Frazier Method

Definition and Overview

The Frazier method is a method for measuring air permeability by passing air through a given area of fabric and using the pressure difference and air volume. A Frazier air permeability tester is used for the test, and the air permeability of woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, and others is compared numerically.

This is not a term for a type or structure of fabric, but a test method for quality evaluation. The test results indicate one aspect of air permeability and do not by themselves guarantee coolness when worn or wind resistance.

Features That Can Be Evaluated

Fabrics with a large air volume generally allow air to pass through more easily, which may lead to a lighter feel and less stuffiness. Coarse structures, low density, and open meshes tend to have higher values, while tightly woven or knitted fabrics and coated fabrics tend to have lower values.

However, air permeability changes with many factors, including yarn thickness, twist, fuzz, fabric weight, structure, brushing, resin finishing, and lamination. You cannot judge hand feel, sheerness, water absorbency, moisture permeability, or wind resistance from numbers alone.

Main Applications

For spring and summer shirts, blouses, cut-and-sewn items, sportswear, uniforms, and linings, it is used to check how air passes through clothing. For outerwear that prioritizes wind resistance and materials for filter applications, it is also useful for controlling the required air volume.

In the planning stage, it is used to compare similar materials; in the development stage, to examine structures and processing conditions; and in mass production, to confirm compliance with specifications. Because the required performance differs by application, a higher value is not always better.

Selection and Handling Notes

When selecting fabric, check the test value from the Frazier method against standards or comparison samples according to the application. If wind resistance is important, use low air permeability as a guide; if wearing comfort in hot conditions is important, use moderate air permeability as a guide, and also perform actual try-on evaluations.

Washing, shrinkage, changes in brushing, and deterioration of resin finishing can change fabric density and surface condition, which may also change air permeability. In sewing, the overall breathability of the product is also affected by the seams, pockets, lining, interlining, and other components, so this should be considered separately from the test value of the fabric alone.

• In comparison tests, align the conditions such as test area, pressure difference, and humidity control state.
• As a rule, values obtained from different test methods or different conditions are not directly compared.
• When comparing before and after processing or before and after washing, measure under the same conditions.

Differences from Similar Terms

Air permeability is the property itself of air passing through fabric. The Frazier method is one of the methods used to measure that air permeability. By contrast, moisture permeability is a performance indicator of how easily water vapor passes through, and it differs in what it evaluates from the Frazier method, which measures air permeability.

Windproof finishing is a treatment that suppresses the passage of air. The results of air permeability tests may be used as a reference when confirming wind resistance, but windproof finishing and the Frazier method are terms in different categories: one is a finishing name and the other is a test method.

Frequently Asked Questions