ISO 12945-3:2020

Overview

ISO 12945-3:2020 specifies the random tumble pilling method for determining a textile fabric’s resistance to surface pilling, fuzzing, and matting. It is Part 3 of the ISO 12945 series and applies to most woven and knitted fabrics, including napped constructions (fleeces, inlay fabrics). The method uses a lined cylindrical test chamber (random tumble pilling tester) to accelerate surface wear and produce a ranking comparable to end‑use performance. It is not applicable to fabrics that cannot tumble freely.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Test principle: Test specimens are tumbled in a lined cylinder under defined conditions; surface change is visually assessed after tumbling (assessment aligns with ISO 12945-4).
• Apparatus:
  • Cylindrical chamber: inside depth (152.4 ± 1.0) mm and diameter (146.0 ± 1.0) mm.
  • Impeller with cross rods rotating at 1 200 min⁻¹; device must prevent jamming (air jet or plastic blades).
• Liner:
  • Polychloroprene liner required (thickness 3.2 ± 0.4 mm, hardness IRHD 60–70 per ISO 48-2).
  • Cork liner optional (if agreed) - note: cork can double required testing time.
• Specimens & preparation:
  • Typical specimen: square (105 ± 1 mm × 105 ± 1 mm) cut on the bias (45°) or 100 cm² circle (if agreed).
  • Edges sealed with water‑based glue (e.g., polyvinyl acetate) to prevent fraying.
  • Prepare four specimens (three test specimens + one untreated reference); Annex B alternative uses six specimens.
  • Pretreatment (washing or dry cleaning) may be applied to the laboratory sample per intended end‑use; conditioning follows ISO 139.
• Auxiliary materials: optional cotton linters to highlight pills, rating photographs for visual grading.
• Documentation: Clause 12 defines required test report elements; Annex A gives apparatus maintenance and liner preparation guidance.

Applications and users

ISO 12945-3 is used for:

• Quality control and acceptance testing in textile manufacturing
• Product development and material selection (yarns, finishes, constructions)
• Third‑party and contract testing for garments, home textiles, and technical fabrics
• Comparative ranking of fabrics for marketing claims or specification limits

Primary users include textile laboratories, QC engineers, material scientists, apparel and home-textile manufacturers, and procurement/specification teams.

Related standards

• ISO 12945-4 - Assessment of pilling, fuzzing and matting by visual analysis (used together for grading)
• ISO 139 - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
• ISO 48-2 - Rubber hardness (IRHD) testing for liners

Keywords: ISO 12945-3, random tumble pilling method, pilling test, fuzzing, matting, textile testing, polychloroprene liner, pilling tester, fabric propensity to pill.