Automatic Air Permeability Tester

Automatic Air Permeability Tester - QualiPermatest™ Series

The QualiPermatest™ Automatic Air Permeability Tester measures the ease with which air passes through fabrics, nonwovens, foams, paper, and filter media under a controlled pressure differential. Designed for accurate and efficient laboratory testing, the QualiPermatest™ Series is suitable for textile mills, PPE manufacturers, filtration producers, and independent testing laboratories across North America.

The series includes two configurations to suit different laboratory requirements. QualiPermatest™ I features onboard PLC and touchscreen control, while QualiPermatest™ II combines PC control with dedicated testing software. Both configurations deliver test results in approximately 10 to 15 seconds, supporting efficient sample evaluation and quality control.

A pneumatic clamping arm securely seals the specimen against the selected test head. The vacuum system then draws air through the sample until the specified pressure differential reaches a stable condition. The tester automatically identifies the installed test head and indicates when a nozzle change is required if the measured airflow falls outside the operating range of the selected orifice.

Test results are displayed on the touchscreen in seven selectable measurement units. For test series, the system calculates maximum, minimum, and average values, while the integrated thermal printer provides a convenient hard copy for laboratory and batch records. An RS232C interface also enables test data transfer to a PC or LIMS, reducing the need for manual data entry.

The QualiPermatest™ Series offers multiple test areas, including 5, 20, 50, and 100 cm², along with Ø50 mm and Ø70 mm test heads. This range supports air permeability testing for apparel fabrics, airbag textiles, geotextiles, coarse filter mats, and other porous materials.

With an air permeability range of 0.1 to 12,000 mm/s and measurement error of ±2%, the tester provides broad measurement capability for demanding laboratory applications. Ten interchangeable nozzles, ranging from 0.8 mm to 16 mm bore, help maintain the differential pressure across the orifice within its accurate operating range.

Key Features

• Automatic air permeability testing for fabrics, nonwovens, foams, paper, and filter media

• Air permeability range from 0.1 to 12,000 mm/s

• Measurement error of ±2%

• Test results available in seven measurement units

• 10–15 second measurement time

• Pneumatic specimen clamping system

• Automatic test head recognition

• Automatic nozzle change indication

• Test areas from 5 to 100 cm²

• Ø50 mm and Ø70 mm test heads

• Ten interchangeable nozzles from 0.8 to 16 mm

• Maximum, minimum, and average result calculation

• Integrated thermal printer

• RS232C connection for PC and LIMS data transfer

• PLC and touchscreen control on QualiPermatest™ I

• PC control and dedicated software on QualiPermatest™ II

The QualiPermatest™ Automatic Air Permeability Tester provides a versatile solution for fabric air permeability testing, textile quality control, nonwoven evaluation, filter media analysis, and laboratory permeability measurements.

Automatic Air Permeability Tester - QualiPermatest™ Series Applications

The QualiPermatest™ Series is designed for laboratory testing of flat, porous materials where air permeability, airflow, or air resistance is an important performance characteristic. Its broad measurement range supports applications across textiles, nonwovens, filtration media, foams, paper, automotive materials, and construction products.

• Apparel and Home Textiles: Measures the breathability and air permeability of woven and knitted fabrics used in sportswear, outerwear, bedding, upholstery, and other textile products. Results can support comfort evaluation, product specifications, and quality control.

• Technical and Industrial Fabrics: Evaluates airflow through coated fabrics, tarpaulins, sailcloth, parachute textiles, tenting materials, and other technical fabrics where controlled porosity can affect product performance.

• Nonwovens and Hygiene Products: Measures the air permeability of spunbond, meltblown, and composite nonwoven webs used in wipes, diapers, absorbent products, and hygiene applications. Testing can be performed in accordance with EDANA 140.1 and ISO 9073-15.

• Medical Textiles and PPE: Assesses airflow through face mask materials, surgical gowns, medical drapes, and protective clothing. Air permeability testing helps evaluate airflow resistance, wearer comfort, and the balance between breathability and protective performance.

• Air and Liquid Filtration Media: Characterizes filter paper, pleatable filter media, HEPA substrates, and dust-collector fabrics during product development, process control, and incoming material inspection.

• Flexible Foams and Cellular Polymers: Determines airflow characteristics of polyurethane slabstock foam, molded foam, and seat cushioning materials. The tester supports testing based on ISO 7231 and ASTM D3574.

• Paper, Board, and Packaging: Evaluates air permeability and porosity of tissue paper, kraft paper, cigarette paper, packaging board, and related materials where airflow can influence converting processes and end-use performance.

• Automotive Interiors and Airbag Fabrics: Tests seat-cover materials, headliners, and airbag fabrics where controlled air permeability can influence deployment characteristics, cushioning behavior, and cabin comfort.

• Geotextiles and Construction Membranes: Measures airflow through geotextiles, breathable building membranes, and other porous construction materials to support material characterization, quality control, and performance evaluation.

Standards

The QualiPermatest™ Series supports air permeability testing across a wide range of internationally recognized standards for textiles, nonwovens, foams, paper, and other porous materials. Configurable test areas, pressure differentials, measurement ranges, and reporting units help laboratories set up testing according to the requirements of the applicable method.

• ISO 9237 – Textiles: Determination of the Permeability of Fabrics to Air

• ISO 7231 – Polymeric Materials, Cellular, Flexible: Determination of Air Flow Value at Constant Pressure-Drop

• ISO 5636 – Paper and Board: Determination of Air Permeance and Air Resistance

• ISO 9073-15 – Textiles: Test Methods for Nonwovens, Part 15: Determination of Air Permeability

• ASTM D737 – Standard Test Method for Air Permeability of Textile Fabrics

• ASTM D3574 – Standard Test Methods for Flexible Cellular Materials: Slab, Bonded, and Molded Urethane Foams

• BS 5636 – Method for Determination of the Permeability of Fabrics to Air

• DIN 53887 – Testing of Textiles: Determination of Air Permeability of Textile Fabrics

• JIS L 1096 – Testing Methods for Woven and Knitted Fabrics

• AFNOR G07-111 – Textiles: Determination of the Permeability of Fabrics to Air

• EDANA 140.1 – Nonwovens: Determination of Air Permeability

Automatic Air Permeability Tester - QualiPermatest™ Series Key Features

The QualiPermatest™ Series streamlines air permeability testing with automatic specimen clamping, test head recognition, nozzle guidance, pressure control, and result calculation. With a typical test cycle of 10 to 15 seconds, the system helps laboratories achieve consistent results while reducing manual calculations and operator input.

• Fully Automatic Test Cycle: Specimen clamping, air evacuation, pressure stabilization, measurement, and result calculation are completed automatically, delivering test results in approximately 10 to 15 seconds.

• Pneumatic Clamping Arm: Provides consistent sealing pressure across each specimen to help minimize edge leakage and variations caused by manual clamping.

• 7-Inch PLC Touchscreen: Displays live airflow, pressure, and air permeability readings through an intuitive interface with functions for zeroing, manual operation, calibration, and test setup.

• Automatic Test Head Recognition: Detects the installed test plate and automatically applies the corresponding test area during calculations, helping reduce setup and reporting errors.

• Nozzle Change Prompting: Identifies when airflow falls outside the accurate operating range of the installed orifice and indicates the appropriate nozzle for the test.

• Ten Interchangeable Nozzles: Includes nozzle bores from 0.8 mm to 16 mm, providing measurement flexibility for materials ranging from dense coated fabrics to open filter media.

• Six Test Areas: Supports 5, 20, 50, and 100 cm² test areas, plus Ø50 mm and Ø70 mm test heads to accommodate different test methods and material specifications.

• Seven Built-In Measurement Units: Displays results in mm/s, m³/m²/min, cm³/cm²/s, m³/m²/h, L/dm²/min, L/m²/s, and cfm, supporting different laboratory reporting requirements.

• Self-Cleaning Variable-Hole Test Plate: Helps remove lint and fiber debris between tests while maintaining a consistent effective open area for reliable measurements.

• High-Precision Differential Pressure Sensing: Dedicated pressure sensors monitor the specimen and nozzle pressure drops independently, supporting measurement accuracy of ±2%.

• Statistical Result Analysis: Automatically calculates and displays maximum, minimum, and mean air permeability values across a series of specimens without requiring external spreadsheet calculations.

• Integrated Thermal Printer: Produces an immediate printed record of test results for batch documentation, quality control, and laboratory records.

• RS232C Data Interface: Transfers stored test data to a PC or LIMS for electronic archiving, reporting, and trend analysis.

• PC Control on QualiPermatest™ II: Dedicated software provides recipe storage, extended reporting, and centralized data management, offering additional control for laboratories that require PC-based operation.

Theory and Method

Air permeability refers to the amount of air that passes perpendicularly through a defined area of material under a controlled pressure differential. Fabrics and other porous materials contain interconnected pores, so airflow is influenced by factors such as pore structure, material thickness, fiber arrangement, density, and surface finish. The resulting measurement represents the bulk air transport characteristics of the material and can be expressed as face velocity in mm/s or as a volumetric airflow rate per unit area.

During testing, the QualiPermatest™ clamps the specimen securely over a selected circular test head while a vacuum pump draws air through the material. Airflow increases until the differential pressure sensor reaches the value specified by the applicable test method. Typical pressure differentials include 100 Pa for ISO 9237 and 125 Pa for ASTM D737. The closed-loop pressure control system maintains the selected differential pressure, with operation available up to 1,000 Pa, while a separate sensor measures the pressure drop across the calibrated nozzle.

The calibrated nozzle functions as an orifice flowmeter, allowing airflow to be determined from the pressure drop across the orifice. Proper nozzle selection is important for maintaining measurement accuracy because each nozzle provides its most reliable readings within a specific flow range.

The QualiPermatest™ Series includes 10 interchangeable nozzles with bore sizes from 0.8 mm to 16 mm, covering applications ranging from open scrims and porous materials to dense coated fabrics. When airflow moves outside the recommended operating range of the installed nozzle, the system prompts the operator to select a more suitable nozzle.

Once the airflow and pressure conditions are established, the controller calculates air permeability by dividing the measured airflow by the effective test area. The result is then converted to the selected measurement unit for display and reporting. Different test head sizes, including 5 cm² and 100 cm², can be selected according to the applicable standard or material specification while maintaining the same fundamental measurement principle.

Automatic Air Permeability Tester - QualiPermatest™ Series Technical Specifications

Nozzle Set

Standard Accessories

Optional Accessories