RP’S TEXTILE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OPEN TO TESTING NON-FABRIC MATERIALS
Non-textile materials can also be tested with instruments used by laboratories at the state-run Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI).
Testing services at PTRI go beyond evaluating the level of quality of yarns, fibers, fabrics, auxiliaries, chemicals and dyestuffs used in textile production. Analyzing the color difference in tooth samples before and after application of bleaching aids and determining the strength of porcine ligament are just some of the non-textile testing jobs PTRI has done so far.
An orthopedic student working on a biomedical study availed himself of the Institute’s testing service to determine the strength of some porcine ligament samples he needed for non-implant technique for ligament reconstruction. Researchers at PTRI’s physical testing laboratory used a universal testing machine for this. The machine tests a wide range of materials in tension or compression. In testing the ligaments, each sample was secured between a rigid frame base and a moving crosshead where tensile or compressive load was applied to the specimen. A load cell, a transducer that converts force into a measurable electrical output, mounted between the specimen and the crosshead measures the applied load. This machine’s load cell is interchangeable with other load cells of different capacities to measure a range of weight. The machine comes with a material testing software program running on a personal computer connected to the system that controls the testing. Test parameters, setup information, results, and statistics reported are all selected from within the program.
Similarly, a group of dentistry students visited PTRI to ask for assistance in reading and analyzing the color differences in tooth samples, before and after treatment with bleaching solutions, by using the Institute’s color spectrophotometer. This equipment, according to the researchers, measures, specifies, and evaluates color quality in both laboratory and production settings. Pulsed xenon light source, multiple aperture sizes to accommodate samples of different sizes, and automated specular port are the standard features of the equipment. PTRI’s color spectrophotometer can also determine the whiteness and yellowness index of a specimen.
Equipped with newly acquired instruments for testing the chemical and physical properties of textiles and other materials, PTRI has diversified its services to accommodate the testing requirements of student researchers through the open laboratory policy. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), mother agency of PTRI, established the open laboratory policy to develop and implement programs for strengthening scientific and technological capabilities through manpower training, infrastructure, and institution building. The policy covers the use of research, processing, testing, and analytical equipment and facilities of PTRI by high school up to graduate students pursuing research works in fulfilling academic requirements. Operating any equipment is done under the supervision of PTRI laboratory staff. Dr. Carlos C. Tomboc, PTRI director, said that students are entitled to a 20-percent discount on all service fees.
The analysis and evaluation of fibers, yarns, fabrics, and related products form part of PTRI services on quality control, conformance to specification, investigation of faults, and research and development (R&D). Tests are performed based on the Philippine National Standards and such international standards/methods as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), American Society for Testing and Materials, American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, Japanese Industrial Standards, British Standards. The Institute’s chemical and physical testing laboratories are ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited.
PTRI is DOST’s lead agency in textile R&D. The Institute, which was recently awarded ISO 9001:2008 certificate, also offers textile-processing services. Processing evaluation for the optimum use of textile raw materials such as dyeing of blends of cotton/polyester fabrics, processability of locally available fiber by cotton spinning system, and fabric manufacturing through handloom and powerloom weaving are done at PTRI pilot plant. (Arlene R. Obmerga, S&T Media Service)
