DWR Evaluation and Rating System (September 2014)

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1 Overview DWR-treated down and feather material is now in widespread use in the outdoor industry (both apparel and sleeping bags). DWR treatments are also used in synthetic fillings. A small but growing interest exists for DWR-treated down and feathers used in bedding products. IDFL has now tested over 1,000 DWR samples for over 50 companies. DWR-treated products are divided into three groups: Research DWR Down o IDFL tests and compares un-treated and treated down to help manufacturers determine the performance of DWR treatments. Other positive or adverse or side effects of the DWR treatments can also be evaluated. The research program can also compares different DWR treatments to determine optimum DWR performance. Production DWR Down o IDFL evaluates production lots of down to verify DWR performance. The production test results can be compared against the buyer specification and the research test date. Both bulk down and finished products can be tested. Production down is tested by down processors, finished product manufacturers, retailers, consumer groups and brand names. DWR-treated Synthetics o IDFL tests synthetic and other natural filling materials that have been treated with DWR products. Both research and production tests are available for these fillings. DWR Evaluation Test Methods The International Down and Feather Bureau (IDFB) has developed official test methods for evaluating DWR-treated filling materials. These tests can be used for DWR treatments on down, synthetics and other natural filling materials. - IDFB 18A Hydrophobic Shake Test - IDFB 18D Water Absorbance (BS, EN 13543) - - IDFB 18B Added Water Weight - IDFB 18E Dry Time (Machine Dry) - - IDFB 18C Laundering Durability - IDFB 18F Dry Time (Air Dry) IDFL can perform all of the IDFB test methods. IDFL has also developed several internal test methods for specialty testing and for customer initiated research projects. Page 1

2 General DWR Information DWR Evaluation and Rating System DWR treatments are used to improve the hydrophobic nature of down, synthetic and other natural fillings. Down and feathers are naturally hydrophobic (water resistant). For millions of years down has insulated waterfowl against cold and moisture. Down is generally more hydrophobic than synthetic fillings. Synthetic fillings dry faster that down after saturation with water. DWR treatments allow down and feathers to be even more hydrophobic than many synthetics (even DWRtreated synthetics). DWR treatments also allow down to dry as fast or faster than synthetics. IDFB Statements about DWR Treatments The International Down and Feather Bureau (IDFB) which is the global industrial association has issued the following statements about DWR treatments: Down and Feather are an incredible natural insulation used in filling material for textile products. Down and feathers in their natural state have an array of attributes including Moisture wicking and natural water repellency. For many years treatments have been developed to enhance the performance of down and feather filling material. Some of these treatments include: Anti-static, Anti-microbial, Optical Brightener, Odor Reduction or Masking Agents, Warmth Retention Additives Durable Water Repellency (DWR), Fill Power Enhancement, Fire Retardants IDFB is neutral toward the application of treatments for down and feathers. IDFB believes that natural down and feathers are an extraordinary material without treatments. However, government regulations, buyer requirements and market demands may require treatments for down and feathers. Therefore IDFB has developed a series of DWR test methods to evaluation DWR products. Natural Water Repellency of Untreated Down and Feathers The following chart demonstrates the hydrophobicity of natural untreated down. Down and feather are placed with water in a one liter container and shaken until all of the down and feathers are water saturated. The test results are minutes of shaking until failure. Average Shake Time to Failure: 22 minutes Page 2

3 Current DWR Research DWR Evaluation and Rating System IDFL has received over 1,000 samples for DWR testing. The samples include different treatments from different suppliers using different application procedures and varying qualities of down. DWR data has yielded many surprising results: Natural down is very hydrophobic without treatments. Untreated down averages 22 minutes of shaking until failure. Some DWR material has yielded over 1000 minutes of shaking before failure. Polyester did much worse than expected in absorption rates and hydrophobic shake testing. Polyester and other synthetics can also be treated with DWR. In some cases, the results show great improvement in hydrophobicity for polyester fillings. IDFL s research on down performance before and after DWR treatment: More than 50% of DWR treatments have a positive effect on Fill Power. Generally, the DWR treatments slightly increase down cluster percent and decrease fiber percent. The oil & fat content percent increases by an average of 0.6% after DWR treatments. DWR treatments slightly improve the cleanliness test results of down and feathers. IDFL is currently doing research in many areas: Laundry Durability research, including evaluation of different detergents. Comparison of hydrophobicity for many different untreated natural and synthetic materials. Evaluation of DWR-treated synthetic and other non-down natural fillings. Comparison Research: Comparison between different formulations of the same basic DWR treatments. Comparison of DWR treatment on different feather/down rations Comparison of synthetics vs. natural fillings Comparison of DWR treatments from different DWR suppliers Custom DWR Research: IDFL can complete custom research projects. Please contact IDFL to discuss the details of your proposed projects. Page 3

4 Evaluating Marketing Claims IDFL offers the following guidelines to evaluate marketing claims. Each DWR marketing claim should have corresponding tests that help verify the claim. Water Resistant or Hydrophobic Claims Claim Examples Testing Requirement Test Method Down is Hydrophobic Down is Water Resistant If a product filling is labeled hydrophobic or water resistant the hydrophobic shake test must demonstrate a significant increase of the treated material ( at least minutes additional shake time vs. the untreated material) (or) the product must reach at least 40 minutes shake time. IDFB Test 18A Hydrophobic 120 The shaking time must be 120 minutes IDFB Test 18A Hydrophobic 430 The shaking time must be 430 minutes IDFB Test 18A Absorbs 50% less moisture Weighs 50% less when wet The treated material must absorb 50% less moisture than the untreated material. The treated material must weigh 50% less than the untreated material when both are wet IDFB Test 18D IDFB Test 18B Dry Time Claims Claim Examples Testing Requirement Test Method Treated Down dries 2 times faster than Untreated Down. Treated Polyester dries 3 times faster than Untreated Polyester. Treated Down dries 50% faster than Untreated Down Perform the Drying Test on both materials to compare dry times of both materials to support the claim IDFB Test 18E (or) IDFB Test 18F Laundry Durability Claims Claim Examples Testing Requirement Test Method No Fill Power Performance change after 5 washes. Water Resistance does not drop more than 20% after 20 washes. Fill power tests performed before and after five washes should remain the same. One or more hydrophobic tests performed before and after 20 washes IDFB Test 10B IDFB Tests 18A, 18B, and/or 18D Page 4

5 Proposed DWR Rating System The best way of evaluating and comparing DWR products is the use the actual test results as listed below. Hydrophobic Shake Test in minutes Water Absorption Rates in % Actual Dry Times in minutes DWR tests and Fill Power before and after at 5 and/or 10 launderings. IDFL encourages all buyers and users of DWR material to carefully consider all of the test data in product evaluation (shake time, water absorption, laundry durability, etc.) IDFL has been very hesitant to propose a rating system. After testing over 1,000 samples, we now proposes the following system which may help buyers and sellers of DWR products understand their product performance in relation to other products in the marketplace. Shake Time (Minutes to Shaking Failure) Minutes Hydrophobic Shake Test Description Rating The average shake time for untreated down is 22 minutes. These values show little or no improvement over un-treated down Minutes Material is at least twice as hydrophobic as untreated down Minutes This material fails only after at least 2 hours of shaking Minutes This material fails only after at least 4 hours of shaking Minutes This material fails only after at least 8 hours of shaking. 4 1,000+ Minutes This material fails only after shaking for over 16 hours. 5 The following chart shows the distribution of shake test results for DWR-treated down and feathers. Page 5

6 Water Absorption Rating System The Water Absorption test shows the amount of water absorbed by down and feathers (or synthetics) after immersion in a water bath. The higher the number, the more water absorbed by the filling material. Laundry Durability Rating System The standard laundry durability test measures the shake failure and the fill power before and after 5 and 10 washes. This will show if washing the filling material reduces the performance of the DWR treatment. Hydrophobic Shake Test 5 Wash Rating: Fill Power 1 > 25% decrease after 10 washes 1 > 15% decrease after 10 washes 2 > 20% & 25% decrease after 10 washes 2 > 10% & 15% decrease after 10 washes 3 > 15% & 20% decrease after 10 washes 3 > 5% & 10% decrease after 10 washes 4 > 10% & 15% decrease after 10 washes 4 > 0% & 5% decrease after 10 washes 5 10% decrease after 10 washes 5 No decrease after 5 washes Hydrophobic Shake Test Water Absorption 1 45% 2 40% and < 45% 3 35% and < 40% 4 30% and < 35% 5 < 30% 10 Wash Rating: Fill Power 1 > 30% decrease after 10 washes 1 > 15% decrease after 10 washes 2 > 25% & 30% decrease after 10 washes 2 > 10% & 15% decrease after 10 washes 3 > 20% & 25% decrease after 10 washes 3 > 5% & 10% decrease after 10 washes 4 > 15% & 20% decrease after 10 washes 4 > 0% & 5% decrease after 10 washes 5 15% decrease after 10 washes 5 No decrease after 5 washes Page 6