THE TMC TEST METHOD 

The Quantification of Fibre Release from Fabrics During Domestic Laundering

Why test?

Testing for fibre fragmentation enables organisations to:

  • Identify the fabric characteristics contributing to high-shedding.

  • Target development to create fabrics with reduced shedding.

  • Understand the shedding behaviour of specific fabrics.

The Microfibre Consortium (TMC) Test Method

What you can expect:

Accurate

Reliable

Reproducible

Practical

Scalable

Accessible

The method:

It is designed to help identify the root causes of fibre loss and inform solutions for reducing environmental impact.

It enables consistent and comparative analysis across various textile types.

The TMC Test Method simulates domestic laundering conditions to quantify fibre shedding from the initial wash.

The process:

1.

The TMC Test Method uses gravimetric analysis to quantify fibre loss. A more scalable alternative to fibre-counting techniques.

2.

Gravimetric analysis measures the total mass of fibres shed, but it does not distinguish between fibre types.

3.

During testing, fabric samples are washed using a Gyrowash device, a machine which replicates the motion and agitation of a washing machine.

4.

The resulting wash liquor is filtered, and the residue is weighed to determine fibre loss.

5.

Eight specimens per fabric type are tested, and their results are averaged to determine the mean fibre loss (g/kg) for that fabric.

Aligned test methods to measure fibre fragmentation:

Using a harmonised test method is critical to remove variables related to washing conditions, enabling fabric-to-fabric comparisons. There are a number of methods closely aligned to the TMC Test Method:

  • AATCC TM212-2021 is a standardised method developed by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) to determine the fibres released from fabric specimens during the initial washing phase by simulating laundering. This method is most commonly recognised in the U.S and is aligned with the TMC Test Method and ISO 4484-1 as it follows the same general procedure, but requires only four specimens per test. This method offers the option to use a standardised detergent in the simulated laundering process, designed to reflect the most common detergents available to consumers

  • ISO 4484-1 is a standardised method developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to measure the material loss from a fabric sample, by weight, under simulated laundering conditions. This method is recognised in Europe and follows the same general procedure as the TMC Test Method and AATCC TM212. This method requires only four specimens per test and prohibits the inclusion of detergent.

  • These we consider the main limitations in current methods to measure fibre fragmentation from fabrics:

    • It is difficult to extrapolate the test method data to a product level.

    • There is a lack of standardised test methods to assess other critical pathways of fibre fragmentation, for example, fibre loss into air.

    • Shedding data alone does not provide information on the environmental consequences of fibre fragments within the environment.

    • Presence of contaminants can influence gravimetric analysis.

Did you know?

We have a growing network of 60+ global laboratories with technicians accredited to perform the TMC Test Method.

Want to join the growing network of accredited laboratories?

FAQ’s

The TMC Test Method

  • The TMC Test Method is a method developed by The Microfibre Consortium in collaboration with the University of Leeds and the European Outdoor Group in 2017. The test method measures fibre loss by weight by simulating domestic laundering. 

  • The TMC Test Method has similarities to both ISO 4484-1 and AATCC TM 212, however, the TMC Test Method does not use the addition of laundry detergent.

  • Testing for fibre fragmentation enables organisations to understand the shedding behaviour of specific fabrics, to identify the fabric characteristics contributing to high-shedding and ultimately, target development to create fabrics with reduced shedding rates. If results are also uploaded to The Microfibre Data Portal, this enables research analysis within an industry-wide dataset to better understanding the root causes of fibre fragmentation, which is crucial for enabling the development of effective interventions within textile design and manufacturing.

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