The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) Committee RA57 Floor Covering Test Methods has recently made a decision to move the synthetic soil formulation to a laboratory procedure document. This decision has been taken to make it easier to find and use the formulation for multiple applications. Users can now refer to AATCC LP4 Laboratory Procedure for Synthetic Soil, which is available immediately as a downloadable PDF file.

Furthermore, this procedure will appear in the 2024 AATCC Manual of International Test Methods and Procedures, scheduled to be published in January 2024, AATCC said in a press release.

The committee also worked on specifying the materials included in the formula. The revised formula now specifies black iron oxide instead of iron oxide, and silica and peat moss are also more precisely described to ensure consistent performance and test results.

The synthetic soil was developed for standardised carpet soiling. It is also referenced in a draft test method for stain resistance of launderable fabrics. The formulation originally appeared in AATCC TM123 Carpet Soiling: Accelerated Soiling Method. This method was withdrawn in 2010, and the soil preparation was transferred to an Appendix of AATCC TM122 Test Method for Carpet Soiling: Service Soiling. As the committee is considering future changes to AATCC TM122, as well as related ASTM standards, creating a separate standard for synthetic soil preparation made sense for all to reference.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)

US' AATCC makes finding & using synthetic soil formulation easier

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