How to ensure that the quality of polyurethane coated down jackets meets international standards

How to ensure that the quality of polyurethane coated Down Jackets meets international standards

In international trade, down jackets are favored by consumers for their good warmth retention, lightness and comfort, and polyurethane coated down jackets occupy an important share in the market due to their unique functional advantages such as waterproof and windproof. For companies engaged in the production and sales of polyurethane coated down jackets, ensuring that product quality meets international standards is not only the key to meeting customer needs and expanding market share, but also an important guarantee for enhancing corporate image and competitiveness.

I. Overview of international standards for polyurethane coated down jackets
(I) Physical performance standards
Fluffiness: Fluffiness is one of the important indicators for measuring down quality, which is directly related to the warmth retention performance of down jackets. International standards usually use the "steam reduction method" to test fluffiness. The specific method is to put 35 grams (± 2 grams) of sample into the reduction box, break up the lumps with a wooden stirring rod, blow steam with a steam blower for 80 seconds, 210 seconds on each side of the box, let it stand for 5±2 minutes, blow dry the sample for at least 2 minutes (at least 30 seconds on each side), then put it into the fluffiness reduction box, restore it in a constant temperature and humidity chamber for 48-72 hours, and finally test it with an automatic fluffiness instrument.
Anti-drilling down: Anti-drilling down refers to the ability of down jackets to prevent down from drilling out of the fabric. Commonly used testing methods internationally include friction method and hydrostatic pressure method. For example, the friction method is to rub The Down Jacket fabric with a standard film to observe the drilling of down, and generally requires that the amount of down drilling does not exceed a certain amount.
Durability: Including the wear resistance and pilling resistance of the fabric. The fabric of the polyurethane coated down jacket needs to have a certain wear resistance to ensure that it is not easy to wear in daily use. Pilling resistance requires that the fabric should not easily form pills during wearing, so as to maintain a neat and beautiful appearance.

(II) Chemical performance standards
pH value: The pH value of human skin is usually between 5.5 and 7.0, so the pH value of down jackets should be as close to the pH value of skin as possible, generally required to be between 4.0 and 9.0 to avoid irritation to the skin.
Formaldehyde content: Formaldehyde is a harmful chemical substance, and excessive formaldehyde can cause harm to human health. International standards have strict restrictions on the formaldehyde content of down jackets, generally requiring that the formaldehyde content in finished products does not exceed a certain limit. For example, European standards stipulate that the formaldehyde content in baby products shall not exceed 20ppm, and products that directly contact the skin shall not exceed 75ppm.
Color fastness: Color fastness refers to the fastness of the color of down jacket fabrics, including color fastness to soap washing, color fastness to water, color fastness to friction, and color fastness to light. Each color fastness index has corresponding standard requirements, such as the color fastness to soap washing requires the fabric to change color ≥ 3-4 levels, staining ≥ 3 levels, etc.
(III) Safety performance standards
Microbial indicators: Down jackets are filled with down. If hygiene is not paid attention to during processing, it is easy to breed microorganisms and pose a threat to human health. International standards have strict regulations on the microbial indicators of down, such as the number of mesophilic aerobic bacteria, fecal streptococci, sulfite-reduced Clostridium and Salmonella in down, which are required to be within certain limits.
Residue of harmful substances: In addition to formaldehyde, the residues of other harmful substances should also be strictly controlled, such as heavy metals, aromatic amines, etc. These harmful substances may come from raw materials such as dyes and auxiliaries. If they exceed the standard, they will have adverse effects on human health.

2. Measures to ensure that the quality of polyurethane coated down jackets meets international standards
(I) Raw material procurement
Select high-quality suppliers: Strictly screen suppliers of raw materials such as down, fabrics, and polyurethane coatings, and select suppliers with good reputation and stable quality for cooperation. Suppliers are required to provide quality inspection reports and relevant certification certificates for raw materials, such as Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification.
Strict inspection of raw material quality: Before the raw materials are put into storage, the fluffiness, cleanliness, microbial indicators, etc. of the down are inspected in accordance with international standards; the composition, density, strength, color fastness, etc. of the fabric are tested; the quality, thickness, adhesion, etc. of the polyurethane coating are checked to ensure that the raw materials meet the requirements.
(II) Production process control
Develop a complete production process: According to product requirements and international standards, formulate detailed production process flow and operating specifications, and clarify the quality control points and parameter settings of each process, such as temperature, humidity, time, etc.
Strengthen production process monitoring: During the production process, arrange special personnel to monitor each link in real time to ensure that operators strictly follow the process requirements for production. Focus on monitoring key processes such as down filling and polyurethane coating processing to promptly discover and correct quality problems in production.
(III) Quality testing and inspection
Establish a complete quality testing system: Enterprises should establish their own quality testing laboratories, equipped with advanced testing equipment and professional testing personnel, and be able to conduct comprehensive testing of various physical, chemical and safety performance indicators of polyurethane coated down jackets.
Strict finished product inspection: Before the product leaves the factory, a comprehensive finished product inspection is carried out in accordance with international standards, including testing of appearance quality, dimensional stability, physical properties, chemical properties and safety performance. Products that fail the inspection will not be shipped out, and will be reworked or destroyed.
(IV) Supplier management and cooperation
Establish long-term cooperative relations with suppliers: Establish long-term and stable cooperative relations with high-quality raw material suppliers, jointly develop and improve the quality and performance of raw materials, and ensure the stable supply and quality improvement of raw materials.
Strengthen the review and evaluation of suppliers: Regularly review and evaluate suppliers, check their production management level, quality control capabilities, environmental protection measures, etc., urge suppliers to continuously improve and improve, and ensure that the quality of raw materials meets international standards. (V) Pay attention to the dynamics of international standards
Timely follow up on standard updates: Arrange special personnel to pay attention to the updates of relevant standards of international polyurethane coated down jackets, obtain the latest standard information in time, and organize relevant personnel to study and train, to ensure that the product quality of the enterprise can keep up with the changes of international standards in time.
Actively participate in standard formulation: Encourage enterprises to actively participate in the formulation of international standards, integrate the technical strength and practical experience of enterprises into international standards through channels such as industry associations and standardization organizations, enhance the influence and voice of enterprises in the international market, and also contribute to the development of the industry.

3. Case analysis
[Brand Name] is a company specializing in the production of polyurethane coated down jackets. In terms of ensuring that product quality meets international standards, it has taken a series of effective measures and achieved remarkable results.
In terms of raw material procurement: [Brand Name] has established long-term cooperative relations with several large domestic down suppliers. These suppliers have passed strict qualification review and quality certification, and the down they provide can meet international standard requirements in terms of fluffiness, cleanliness and microbial indicators. At the same time, [brand name] is also very strict in the procurement of fabrics and polyurethane coating materials. Each batch of raw materials must undergo strict quality inspection to ensure that its quality and performance meet the requirements.
Production process control: [brand name] has established a complete production process and quality control system. From the pretreatment of down to the cutting and sewing of fabrics, to the processing of polyurethane coating and the packaging of finished products, each link has clear quality control standards and operating specifications. During the production process, various testing equipment and instruments installed on the production line are used to monitor product quality in real time. Once quality problems are found, the machine is immediately shut down for adjustment and processing to ensure the stability of product quality.
Quality testing and inspection: [brand name] has invested a lot of money to establish its own quality inspection center and introduced advanced testing equipment and technology, which can comprehensively test and analyze various quality indicators of polyurethane coated down jackets. Before the product leaves the factory, in addition to the routine appearance quality inspection and physical performance inspection, the chemical properties and safety performance of the product are also strictly tested to ensure that the product meets international standards. At the same time, [brand name] also regularly invites third-party testing agencies to conduct random inspections of products to ensure the fairness and objectivity of the test results.
Supplier management and cooperation: [brand name] regularly reviews and evaluates raw material suppliers to help suppliers improve production processes and quality management levels, and improve the quality and stability of raw materials. Through close cooperation with suppliers, not only the quality of raw material supply for [brand name] products is guaranteed, but also the quality of the entire industrial chain is promoted.
Pay attention to international standards: [brand name] has established a special standardization department to track and study the dynamic changes of international standards related to polyurethane coated down jackets, and promptly convey the latest standard information to the company's R&D, production and quality control departments. At the same time, [brand name] also actively participates in the formulation of international standards and contributes to promoting the standardization development of the industry.
Through the implementation of the above measures, the quality of [Brand Name]'s polyurethane coated down jackets has been fully guaranteed and has successfully passed a number of international certifications, such as ISO 9001 quality management system certification, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification, etc. The products are exported to international markets such as Europe, America, and Japan, and have won wide recognition and praise from customers.

4. FAQ
How to choose a suitable polyurethane coated down jacket?
Determine the style, color, and function requirements of the down jacket according to your own needs, such as whether it needs waterproof, windproof, warm and other functions.
Check the product label and certificate of conformity to understand the product's implementation standards, raw material composition, filling weight and other information, and choose products that meet international standards.
Check the appearance quality of the product, including whether the fabric is flat, whether there is any damage, whether the zipper and buttons are smooth, etc.
Smell the product to see if it has a pungent smell. If so, it may be that the chemical substances exceed the standard, so it is best not to buy it.
What issues should be paid attention to during the wearing and maintenance of polyurethane coated down jackets?
Avoid contact with sharp objects when wearing to avoid scratching the fabric and causing the down to drill out.
Keep the down jacket clean, but do not wash it frequently to avoid affecting the fluffiness and warmth of the down.
It is best to use a neutral detergent when washing, follow the washing instructions on the product label, and avoid using a strong washing machine to wash to avoid damaging the down jacket.
When drying, do not expose it to the sun. Choose a ventilated and cool place to dry naturally to avoid direct sunlight from damaging the fabric and down.
When storing, the down jacket should be cleaned and dried, then put into a breathable storage bag and placed in a dry and ventilated environment to avoid heavy pressure.

V. Conclusion
Ensuring that the quality of polyurethane coated down jackets meets international standards is the key to the success of enterprises in the global market competition. By taking a series of effective measures from the aspects of raw material procurement, production process control, quality testing and inspection, supplier management and cooperation, and paying attention to international standard trends, the quality level of products can be comprehensively improved, the needs of international customers can be met, and the brand image and market competitiveness of enterprises can be enhanced.