textile products by the NIR imaging cameras, there is a need to find a NIR
wavelength band with a big difference in absorbance of water and textile products. Fig.3 shows the NIR spectra of water and cotton by NIR
spectrophotometer. A difference of the absorbance is seen in water and other samples at 1450nm wavelength range from Fig.3. Fig.4 shows
the measurement images which before and after the water dropped to the cotton fabric when using the 1450nm band pass filter. Water in
the fabric is measured to the black by Fig.4, water diffusion can be measured clearly. Therefore, we use a light source which irradiated with
light of this wavelength band.

Figure 3. NIR spectra of cotton and water

3.2 Impact on the water absorbing-drying property by the thermal radiation of the light source
There are several kind light source that emits NIR light of 1450nm. We focused on the halogen lamp and LED lighting. Should be aware of
when using water absorbing-drying property of textile products is the impact by heat. If there is a thermal impact by the light source, cannot
accurately measure the water absorbing-drying property. Therefore, we will investigate the effects of heat by above light source against the
sample. Sample stage fitted with a cotton cloth on the electronic balance is placed. We drop the water on the cotton fabric, and measure
every 30 seconds until 0mg. At this time, we have measured in three conditions (the natural drying, LED surface lighting using, halogen
lamps using).
Fig.4 shows the change over time of these times [12]. By Fig.4, the water weight of when the natural drying and when using LED surface
lighting indicate a value very close. On the other hand, the water weight when using the halogen lamp is dry faster than natural drying.
Halogen lamp is affecting the water weight in the sample. Time of until the 0mg weight of the water when using LED surface lighting is
2310 seconds, when natural drying is 2400 seconds. By these results, LED surface lighting does not have radiate heat, there is no impact on
the water absorbing-drying property. Therefore, we use LED surface lighting (KLV, LM8C50X58-20IR) which irradiated with light of this
wavelength band as a light source.

Figure 4. The changes over time of water weight to differences in light source

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Fig.5 shows the before and after measurement image of dropping water on cotton using the LED surface lighting. The WDA in the textile
product can see from these images. Therefore, since it can be measured in time series in the NIR imaging camera, we can know how to
move water in textile products.

Before

After

Figure 5. Measurement images of before and after the water dripping using 1450nm band pass filter

4.

Water absorbing-drying property evaluation of fabric by development system

4.1 Relationship of water weight and water diffusion area

We dropped water against the pile fabric and the cotton fabric, and have measured the water absorbing-drying property by the developed
system. The changes over time in the WDA and water weight in cotton fabric and pile fabric are shown in Fig.6. In the Fig.6, the WDA is
similar to changes over time in water weight. When water is dropping water to cotton, the water is immediately penetrated into the inside of
sample. The max time WDA is 102 seconds. The correlation coefficient of these changes over time is 0.98 in the water weight and WDA.
On the other hand, the WDA spread gradually up to 360 seconds in the pile fabric, and then it continues to remain at about the same area.
However, the water weight is decreasing, which is materially different from WDA. By this result, the WDA does not reflect the water
weight.

10 sec

600 sec
Plain fabric

3600 sec

10 sec

600 sec
Pile fabric

3600 sec

Figure 6. The changes over time of water weight and WDA in plain and pile fabric, and NIR images at a certain time
(Up: Measuring images, Bottom: Binary images)

We consider the cause of such results. Relationship between image luminance value and water content is shown in Fig.7. By Fig.7, the
relative luminance value is reduced linearly as the water content increases in the NIR light of 1450nm absorbed by the water. That is, the
information amount of water is contained in the luminance value of a so-called image relative brightness value. Image turns black as the
water content increases. Analysis method of the present study is an image thresholding by a certain threshold. The pixel brightness greater
than a threshold are treated as pixels in the same. Brightness value information is not derived by the image thresholding. Therefore, the
information of the amount of water (i.e. brightness value information) is discarded by analysis method of the present study. In the pile
fabric, since measurement image is taken from the direction perpendicular of the sample, if water is drying from the pile which is left in the
ground yarn, the same image is taken. Consequently, the water weight is changing, on the contrary, the WDA is not changing. This is the
reason why there is the large error in the pile fabric measurement. To improve the error, we change the analysis method.

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Figure 7. Relationship between image brightness and moisture percentage

4.2 Relationship of water weight and water additional diffusion area

Analysis method is changed from Section 4.1. The threshold will be added in stages by each 2, and takes each image thresholding. Pixel
number which determined in black by each image thresholding is added, then, the value obtained by doubling the total value is
calculated. This calculated value is used as the WADA. The changes over time in the WADA and water weight are shown in Fig8. Fig.8-A
shows the changes over time results in a plain fabric, and Fig.8-B shows the results in a pile fabric. The changes over time of water weight
and WADA is treated as a function, cross-correlation of each will be calculated. The correlation coefficient was 0.96 in the plain cloth,
which is 0.82 in the pile fabric. WADA reflects the water weight from these results. Therefore, you can know the water absorbing-drying
property of the fabrics by analysis to the water weight from WADA, and the remaining place of the water from the WDA.

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th
10 sec

600 sec
Plain fabric

3600 sec

10 sec

600 sec
Pile fabric

3600 sec

Figure 8. The changes over time of water weight and WADA in plain and pile fabric, and Binary images at a certain time
(1st: Threshold 6, 2nd: Threshold 10, 3rd: Threshold 20, 4th: Threshold 30, 5th: Threshold 40)

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4.3 Water absorbing-drying property evaluation by WAD and WADA

We will examine water absorbing-drying property of fabric from two measurements of the WDA and WADA. Fig.9 shows the results of
WDA and WADA in the plain and pile fabric. The WDA is the maximum area in 102 seconds, after that, it decreases at a slope similar to
the WADA. From the above results, the water in plain fabric spread to the warp and weft direction between about 2 minutes from dropping.
Then, it is considered that the WDA and the WADA to be reduced in the same way since diffused water continue to evaporate from the end
surface.

(A) Pain fabric

(B) Pile fabric

Figure 9. The results of WDA and WADA in the plain fabric

Fig.9-B shows the measurement result in the pile fabric. From Fig.9-B, the water in the pile fabric spreads slowly until 360 seconds later,
and it became a state nearly identical then. However, WADA is decreasing gradually. We are considered that water is evaporating from the
direction perpendicular against the fabric so-called pile yarn. Because the WDA is unchanged, the WADA has decreased. On the other
hand, the WDA of the pile is less than in the plain cloth when dropped the same amount of water. In the case of a sample of the same size,
pile fabric can absorb more water than plain cloth. Pile fabric has excellent absorbency. In addition, for slope of drying the water is small,
we can know from this result that the pile is not good drying properties. Therefore, the characteristic of the respectively fabric are derived
from the measured data in the developed system. From the above, we can measure the water absorbing-drying property in the new
parameters by the developed system.

5.

Conclusion

We build a measurement system to evaluate in the changes over time to the water absorbing-drying property of textile products there was no
precedent until now, various samples were measured. The measuring system is not affected by heat from the NIR light. There is no
influence of individual difference in this measurement system, since not a visual evaluation. The WDA and the AWDA are measured in this
measurement system, we have measured the movement information of water in the sample. These are very important parameters to measure
the textile products, and which is a great advantage of this measurement system. We can evaluate in new parameter, How to absorb the
water of sample, How to diffuse the water in sample and How to dry the water of sample. In addition, it is also possible to be in visual
evaluation, where the water is diffused, because it is measured by the image. In this paper, we use a sample of 100mm square for the
experiment, we can set the sample stage directly without destroying the textile products. This measurement method is very simple, since
only measure by setting the fiber product in the sample stage.
As future work, it is evaluation in material other than cotton, and evaluation in variety textile products such as yarn, fiber, knitting,
nonwoven fabric. In addition, it is necessary to perform the evaluation in the textile weave other than the plain fabric. When considered
from the NIR spectroscopy, cannot be measured if the sample have strong absorption peak in 1450nm. But, this sample also can be
measured if there is a wavelength that has large difference in absorbance with a between the sample and water. As all the above, we
propose that there is great potential for this measurement system as the new water absorbing-drying property measurement method of
textile products.

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Internat ional Jour nal of Engineeri ng Science s, 2(8) Au gust 2013

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