Lab 01
Advanced Materials Lab
Scientific materials research — from fiber to finished fabric
The foundation of every functional fabric
The fiber and coating are the most critical elements in a functional textile. They must deliver specific performance characteristics — UPF protection, waterproofness, breathability, antimicrobial activity, stretch recovery, and abrasion resistance — all while maintaining comfort and durability over the product's lifetime. At Seekingtex, our Advanced Materials Lab is dedicated exclusively to the research, characterization, validation, and continuous improvement of the fibers, coatings, and sustainable materials we use in every fabric we produce.
We do not rely solely on supplier data sheets. Every batch of fiber, yarn, coating chemical, and laminate film that enters our facility is independently tested and characterized in-house. This guarantees that the material specification we publish is the material performance you receive — lot after lot, year after year.
Standardized testing equipment
Our materials lab is equipped with industrial-grade instruments that conform to AATCC, ASTM, and ISO test methods:
| Equipment | Parameters Measured | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Universal tensile tester (50 kN) | Breaking force, elongation at break, tear propagation | ASTM D5034 / ASTM D2261 |
| Xenon-arc weathering chamber | UV resistance (color change, strength retention after 2000 h) | AATCC TM16 / ASTM G155 |
| UV-Vis spectrophotometer | UPF rating (290-400 nm), UV blocking efficiency | AATCC 183 / AS/NZS 4399 |
| Contact angle goniometer | Surface wettability, water repellency durability | AATCC TM22 / ISO 14419 |
| FTIR spectrometer | Chemical composition analysis, coating uniformity, contaminant identification | ASTM E1252 |
| Hydrostatic head tester | Water penetration resistance | ISO 811 / AATCC TM127 |
* All equipment is calibrated annually by third-party accredited laboratories.
From data to decision: a typical test workflow
When a new fiber, coating, or sustainable material candidate arrives, it follows a standardized seven-step qualification process:
- Receipt inspection — visual check for surface defects, contamination, and dimensional compliance.
- Chemical characterization — FTIR analysis to verify chemical composition and identify any unexpected additives.
- Tensile testing — 5 specimens in warp and weft directions. Minimum specification must be met for acceptance.
- UV conditioning — 1000 h exposure in xenon-arc chamber; minimum 80 % strength retention required.
- Performance testing — UPF rating, waterproofness, breathability, antimicrobial effectiveness as applicable.
- Abrasion resistance — Martindale testing, minimum 20 000 cycles to breakthrough.
- Approval sign-off — only after all seven gates are passed is the material released for production sampling.
Typical Polyester 150D — Tensile Retention After UV Exposure
100%
95%
88%
82%
~65%
Our polyester 150D fabric retains > 80 % tensile strength after 2000 h xenon-arc exposure, compared to typical industry grades that drop below 70 %.
Our professional team
The lab is staffed by two full-time materials scientists, each holding a degree in polymer science or textile engineering with a minimum of six years of industry experience. They are supported by three technicians who perform day-to-day testing and data logging. The team regularly participates in inter-laboratory round-robin trials organized by AATCC to validate the accuracy of our test methods.
Solving your toughest material challenges
Every application is different. An outdoor performance fabric for tropical environments faces vastly different UV and humidity conditions than a medical textile in a controlled indoor setting. Our Advanced Materials Lab helps you select — or develop — a material specification that is optimized for your application.
Recent custom solutions include:
- A high-durability nylon 6,6 formulation for military uniforms, with enhanced UV resistance and abrasion life (+40 % abrasion life).
- A sustainable polyester blend using 100 % post-consumer recycled fiber, with PFC-free DWR finish, tested to maintain performance after 50 industrial launderings.
- An antimicrobial polyester fabric for healthcare applications, with silver-ion treatment maintaining >99 % bacterial reduction after 100 wash cycles.
We do not sell "off-the-shelf" materials and hope they work. We test, validate, and recommend — or create — a tailored solution for your specific application. That is the Seekingtex difference.
How we serve you
When you bring a material challenge to us, here is what you can expect:
- Consultation — we discuss your application, performance targets, and budget.
- Proposal — a test plan is drafted with clear pass/fail criteria and a timeline.
- Execution — our lab runs the tests and produces a detailed report with raw data and comparative analysis.
- Recommendation — we present a material specification, including alternative options if multiple materials meet your requirements.
- Follow-up — after delivery, we remain available to support any in-service material questions.
Our goal is not simply to supply you with fabric. It is to ensure that the fabric you receive performs reliably in the conditions you operate in — and that starts with the materials.
Need a custom material specification?
Contact our materials science team to discuss your requirements.
Contact our lab team