What is the random tumble pilling method?

The Random Tumble Pilling Test is a test method used to evaluate the tendency of fabrics and textiles to pill during use. The test method simulates the friction of a fabric against other surfaces under conditions of use in order to observe and evaluate its pilling behaviour.

During the test, the fabric under test is placed in a test rig with a specific number of round or spherical objects (usually rubber or steel balls) and tumbled randomly by mechanical rocking or rotation. During the tumbling process, friction and collision between the fabric and the spheres continuously occurs, simulating the friction between the fabric and other surfaces under real use conditions.

The test time and number of spheres can be set according to specific standards or specifications. Usually, a longer test time and a higher number of spheres will be more stringent to better assess the abrasion and pilling resistance of the fabric.

After the test is completed, a certain rating scale is used to determine the degree of fabric pilling. The degree of pilling is usually expressed as a rating scale, e.g. from 1 to 5, where 1 means very little or no pilling and 5 means a lot of pilling.

The Random Tumble Pilling Method is a commonly used method in the textile industry to assess pilling performance. The assessment of pilling performance is an important indicator to consumers of the quality and durability of a textile. This test method can be applied to a wide range of textiles including apparel, home textiles and automotive interiors.