IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF ONE OR MORE VAPOUR RETENTION/RELEASE CHARACTERISTICS OF A TEXTILE ITEM

摘要

In the field of testing there is a need for an improved method and apparatus for identifying one or more vapour retention/release characteristics of a textile item in a reliable and repeatable manner which is devoid of any subjective, human factors. A method of identifying one or more vapour retention/release characteristics of a textile item (14) comprises the steps of: placing the textile item (14) within a hollow chamber (12); introducing a volatile substance into the hollow chamber (12) whereby the item (14) retains at least a portion of the volatile substance; and detecting the presence of the volatile substance within the chamber (12) to identify a characteristic of the item. The foregoing steps may be carried out in any order. An apparatus, for identifying one or more vapour retention/release characteristics of a textile item, comprises at least one hollow chamber (12) for receiving the textile item (14) and a source (20) of a volatile substance. The hollow chamber (12) has an inlet (16) arranged in fluid communication with said volatile substance source (20) for selectively introducing the volatile substance to a textile item (14) received in said chamber (12) in order to cause the item (14) to retain at least a portion of the volatile substance. The hollow chamber (12) has an outlet (24) arranged in fluid communication with a detector (28) which is able to detect the presence of the volatile substance within the said chamber (12) in order to identify a characteristic of the item (14).