Fox Fur Testing

Fox fur testing mainly conducts scientific testing and analysis on material type identification, fur density and length determination, fur fibre fineness and strength testing, leather board physical property testing, colour and lustre evaluation, and hair loss rate and firmness testing, objectively assessing the product quality grade and issuing a detailed test report, providing a basis for manufacturers' quality control and downstream users' product acceptance.

Testing Items

Material type identification: By observing the micro characteristics such as the scale structure and medulla morphology of the fur fibres under a microscope, fox fur is accurately distinguished from other animal furs (such as raccoon dog fur, rabbit fur and wool) and chemical fibres. The medulla of fox fur usually presents a multi-cavity and irregular honeycomb shape, and the scales are arranged in a ring or mixed wave shape, which are the key basis for identification.

Fur density and length determination: A unit area (usually 1 cm²) is delimited at the standard position of the pelt (such as the back), and the number of fur fibres is counted to determine the fur density. At the same time, the natural length and straightened length of the fur fibres are measured, evaluating the fullness and grade of the fur. High-grade fur requires high density and uniform length.

Fur fibre fineness and strength testing: A fibre fineness instrument (such as OFDA) is used to measure the average diameter and its distribution of the fur fibres, and the fineness is an important indicator determining the softness and value of the fur. A single-fibre strength tester is used to determine the breaking strength and elongation of the fur fibres, evaluating their durability and processability.

Leather board physical property testing: Including the tests of the tensile strength, tearing strength, elongation and bursting height of the leather board. These items evaluate the toughness, durability and wearability of the leather board, ensuring that it is not easy to damage in the subsequent processing (such as cutting and sewing) and use.

Colour and lustre evaluation: Under a standard light source cabinet (such as the D65 light source), professional raters or a spectrophotometer is used to carry out visual or instrumental evaluation of the natural colour, uniformity and lustre of the fur. It is checked whether there are defects such as uneven dyeing, colour patches and dull lustre.

Hair loss rate and firmness testing: Simulating the normal wearing or friction conditions, a specific instrument (such as a Martindale abrasion tester) is used to apply friction to the fur, the shed fur fibres are collected and weighed, and the hair loss rate is calculated. This item is directly related to the wearing cleanliness and service life of fur garments.

Hygiene and safety indicator testing: In accordance with the relevant regulations and standards (such as GB 18401 and the REACH regulation), the residues of chemicals such as formaldehyde, decomposable harmful aromatic amine dyes, pH value, hexavalent chromium and pentachlorophenol are tested, ensuring that fur products are harmless to human health.

Testing Scope

Raw pelts: Raw hides and salted hides that have not been tanned or have only been preliminarily treated are tested, focusing on the evaluation of the fur quality, the integrity of the leather board and the preservation condition, providing a basis for the purchase pricing and the selection of the subsequent processing technology.

Wet-blue leather/crust leather after tanning: The leather boards after chrome tanning, aldehyde tanning or other tanning processes are tested, focusing on the tanning effect (such as the shrinkage temperature), the physical properties of the leather board, and whether the chemical residues (such as free formaldehyde and hexavalent chromium) meet the environmental protection and safety standards.

Finished fur after dyeing and finishing: A comprehensive test is carried out on the finished fur that has completed the finishing processes such as dyeing, fatliquoring, drying and combing, covering the colour fastness (to rubbing, light and perspiration), handle, appearance and the final physical and chemical indicators.

Fur garments and products: Finished product testing is carried out on garments and accessories made of fox fur (such as scarves, hats and fur collars). In addition to the performance of the material itself, attention also needs to be paid to the sewing strength, the safety of the accessories and the compliance of the overall label marking.

Import and export trade links: Compliance testing is carried out in accordance with the mandatory regulations and industry standards of the importing and exporting countries (such as China, the EU and the United States), and the test report is issued to meet the requirements of customs clearance, market access and brand procurement.

Quality disputes and authenticity identification: In cases of consumer complaints, commercial contract disputes or suspected counterfeiting, arbitration testing is carried out on the fox fur products involved, providing objective evidence on the authenticity of the material, the quality grade and whether it conforms to the claims.

Production process quality control: Samples are taken after each key process of fur processing (such as soaking, tanning, dyeing and finishing) for online or batch inspection, so as to timely find process deviations and ensure the stability and consistency of the final product quality.

Testing Methods

Microscope observation method: A biological microscope or scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to observe the longitudinal and cross-sectional morphology of the fur fibres, and comparison is carried out in accordance with the fibre atlases provided by the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF) or the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It is the most classic and reliable method for species identification.

Physical property standard test method: In accordance with the ISO, IULTCS (International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies), ASTM or GB/T standard series, under constant temperature and humidity conditions, dedicated equipment such as tensile testing machines, tearing testers and bursting testers is used to test the various mechanical properties of the leather board according to the standard procedures.

Chemical analysis test method: Instrumental analysis methods such as liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) are adopted to precisely determine the chemical residues such as formaldehyde, harmful dyes and heavy metals. The pH value and oil content are determined by chemical methods such as titration and extraction.

Colour fastness test method: In accordance with the standard series such as ISO 105 or GB/T 3920, equipment such as rubbing fastness testers, perspiration fastness testers and xenon lamp aging test chambers is used to separately evaluate the colour resistance of the fur to dry/wet rubbing, artificial perspiration and light, and the grade is assessed through a grey scale.

Sensory inspection method: Experienced inspectors carry out subjective but professional grade assessment of the overall appearance, fur smoothness, handle softness, colour and odour of the fur through visual inspection, hand touch (rubbing and stroking) and smell under a standard light source and environment.

Hair loss rate instrumental test method: Usually with reference to the common industry methods or the customer-specified methods, the fur specimen is fixed on a Martindale abrasion tester or a dedicated hair loss tester, rubbed with a specific abrasive (such as wool felt) under the specified pressure and number of times, and the shed hair is collected and weighed for calculation.

Eco-label certification test method: For products applying for certifications such as "OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100" and "EU Ecolabel", screening of hundreds of restricted substances needs to be carried out in accordance with their strict testing standards and method procedures, ensuring the ecological safety of the products.

Testing Standards

Domestic Standards:

1. GB 18401-2010, National general safety technical code for textile products

2. GB/T 3920-2024, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Colour fastness to rubbing

3. GB/T 3921-2008, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Colour fastness to washing with soap or soap and soda

4. GB/T 3922-2013, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Colour fastness to perspiration

International Standards:

1. ISO 3376, Leather — Physical and mechanical tests — Determination of tensile strength and percentage extension

2. ISO 11640, Leather — Tests for colour fastness — Colour fastness to cycles of to-and-fro rubbing

3. ISO 105, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness

4. ISO 13934-1, Textiles — Tensile properties of fabrics — Part 1: Determination of maximum force and elongation at maximum force using the strip method

Note: The applicable standard can be selected according to the product use and customer trade requirements; standards agreed in the contract take precedence over general standards.

Testing Instruments and Equipment

Optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM): The optical microscope is used for the conventional observation of the fur fibre scales and medulla; the SEM can provide ultra-high-magnification and large-depth-of-field three-dimensional images for more refined species identification and fur fibre damage analysis.

Universal material testing machine: Equipped with dedicated grips suitable for leather and fur, it can precisely complete multiple mechanical property tests of the leather board such as the tensile strength, tearing strength, elongation and elongation at a specified load, and the data are automatically collected and processed by the computer software.

Fibre fineness analyser: Such as an optical fibre diameter analyser (OFDA) or a laser scanning fibre fineness instrument, which can rapidly and accurately measure the diameter of a large number of fur fibres and statistically obtain key data such as the average fineness, fineness distribution and coarse hair rate.

Standard light source colour matching cabinet: Provides multiple standard light sources such as D65 daylight, TL84 shop light and UV ultraviolet light, ensuring that the inspectors carry out colour comparison, colour difference evaluation and appearance defect inspection under consistent conditions without environmental light interference.

Colour fastness testing equipment series: Including rotary rubbing fastness testers, perspiration fastness testers, xenon lamp weathering test chambers and washing fastness testing machines, used to systematically evaluate the stability of the fur colour under the action of various environmental factors.

pH meter and chemical analysis instruments: A precision pH meter is used to measure the acidity and alkalinity of the extract of the leather board. High-performance liquid chromatographs (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometers (GC-MS) are the core equipment for detecting trace-level hazardous chemical substances.

Constant temperature and humidity environmental chamber: Provides a standard atmospheric environment for physical property testing (usually temperature 20±2 ℃ and relative humidity 65±4%), ensuring that all specimens are fully conditioned before the test, making the test results comparable and repeatable.