MEASUREMENT OF

REGAIN AND MOISTURE

CONTENT

BY
B. VENKATESH
ASST. PROFESSOR
DEPT OF TEXTILE TECHNOLOGY
 CONTENTS

• Hygrometers: Hair and digital hygrometer

• Factors affecting the regain of textile materials

• Effect of moisture on fibre properties

• Corrections for regains, Numerical examples

 HYGROMETERS

• There are a number of different instruments for measuring the moisture

content of the atmosphere, known as hygrometers or psychrometers.

• A hygrometer is an instrument used for measuring the water vapor in

the atmosphere.

• Humidity measurement instruments usually rely on measurements of

some other quantity such as temperature, pressure, mass or a
mechanical or electrical change in a substance as moisture is absorbed.
 HYGROMETERS

• By calibration and calculation, these measured quantities

can lead to a measurement of humidity.

• Modern electronic devices use temperature of

condensation (the dew point), or changes in electrical
capacitance or resistance to measure humidity differences.
TYPES OF HYGROMETER

There are four basic types of hygrometer.

The classic hygrometer or psychrometer, uses two thermometers,
one wet and one dry, to measure the rate of evaporation and
therefore humidity.
A hair hygrometer uses a piece of human or animal hair and
measures changes in length due to moisture in the air.
Electronic hygrometers measure the condensation on a chilled mirror
to determine humidity.
Gravimetric hygrometers actually weigh a sample of air and compare
its weight to that of dry air.
 HAIR HYGROMETER

The hair hygrometer is a type of absorption hygrometer and uses

the technique of mechanical moisture detection.

Principle of Hair hygrometer

• Due to humidity, several materials undergo a change in physical,

chemical and electrical properties.

• This property is used in a transducer designed and calibrated to directly

read the relative humidity.
 HAIR HYGROMETER

• Certain hygroscopic materials, such as human hair, animal

membranes, wood, paper, etc., undergo changes in the linear

dimensions when they absorb moisture from the surrounding air.

• This change in the linear dimension is used as the measurement of

the humidity present in the air.
HAIR HYGROMETER

 The hair is arranged on a parallel beam and separated from each other to
expose them to the surrounding air / atmosphere.

 Number of hairs are placed in parallel to increase the mechanical strength.

 This hair arrangement is placed under a small tension by the use of a tension
spring to ensure proper functioning.

 The hair arrangement is connected to an arm and a link arrangement and the
link is attached to a pointer rotated at one end.
 The pointer sweeps over a calibrated scale of humidity.
HAIR HYGROMETER

Working of hair hygrometer:

 When air humidity is to be measured, this air is made to

surround the hair arrangement and the hair arrangement

absorbs moisture from the surrounding air and expands
or contracts in the linear direction.

 This expansion or contraction of the hair arrangement

moves the arm and the link and, therefore, the pointer to a
suitable position on the calibrated scale and, therefore,
indicates the humidity present in the air / atmosphere.
 HAIR HYGROMETER

• Application of Hair hygrometer:

• These are used in the temperature range of 0’C to 75’C.

• These are used in the range of relative humidity from 30 to

95%.

• Limitations of the hydrometer for the hair

• These hydrometers are slow in response

• If it is used constantly, its calibration tends to change.

 DIGITAL HYGROMETER

• Most digital humidity monitors use either a resistive or capacitive

sensor.
• In both designs, electricity flows through a small, moisture-absorbent
material that is exposed to the air.
• As the saturation level of the material changes, so does its electrical
properties.
• Therefore, the more humidity there is in the air and the more water
vapor the material will absorb.
• The measurements and changes of electrical properties collate to
specific humidity readings on the hygrometer’s digital display.
CORRECT INVOICE WEIGHT
 CORRECT INVOICE WEIGHT

• When textile materials are bought and sold by weight, it is

necessary for there to be agreement between buyer and seller on the
exact weight that has to be paid for.

• This value can vary considerably with the moisture content of

the material which in turn varies with
• Type of material,

• Atmospheric moisture content at the time and

• How wet or dry the material was before it was packed, among
other factors.
 CORRECT INVOICE WEIGHT

• The buyer certainly does not wish to pay for excess water at the same
price per kilogram as the textile material.

• A 'correct invoice weight' is therefore determined.

• In this procedure the consignment is considered to contain a

percentage of water known as the standard regain allowance.

• The weight of the consignment is calculated as if it contained this

amount of water.
 CORRECT INVOICE WEIGHT

• When a consignment of textile material is delivered and weighed, a sample is

taken from it on which tests are made which enable the correct invoice weight
to be calculated.

• Samples of at least 200g are selected according to adequate sampling procedures

and immediately stored in airtight containers so that no moisture is lost.

• The samples are weighed and then the oven dry weight is determined as described
above.

• In some cases other non-textile materials, such as oils, grease, wax and size, are
removed before drying.
 CORRECT INVOICE WEIGHT

To the oven dry mass is added an official allowance for moisture

depending on the nature of the material.

This regain allowance, sometimes called the 'official' or 'standard'

regain, is set out in BS 4784.
CORRECT INVOICE WEIGHT
CORRECT INVOICE WEIGHT
THANK YOU