Fiber Testing Lab
Utility of the cotton fibre is based on fiber quality attributes of the lint. Fiber Testing Lab is engaged in the evaluation of the cotton fiber properties. The main properties of the cotton fibers are length, strength, fineness, maturity and colour. With advent of High Volume Instrument (HVI), testing of cotton fibers have become fully automated. The Fiber Testing lab is equipped with state of the art instruments for quality testing of cotton fibre. At present, this lab is equipped with two High Volume Instruments. The lab is equipped with projection microscopes to determine the fiber maturity.

Yarn and Fabric Testing Lab
Yarn and Fabric Testing lab, existing since 1924 has contributed to the research, quality control and educational activities of the Institute. Main area of activity of this lab is to assess quality parameters of the yarn spun under AICRP on cotton project prior to release of cotton variety. This lab also plays important role Standard Cotton project of the Institute to monitor quality of Standard Cotton Verities. The data generated from this lab on standard cotton varieties showed that there is no deterioration in quality characteristics and spinning performance of standard cottons.
The Yarn Tests Lab is equipped with Lea Tester, Single Yarn Tensile Strength & Elongation Tester, Yarn Evenness Tester, Yarn Twist Tester and Yarn Hairiness Tester. Fabric testing carried out in the Lab include tests such as count of yarns used in a fabric sample, ends and picks, weight per square meter, tensile strength and elongation, tearing strength, bursting strength, abrasion resistance, crease recovery, fabric thickness, fabric drape test and fabric shrinkage test, etc. Facilities to carry out special tests such as single fiber strength and elongation test, moisture content in textile materials, contact angle and surface tension of textile materials, compression test, crush test, three point bending, relaxation / recovery and electrical resistivity of fabric is available in the section.
The laboratory is also equipped with a controlled temperature and humidity unit to study the samples under specific environmental conditions as per the requirement / standards.
Commercial Testing services are provided by the Yarn Testing Lab since 1937. This lab is NABL accredited for important parameters of Yarn and Cloth tests from the year1999 and this facility is widely used by both government and private organizations. Every year training / demonstrations is being organized for the benefit of students, trade and industry.

Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
ICAR-CIRCOT is equipped with computerized Scanning Electron Microscope (Philips XL – 30) which was purchased from M/S Philips Electron Optics B.V. The Netherland. The instrument is being used for R & D work as well as commercial Testing. Over the years SEM facilities contributed to revenue generation of the Institute through testing of verities of samples from academic Institutes, Students and R & D Laboratories and also utilized as major analytical tool for various research activities.

X-Ray Diffractometer
ICAR-CIRCOT is equipped with computerized PANalytical X’Pert PRO XRD system. The instrument is being used for R & D work as well as commercial Testing. X-ray diffraction techniques are used for the identification of crystalline phases of various materials and the quantitative phase analysis subsequent to the identification. X-ray diffraction techniques are superior in elucidating the three-dimensional atomic structure of crystalline solids. The properties and functions of materials largely depend on the crystal structures. X-ray diffraction techniques have, therefore, been widely used as an indispensable means in materials research, development and production. Over the years XRD facilities contributed to revenue generation of the Institute through testing of verities of samples from academic Institutes, Students and R & D Laboratories and also utilized as major analytical tool for various research activities.
X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrome
ICAR-CIRCOT is equipped with Sequential X-Ray Fluorescence Specrometer PW 1404 which was purchased from M/S Philips, The instrument is being used for R & D work as well as commercial Testing. This X-ray photoelectron spectrometer uses the principles of X-ray spectroscopy to measure the elemental composition of materials. X-ray spectroscopy is a technique that detects and measures photons, or particles of light, that have wavelengths in the X-ray portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Over the years XRFS facilities contributed to revenue generation of the Institute through testing of verities of samples from academic Institutes, Students and R & D Laboratories and also utilized as major analytical tool for various research activities.

Fabric Comfort Laboratory
Kawabata Evaluation System for Fabrics (KES-FB) refers to a set of one such instrument that simulates several steps followed during subjective evaluation of a fabric such as touching, flexing of the fingers, smoothing, etc. This system comprises 4 instruments which together measure 16 different fabric parameters.The Tensile and Shear Tester (KES-FB 1) assesses the behaviour of fabric under a specific shear and tensile stress in succesion and gives six parameters, viz. tensile energy, linearity, tensile Tensile and Shear Tester with resilience, shear stiffness and hysteresis of hear force at 0.5° and 5° of shear angle. These are designated as WT LT RT, G, 2HG and 2HG5.

The Pure Bending Tester (KES-FB2) evaluates the bending properties of the fabric such a bending rigidity (B) and hysteresis of bending moment (2HB). The Compression Tester (KES-FB3) measure various deformation properties resulting from a continuously increasing compressional force such as compressional energy, linearity of compression and compressional resilience and referred to a WC, LC and RC, respectively.The Surface Tester (KES-FB4) is designed to measure the surface properties. The contactor which picks up the fabric surface is of a special design that simulates the human fingertip and the measurement is made to closely resemble the (hand) touch of a fabric. Surface tester measures frictional coefficient, deviations in frictional coefficient and the geometrical roughness of fabric surface. These are expressed respectively as MIU, MMD and SMD.
How to handle value assessed?
Fabric properties such as tensile, shear, bending, compression, surface friction and geometrical roughness are measured by KES-FB and used along with fabric structure (weight and thickness) to arrive at primary hand values (PHV) by using appropriate transformation equations evolved for defined end use of a fabric. PHV values are, in turn, used to predict the total hand value (THV) employing a second set of conversion equations. While PHV can range from O to 10 the THV lies in a scale of O to 5 (not useful to excellent). PHV quantifies subjective feelings like stiffness, crispness, fullness and softness, and smoothness and the overall handle of a fabric is shown by THV.

Thermal Properties
Thermal properties of fabrics are one of the most important features of textiles. The most important thermal properties of a fabric are thermal insulation, thermal conductivity and Q-max (warm/cool feeling). Thermolab II is a precision instrument for calculating thermal properties.
Moisture management test (MMT)
The MMT (Moisture Management Tester) is useful for the measurement, evaluation and classification of liquid moisture management properties of textile fabrics. The MMT was developed to measure dynamic liquid transport properties of knit and woven fabrics in three dimensions.